“In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.”
Days. At the end of the third year, Daniel i. 1., and Jeremias xxv. 1. Nabuchadonosor, in the first year of his reign, (Jeremias xxv. 1.) being associated in the empire by his aged father Nabopolassar, came up to attack Carchemis, (Jeremias xlvi. 1.) and the other dominions of Egypt, (ver. 7.) and their ally or vassal Joakim. He took the city of Jerusalem, and carried off many of the sacred vessels and captives, (Daniel i.; Calmet) conducting the king himself to prison, for a short time, when he set him at liberty, on condition that he should pay tribute, 2 Paralipomenon xxxvi. 6. (Tirinus) — Joakim obeyed for 3 years. — Then again. Hebrew, “he turned and rebelled.” This was the first time, as he had before been subject to Egypt, and was attacked on that account. He probably took advantage of the absence of Nabuchodonosor, who was gone with haste to secure all the dominions of his deceased father. In the 7th year of his reign, he sent rovers to punish Joakim. When the latter had reigned near 11 years, they reduced the kingdom, and treated the king’s corpse with the utmost indignity, Jeremias xxii. 19. (Tirinus)
“And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. by: Heb. by the hand of”
The rovers. Latrunculos. Bands or parties of men, who pillaged and plundered wherever they came. (Challoner) See chap. v. 2., and Judges xi. 3. — Nabuchodonosor could not come in person. — Prophets. Holda, supra chap. xxii. 16., and Isaias xx. 17., and Jeremias xiv., xv., xvi., &c.
“Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;”
Thing. He speaks in stronger terms, and adds, (1 Paralipomenon xxi. 3,) which may be imputed as a sin to Israel. Joab was not extremely religious: yet he perceived the evil consequences, and, along with the other captains, expressed his sentiments with more respect than on former occasions. (Haydock)
“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?”
Did. Paralipomenon, and his abominations which he wrought, and the things which were found in him. This St. Jerome, (Trad.) explains of certain diabolical marks on his body, shewing him to be devoted to the fiend Codonasar. Such are often found on magicians. (Menochius) — Thus the priests of Baal cut themselves, 3 Kings xviii. 28. (Haydock)
“So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.”
Joachin, who is styled Jechonias, Matthew i., and Conias [in] Jeremias xxii. 24. The prophet counts his reign as nothing, because it was so limited by the Chaldeans, and continued only three months, Jeremias xxxvi. 30.
“And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.”
Egypt, at least from the eastern mouth of the Nile, at Damietta, to the Euphrates. Nechao had conquered all those countries: but now he was driven into his ancient territories. After some time he attempted to relieve Sedecias, but war repulsed by Nabuchodonosor, who soon after took Jerusalem, Jeremias xxxvii. 6. (Calmet) — Again, during the reign of Joachin. (Du Hamel)
“Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.”
Eighteen. One Hebrew manuscript reads “thirteen,” (Haydock) or 3 instead of 8. (Kennicott) — The number seems also (Haydock) to be incorrect in Paralipomenon, where we find that Joachin was only eight years old, as the Syriac and Arabic have 18 in both places, and it could not well be said, that he did evil, &c., (ver. 9.) at the age of 8, much less that he had wives so soon, ver. 15. (Calmet) — Some attempt to reconcile both places, by saying that the eight years refer to the commencement of his father’s reign; (Junius) which is very unusual: (Calmet) or to the servitude of Babylon, when Jerusalem was taken under Joakim. (Hardouin.) — Sanctius conjectures that Joachin was associated with his father when he was 10 years old, and after 8 years became sole king. (Kimchi, &c.) (Du Hamel)
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.”
Done. Ezechiel xix. 5., and Jeremias xxii. 24., speak of this king under the name of (Haydock) Jechonias. (Calmet)
“At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged . was: Heb. came into siege”
Came. Hebrew, “servants….he came.” But several manuscripts are more accurate and grammatical, “they came.” (Kennicott) (Haydock)
“And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.”
And seer. This was a peculiar distinction of the prophet, (Haydock) who was appointed to direct David, (Menochius) to whom he had been long attached, 1 Kings xxii. 5. (Calmet0
“And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. officers: or, eunuchs his reign: Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year”
Went out. Josephus (Jewish Wars vi. 8.) insinuates, to save the vessels of the temple. — Jeremias had persuaded him to desist from making resistance. (Tirinus) — Nabuchodonosor did not comply with his promise, (Menochius) but took the king and all the artificers (ver. 14.) to Babylon, that the former might not attempt to revenge the injuries done to his father, nor the latter contribute to fortify the towns. The Philistines had deprived the Israelites of blacksmiths, with the same design, 1 Kings vii., and xiii. (Angelomus.) (Tirinus) — Eighth; commencing, or at the end of the seventh, Jeremias lii. (Du Hamel)
“And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.”
