his favour. Tho' he was a leper, the king might con verfe with him at a proper distance.

5. This was a moft feasonable confirmation of the fact, directed, no doubt, by a particular providence.

6. The eftate had probably been confiscated, as deferted by its owner.

8. This circumftance is a proof of the great refpect that the neighbouring nations entertained of the God of Ifrael; and after the cure of Naaman, who was of this country, and this very city, it is not to be wondered at.

9. This was a very valuable present, tho' in the East many carriages more than are neceffary are usually employed in carrying prefents; but it is not faid whether the prophet accepted of it or not.

10. The difeafe was not naturally incurable, and he would not die of it, but from a different caufe.

13. He thought it was impoffible that he should ever be guilty of fuch fhocking cruelties, or have it in his power to commit them; yet when he was king of Syria, which the prophet foretold, he actually did these very things; fo much do men's difpofitions and con duct depend on the circumftances in which they are, and the influences to which they are expofed.

15. He had, perhaps, laid this plan before his interview with the prophet, who would, therefore, appear to have feen into his very thoughts, and have foretold the iffue of his fchemes. But according to Dr. Geddes's tranflation, he did not fmother the king. He might intend to relieve and recover him by pouring water upon him, which is done in fevers in fome hot countries. See Bruce's Travels, Vol. iii, p. 33.

16. The words Jehosaphat being then king of fudah, are not in two MSS. of de Roffi, or in the Syriac, Arabic, and some copies of the LXX, and are unqueftionably an interpolation. K. By omitting them a feem. ing difficulty is removed.

17. The feeming inconfiftency in the accounts of the commencement of the reign of Jehoram king of Judab, some remove by fuppofing that he was made king in the life time of his father, and this at two periods, the first when he was appointed, and the fecond when he was actually crowned. But this was unusual, and is therefore improbable.

18. Viz. Athaliah. As the kings of Judah did not worship the calves at Dan or Bethel, this idolatry was probably the worship of Baal; tho' this had been dif continued by Ahab before his death.

20. The Edomites had been fubject to Judah one hundred and fifty years from the time of David's conqueft of the country.

21. This was probably fome city near the land of Edom.

22. Notwithstanding this victory, the country was not recovered. Long after this it was conquered by Hyrcanus, and the people became incorporated with the Jews. This book, or the materials out of which this part of it was compiled, was written before the captivity. Libna was a confiderable city in the tribe of Judah, and belonged to the priests. Joh. xxi, 13. Why this place revolted, or to whom, is not faid.

24. Tho' he was buried in Jerufalem, it was not in the fepulchres of his fathers. 2 Ch. xxi, 20.

25 This

25. This was at the conclufion of the eleventh, and the beginning of the twelfth year, as appears from Ch.

- . 26.4ần 2-Ch. xxii, 2, he is faid to have been forty 10 years old when he began to reign; but this is pro bably an error in the copy. For in the LXX it is twenty years. Athaliah was grand-daughter of Omri, for her father was Ahab. Ahaziah was the youngest son of Jehoram, his other children and wives having been car raway by the Philiftines and Arabs, when they made an inroad into the country. See 2 Chron. xxi, / 16, where he is called Jehoahaz.

h. IX. 1. This commiffion was given to Elijah, and it is now executed by Elisha. He, however, did not go himself, but fent another perfon, probably beeate he would not be known, and the business required

iecrecy.

2. He was probably commander in chief of the army. 3. He was anointed perhaps as being of a new famiiy. Had he fucceeded to the crown by the right of inheritance, it is thought that this ceremony would not have been neceffary.

5. Jehu being the fpeaker on this occafion, makes it probable that he was the thief.

11. This young man, having the dress of a prophet, was treated with contempt by fome of the company. Jehu thought to put them off by saying they knew what kind of a perfon he was by his dress, and might conclude that his errand was to give him fome admonition on the fubject of religion or morals; it being cuftomary

with the prophets to exhort the people, and to make free even with kings themselves.

12. They fufpecting, however, that this anfwer was evafive, he then told them the real purport of the meffage; and they being probably previously disposed in favour of the measure, proceeded without delay to the ceremony of the corronation, making a kind of throne, or elevated feat, by means of their garments, or putting them upon fome bench on which he fat.

14. It had been fortified as a frontier town next to Syria.

20. He is called the fon of Nimfhi, tho' he was really his grandfon.

22. Open fornication, and the arts of witchcraft, were practifed by idolaters in thofe times.

25. They had attended as part of the guard of A-, hab, when this fentence was pronounced by the prophet.

27. It appears from 2 Ch. xxii, 9, that he went to Samaria, aud thence was brought to Jehu, who ordered him to be put to death, probably at Jezreel, as a defcendant of Ahab.

31. Zimri was flain by Omri, the founder of Ahab's family. She might hope by reminding him of this to check his violence, but it had not that effect.

37. Thus, without any contrivance of Jehu, was the prediction concerning Jezebel exactly fulfilled.

Ch. X. 1. Some of thefe were probably grandsons, who are often called fons.

3. This must have been faid by way of infult, knowing that it was not in their power to fupport any defcendant of Ahab against him,

9 He

9. He feems to infinuate that he was not perfonally accountable for all these deaths.

10. He obferves, however, that in whatever manner they were put to death, it was a fulfilment of the predictions of Elifha.

13. The brothers of Ahaziah were carried captive before this time, 2 Ch. xxi, 17. Thefe, therefore, must have been brothers fons, as it is explained 2 Ch. xxii, 8. 14. What is meant by the shearing house is very uncertain.

15. He was a Kenite, and a perfon of diftinguished piety and prudence, and probably the founder of the fect of Rechabites, of whom a particular account is given in Jeremiah, Ch. xxxv. 6.

21. He must have concealed his defign with great care, to fucceed in his fcheme fo completely.

28. This was a great work, and it was effectual; for we read no more of the public worship of Baal in the kingdom.

33. At this time, no doubt, Hazael acted as the pro. phet told him that he would act, committing the greatest

cruelties.

34. In the LXX, and other antient versions, it is king of Israel, which, no doubt, was the original reading.

Ch. XI. 1. Athaliah being of the houfe of Ahab, and provoked at the conduct of Jehu, in destroying all his defcendants, feems to have been determined to do the fame by the houfe of David; having probably children by another husband than Ahaziah, whom the might intend to raise to the throne, 2 Ch. xxiv. 7.

2. Probably