“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.”
Heart, and with perseverance.
“Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.”
Families. The officers were well acquainted with their soldiers; (Calmet) and all were more interested for each other’s welfare, (Du Hamel) than they are in the present system. (Calmet) — Young. Protestants, “choice men, able to go.” (Haydock)
“He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.”
Thousand. Yet “they were so greatly reduced, but a few years before, that there were left….only fifty horsemen,” &c., 4 Kings xiii. 7. (Kennicott) — That might be true, at one time, when the people fled from the king’s banners, through fear. But they were still in the country, and God gave Israel a saviour, 4 Kings xiii. 5. See chap. xiii. 3., and xvii. 19. (Haydock) — Silver. This sum was very small, for so great a multitude. Salien suspects talents of gold are meant, though the soldiers were paid in silver. But the sum was only the hire for a short time; (Menochius) and was not distributed among the soldiers, who were to live on plunder, but went into the king’s coffers, (Calmet) or belonged to the officers alone. (Mariana) (Du Hamel) — The talent of silver was worth 342l. 3s. 9d. (Arbuthnot)
“But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.”
And. Hebrew, “But if thou wilt go, do; be strong; (he speaks ironically) God,” &c. Septuagint, “if thou thinkest that thou art strong with these, the Lord,” &c. Amasias ought to have known that no dependance was to be placed on Israel, while they despised God, chap. xv. 2.
“And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. army: Heb. band”
What will. Syriac, &c., “What then is my crime in having given the,” &c. — To the. Hebrew or, “for the army.” (Haydock)
“And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.”
Rock, afterwards called Jecteel. Some take it to be Petra, 4 Kings xiv. 7.
“But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil. the soldiers: Heb. the sons of the band”
Samaria, the capital, where they had made their complaints to king Joas; and receiving no redress, began to plunder, as far as Bethhoron the lower, which Solomon had repaired, and his successors had retained, though it belonged to the territory of Ephraim, chap. xiii. 5., and Josue xviii. 13. (Calmet)
“And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. determined: Heb. counselled”
Art thou. Hebrew adds, “appointed.” (Haydock) — The very character of prophet, authorized him to give counsel even to kings. Amasias had perhaps obeyed this prophet, (ver. 7) but now his heart was puffed up with victory. — Kill thee, sixteen years hence.
“Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.”
Another, and fight. He supposed Joas had connived at his subjects’ invasion, (ver. 13.; Haydock. See 4 Kings xiv. 8.; Calmet) and he now required all Israel to submit to him. (Josephus) (Tirinus)
“And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. thistle: or, furze bush, or, thorn a wild: Heb. a beast of the field”
Thistle. This fable insinuated how much Joas despised the insolence of his antagonist, (Haydock) and Amasias had soon reason to repent. (Tirinus)
“But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.”
It. Protestants, “it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.” (Haydock) — The king was permitted to give ear to evil counsellors. (Calmet) — “Jupiter deprives those of understanding, whom he means to destroy.” (Homer) — The heart is hardened on account of former sins. (Worthington)
“And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.”
Obededom, whose descendants guarded these treasures, 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. 15. (Calmet) — Hostages. Protestants, “the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.” (Haydock) — Some think that the kings of Juda had before detained these men. (Estius) — Others suppose that Joas had taken many nobles, whom he exchanged for their sons. But this is all conjecture. (Calmet)
“And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah. Judah: that is, the city of David”
David. Hebrew, “of Juda,” contrary to the Septuagint, Syriac, &c. (Calmet)