All, or a great part; for some were still left, 1 Esdras i. — Which: or like unto those which Solomon had made. The identical vessels had been perhaps (Du Hamel) plundered. (Menochius) — Nabuchodonosor took away the sacred vessels at three different times: 1. under Joakim. These he placed in the temple of his god; and they were afterwards profaned by Baltassar, and restored by Cyrus, Daniel i. 2., and v. 5., and 1 Esdras i. 7. 2. Many he now broke in pieces. 3. Under Sedecias, he took probably what that prince had made, chap. xxv. 13., and Baruch i. 7 — Lord, by Isaias (xxxix. 6.; supra chap. xx. 17.) and Jeremias, xv. 13.
“And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.”
All; the chief men, chap. xxv. 18. Ezechiel and Mardocheus were in the number. — Engraver. The first term means a workman in wood, stone, &c.; the latter seems to designate a mason, smith, or garrison-soldier; (Calmet) or one expert in making camps; (Sa) an engineer. (Tirinus) — St. Jerome explains it of one who enchases jewels in gold. (Menochius) — Hecateus and Demetrius (ap. Jos.[Josephus?] and Clement of Alexandria) mention this transportation. (Du Hamel)
“And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. officers: or, eunuchs”
Judges. Hebrew, “the rams.” Chaldean, “the grandees.” These are not included in the 10,000, (ver. 14.) nor more than (Calmet) the 8,000 who were taken from the country (ver. 16.; Calmet) or 3,000 were taken from Jerusalem, and 7,000 from other places. (Du Hamel)
“And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.”
Areuna. Hebrew styles him, Araniah, (ver. 18.; Calmet) i being substituted for u, and placed after n. He is called Ornan, 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 18, (Haydock) and has the title of Jebusite, as he was originally of that nation, and had been permitted to retain his effects, on his embracing the true religion. Moria was his property, and seems not to have been much inhabited. It was not yet enclosed within the city walls. Here David saw the angel, in the air, ready to strike the inhabitants, and heard the voice from heaven. (Calmet) — He had already witnessed the death of many in the city, 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 14. The angel waited for God’s orders how many to destroy. (Haydock) — He did not sheath his sword till David had offered sacrifice to appease the Lord; (ver. 21) though others think that the sacrifice was to thank God for the deliverance. (Calmet)
“And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.”
Uncle, the third son of Josias, who was placed on the throne. (Haydock) — The eldest, (Menochius) called Johanan, seems to have died in his youth. (Calmet) — Sedecias means, “the justice of God,” (Tirinus) as Nabuchodonosor had adjured him, or made him swear by God; (2 Paralipomenon xxxvi. 15.; Haydock) and thus insinuated, that, if he proved faithless, he should feel the effects of God’s justice, as it happened. (Tirinus)
“Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.”
Altar. This was done by a positive order. People still had the liberty of sacrificing on the heights of Gabaon. (Calmet) — This place was honoured with the tabernacle; and David would have gone thither, if he had not been so much terrified, 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 30. (Haydock)
“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.”
Done. He was not deterred by his punishment, nor by the admonition of Jeremias, xxxvii. 2., and 2 Paralipomenon xxxvi. 12. The prophet informs us, that the priests and people defiled the temple of God. See Ezechiel viii., &c. (Calmet)
“For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.”
Revolted. Literally, “departed;” (Haydock) “broke his covenant;” (Septuagint) acting contrary to his oath, (Paralipomenon) and to the dictates of prudence. God permitted this to take place, in the 8th year of Sedecias. (Calmet)
Wain. So Josephus reads. Septuagint, “wheels.” Hebrew, “rollers,” to beat out the corn. (Calmet) — Protestants, “threshing instruments, and other instruments of the oxen for wood.” Paralipomenon adds, that Areuna offered wheat, and saw the angel, as his four sons, and probably most of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, did.
As a king. Literally, king Areuna:” e may have been substituted for c, “like,” though the latter word is often understood. (Haydock) — Some suppose that he was formerly king of the Jebusites, (Vatable) or one of their descendants, (Grotius) or possessed of great riches, &c. But why is the title never given to him elsewhere? (Bochart) — The Septuagint, Syriac, and many Latin copies, do not recognize it; nor was it found in the Chaldean, in the 12th age [12th century]. Yet without making any changes, we may translate, “O king, Areuna has given all these things to the king.” The Jews often speak of themselves in the third person, out of respect. (Le Clerc.) (Calmet)
Free-cost, or given gratis. This shews that subjects have property, otherwise they could only yield what was due to the king, as his own. (Worthington) — Silver. Septuagint, “for the silver of fifty sicles.” (Haydock) — Bochart explains for the money of 50 sicles of gold, which make 600 sicles of silver. Gold was formerly as twelve to one, compared with silver. (Plato in Hipparcho.) — But the best method of reconciling this passage with 1 Paralipomenon is to say, that David gave the 50 sicles for the oxen and floor, and afterwards purchased the whole piece of ground for 600 (Calmet) sicles of gold, (or 902l. 5s. sterling.; Haydock) being informed that the temple was to be erected there, (Calmet) where Isaac had formerly been brought to be sacrificed. (Menochius) — We might also make a colon, or pause, at floor, as if its price were specified elsewhere, and the fifty sicles were given for the oxen. (Du Hamel; Menochius) — The sum amounts to only about 1l. 14s. (Haydock)
Holocausts; a second time. The former victims had been consumed by fire from heaven, 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. 28. (Calmet)