Ver. 1. Began Azariah…to reign,] i.e., To reign alone, after the death of his father, with whom he had reigned twelve or thirteen years before: or else there must be granted an interregnum, a vacancy in the royal seat of Judah, for so many years.
Ver. 2. And he reigned two and fifty years.] He reigned still, though a leper for his curiosity and insolency; the disease of his forehead did not remove his crown. So, if we be once a royal generation, our leprosies may deform us, they shall not dethrone us.
Ver. 3. According to all that his father Amaziah had done.] This is no great commendation: for neither of them did so well at last as at first, but apostatised.
Ver. 4. The high places were not removed.] No, not in his best times. This, if it did not loose, yet it lessened his crown of glory.
Ver. 5. And the Lord smote the king.] For his arrogancy and impudency in invading the priest’s office; God spat in his face, that he might be ashamed and humbled, and that others might be warned. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, &c.] He did not thrust out his father: but ruled all as his substitute. This was some comfort to the diseased king.
Ver. 6. Now the rest of the acts of Azariah.] Called also Uzziah. Are they not written?] Written they were also by the prophet Isaiah. (2 Chronicles 26:22) Of the earthquake in this king’s days, see Amos 1:1 Zec 14:5.
Ver. 7. So Azariah slept, &c.] When this king died, the Philistines rejoiced, because “the rod of him that smote them was broken.” But “out of the serpent’s root came forth a cockatrice”—Hezekiah—“and his fruit was a fiery, flying serpent” (Isaiah 14:29, with 2 Chronicles 26:6,7). He stung them worse than his grandfather had done. And they buried him, &c.] In some by-corner of the king’s burial place, “for they said, He is a leper.” (2 Chronicles 26:23)
Ver. 8. Six months.] So soon God despatched him out of the way, and with him the whole house of Jehu, for their great wickedness.
Ver. 9. As his father had done.] He filled up their measure, (Matthew 23:32) and was therefore soon cut off. The bottle of wickedness, when once filled with those bitter waters, will sink to the bottom.
Ver. 10. And slew him, and reigned in his stead.] After whose death followed these direful calamities foretold by the prophet Amos. (2 Kings 7:9) Never did the kingdom of Israel so flourish as under this king’s father—viz., Jeroboam II. The greatest prosperity is oft followed by the greatest misery. Periculosa est, secundum Hippocratem, summe bona corporis valetudo.
Ver. 11. And the rest of the acts.] See 1 Kings 14:19.
Ver. 12. And so it came to pass.] God keepeth promise with his foes: shall he fail his friends?
Ver. 13. And he reigned a full month.] Heb., A month of days: that is, a month to a day.
Ver. 14. For Menahem the son of Gadi.] Who was general of Zachariah’s army, saith Josephus: as Omri was of drunken Elah’s. This Menahem is by Sulpitius Severus called Manes: as was also the first founder of the Manichees, those ancient heretics. The name signifieth Paracletum, a comforter: but they proved nothing less. And slew him.] This was interitus tyranno dignus. Hist., lib. i.
Ver. 15. And the rest of the acts.] See 1 Kings 14:19.
Ver. 16. He smote it, and all the women he ripped up.] Opening their wombs crudelitate immani et barbara, because their husbands opened not the gates of their city unto him. This abhorred cruelty Josephus mentioneth not; as being ashamed that other nations should be acquainted with it. The like was done, (Hosea 13:16 Amos 1:13) and at the Sicilian vespers, by those pseudo-Catholics. Here Manes showed himself to be Epimanes.
Ver. 17. In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah.] In this one year there were four kings in Israel, one after another: and those direful threatenings of Amos 7:9 began to be fulfilled.
Ver. 18. And he did that which was evil.] See 1 Kings 15:26.
Ver. 19. And Pul the king of Assyria.] By other writers he is called Belosus, and Phul-Belosus: who, together with Arbaces, the Mede, besieged Sardanapalus, the last monarch of Assyria, who desperately burnt himself in his own palace, and left his empire to this Pul, the first Babylonian monarch, and Arbaces, who made himself king of Medes and Persians. Some hold that this Pul was that king of Nineveh which repented at the preaching of the prophet Jonah: and that here also the men of Nineveh rose in judgment against that nation, God stirring up a penitent Ethnic to take vengeance on impenitent Israel. To confirm the kingdom.] Which this usurper held not without opposition.
Ver. 20. And Menahem exacted.] Heb., Caused to come forth, sc., by his exactors, who received from his rich subjects no less sums of curses than of coin.
Ver. 21. And the rest of the acts.] See 1 Kings 14:19.
Ver. 22. And Pekahiah his son.] Eusebius calleth him Phaceas. In Chronico.
Ver. 23. Reigned two years.] Not ten years, as Drusius affirmeth. Regnavit annos decem.
Ver. 24. And he did that, &c.] See 1 Kings 14:22.
Ver. 25. But Pekah the son, &c.] Phace, quidam eiusdem nominis, saith Sulpitius: but that is not so; Pekahiah and Pekah are names like, but not the same. With Argob and Arieh.] These, saith Josephus, were slain, together with their king, at a feast.
Ver. 26. And the rest, &c.] See 1 Kings 14:19.
Ver. 27. And he reigned twenty years.] Not without many troubles, and at last a violent death. (2 Kings 15:30)
Ver. 28. And he did, &c.] See 1 Kings 14:22.
Ver. 29. Came Tiglathpileser.] Which name of his signifieth, say some, the removing of captives: others making him to be son to Pul, (2 Kings 15:19) say that he was therefore called Tiglathpulassir. Why he came now against Israel, see Isaiah 7:1 2Ki 16:7. And carried them captive.] Whither they were carried, see 1 Chronicles 5:5,6. Neither ever returned they: see Isaiah 9:1. Captivitas. Mirabiles legationes. -Pagnin.
Ver. 30. In the twentieth year of Jotham,] i.e., In the fourth year of Ahaz, to whom Jotham had resigned his kingdom, reserving to himself the title only.
Ver. 31. And the rest of the acts.] See 1 Kings 14:19.
Ver. 32. Began Jotham,] viz., After his father Uzziah’s death. About this time, the prophet Isaiah saw that glorious vision. (Isaiah 6:1) In the fourteenth jubilee.
Ver. 33. The daughter of Zadok.] Who probably was a priest, and father-in-law to this king.
Ver. 34. And he did that which was right.] Both for matter, manner, motive, and end; a good prince he was.
Ver. 35. He built the higher gate.] Then, when the people doted upon high places; though he disliked their practice.
Ver. 36. Now the rest of the acts.] See 1 Kings 14:29.
Ver. 37. In those days.] But not till good Jotham was laid up in peace.