XII. THE REIGN OF JEHOASH, OR JOASH. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 24)(1) Forty years.--A common round number. David and Solomon are each said to have reigned forty years. His mother's name.--The author of these short abstracts generally gives this particular in regard to the kings of Judah. Beer-sheba.--A famous Simeonite sanctuary, and resort of pilgrims (Amos 5:5; Amos 8:14). Verse 1. - In the seventh year of Jehu. Athaliah began to reign very soon after the accession of Jehu (2 Kings 11:1), and reigned six full years (ver. 3). The first year of Joash was thus parallel with Jehu's seventh. Jehoash - or Joash, as he is called sometimes in Kings (2 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 13:1, 10), and always in Chronicles - began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem - the writer of Chronicles (2 Chronicles 24:1) and Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 9:8. § 4) agree - and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. Josephus calls her "Sabia." 12:1-16 It is a great mercy to young people, especially to all young men of rank, like Jehoash, to have those about them who will instruct them to do what is right in the sight of the Lord; and they do wisely and well for themselves, when willing to be counselled and ruled. The temple was out of repair; Jehoash orders the repair of the temple. The king was zealous. God requires those who have power, to use it for the support of religion, the redress of grievances, and repairing of decays. The king employed the priests to manage, as most likely to be hearty in the work. But nothing was done effectually till the twenty-third year of his reign. Another method was therefore taken. When public distributions are made faithfully, public contributions will be made cheerfully. While they were getting all they could for the repair of the temple, they did not break in upon the stated maintenance of the priests. Let not the servants of the temple be starved, under colour of repairing the breaches of it. Those that were intrusted did the business carefully and faithfully. They did not lay it out in ornaments for the temple, till the other work was completed; hence we may learn, in all our expenses, to prefer that which is most needful, and, in dealing for the public, to deal as we would for ourselves.In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign,.... So that he reigned twenty one or twenty two years contemporary with Jehu's reign, for Jehu reigned twenty eight years:and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem; the same number of years David and Solomon reigned: and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba; a city in the tribe of Simeon, in the extreme part of the land of Canaan southward; her name in the Chaldee dialect is Tabitha, the same with Dorcas in Greek, Acts 9:36. |
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