a B.C. 884. Jehu proclaimed 11-16. (11) servants, the captains of v. 5. all well? is it peace? mad, or excited person. ye know, they all saw he was a prophet, and Jehu thought would guess his errand. (12) thus, as vv. 6-10. (13) garment," outer robe, wh. would make king sort of carpet. stairs, belonging to the house in wh. the captains a Fr. Heb. shaga, were assembled, a flight communicating from the courtyard. to be in a state of (14) had kept, or was keeping watch over. (15) be your frenzy, or fanatiminds, or if you agree with me. (16) come down, ch. viii. 29. cism. The reproach of true religion (v. 11).-Let us speak concerning-b Mat. xxi. 8. I. The reproach. God's messengers have seldom been recognised "Seated on these as such at first. Noah, Lot (Ge. xix. 14), Moses, David (1 Sa. xvii. steps Jehu would 28, 42). II. The vindication, "Wisdom is justified of all her be visible to the soldiery and children." The flood of waters justified Noah; the fire from people." -Wordsheaven justified Lot; the Exodus justified Moses; and the victory worth. over the Philistines justified David.c c Homilist. one of which we Laying down garments (v. 13).—They laid down their garments "The expression instead of carpets. "The use of carpets was common in the East trans. on the top in the remoter ages. The kings of Persia always walked upon of the stairs is carpets in their palaces. Xenophon reproaches the degenerate have lost the Persians of his time, that they placed their couches upon carpets, clue. The word to repose more at their ease. The spreading of garments in the is gerem, i.e. a street before persons to whom it was intended to show particular bone; meaning appears and the honour was an ancient and very general custom. Thus the to be that they people spread their clothes in the way before our Saviour placed Jehu on (Matthew xxi. 8), where some also strewed branches. In the the very stairs themselves, withAgamemnon of Eschylus, the hypocritical Clytemnestra comout any seat or mands the maids to spread out carpets before her returning chair below husband, that, on descending from his chariot, he may place his him."-Stanley. foot on a "purple-covered path." We also find this custom v. 13. Bp. Hall, among the Romans. When Cato of Utica left the Macedonian Cont. army, where he had become legionary tribune, the soldiers spread d Rosenmüller. their clothes in the way (Plutarch's Life of Cato). The hanging out of carpets, and strewing of flowers and branches, in solemn processions, among us, is a remnant of the ancient custom.< the driving of Jehu 17-20. (17) the tower," a post of observation, 2 Sa. xviii. a "There 24. Comp. keep of an ancient castle. (18) hast thou, i.e. my usually in mission is no concern of time. (19) second, indicating the cient times king's increased anxiety. (20) driving, etc., not charioteering, over the royal but leading or conducting a company. The watchman noticed residence, signs of eager haste. furiously, lit. madly.' was an watch tower where a man was always sta An ancient question for modern ears (v. 18).-There are several tioned, night considerations which should urge all professors to holy activity, and day, to keep viz.-I. Their profession. They are by profession soldiers. As a good look out soldiers they are-1. Accoutred; 2. Disciplined. II. Their duty. but esp. in that in all directions, The captain calls to arms. III. Their danger. The enemies are direction from at the gate. They are in earnest too. IV. Their future: victory which any sort of is sure. The great Captain has fought and vanquished foes like tidings might be these before. He Himself leads the assault. He promises eternal When Jehu expected."-Kitto. honour and rest to "him that overcometh."c Kinds of peace (v. 17).-There are several things called peace reached a point which are by no means Divine or God-like peace. There is peace, and for example, in the man who lives for and enjoys self, with no they would be noble aspiration goading him on to make him feel the rest of fully descried by God; that is peace, but that is merely the peace of toil. There the watchman on the tower." is rest upon the surface of the caverned lake, which no wind can Jamieson. stir; but that is the peace of stagnation. There is peace amongst c R. A. Griffin. and his retinue between Gilboa Bethshan, B.C. 884. "Jehu could be seen for about six miles, as he drove up the valley of Jezreel."-Thom on. b Chaldee and Arabic, with Josephus, say, "He driveth quietly." v. 18. A. Roberts, ii. 159. a F. W. Robertson. Jehu slays a Heb. chelek. Ki. xxi. 1-4. b Kitto. 1 c Nu. xxiv. 1, XXV. 1, xxxi. 16: Nah. iii. 3; Re. ii. 14. 1 Ki. xxi. 25; Is. xlviii. 22, lix. 8; Je. xvi. 5; Re. iii. 17. d1 Ki. xxii. 34. tures make it the stones which have fallen and rolled down the mountain's side, and lie there quietly at rest; but that is the peace of inanity. There is peace in the hearts of enemies who lie together, side by side, in the same trench of the battlefield, the animosities of their souls silenced at length, and their hand no longer clenched in deadly enmity against each other; but that is the peace of death. If our peace be but the peace of the sensualist satisfying pleasure, if it be but the peace of mental torpor and inaction, the peace of apathy, or the peace of the soul dead in trespasses and sins, we may whisper to our souls, "Peace, peace," but there will be no peace; there is not the peace of unity, nor the peace of God, for the peace of God is the living peace of love.d 21-26. (21) make ready, lit. bind; put horses to the chariot. against, not with antagonistic intentions, but simply to meet. portion, or lot.a (22) is it peace? prob. the mind of the king was occupied only with the Syrian war, of wh. he supposed Jehu brought tidings. (22) whoredoms, etc., by this Jehu reveals his treachery, and points out the chief object of his attack. (23) turned his hands, ordered the chariot to be turned round, and driven back. (24) between his arms, in the back. sunk, bowed himself. (25) rode, etc., either rode in a chariot after Ahab's chariot;e or rode side by side behind Ahab in his chariot. (26) surely, etc., 1 Ki. xxi. 19. sons, this first mentioned here. An expert archer (v. 24).-It is related by Zosimus, in his f Spk. Com. The account of the battle between Constantius and Magnentius at Assyrian sculp Mursa, that a soldier, whose name was Menelaus, possessed the prob. that Jose- art of shooting three arrows from his bow at one discharge, and phus was right with them could strike three different persons. By this skilful in this interpre-expedient, says the historian, he killed a great number of those syrian monarchs, who opposed him; and the enemy, it might also be said, were when they go out defeated by a single archer. Unfortunately, however, this valuable to war, are freman at last fell by the hands of Romulus, a general of the army quently attended of Magnentius, whom he had first wounded by an arrow. tation. The As by two guards, who stand be- Jehu slays westward of Jez 27-29. (27) saw, the fall of Joram. garden house," Heb. beth-hag-gan, the same as Engannim, or Jenin: due S. of Jezreel. Gur, the ascent of the Samaritan hills. Ibleam, Jos. xvii. 11. Megiddo, 1 Ki. iv. 12. (28) buried him, comp. 2 Chr. xxii. 9. (29) eleventh, comp. ch. viii. 25. Carried in a chariot (v. 28).-What does this funeral chariot, a "His chariot which was carried by men, mean? What we may see in the bore him off, far vicinity of a large town every day of our lives. This chariot, or reel, to Megildo, thandeki (as it is called in Tamul), is about six feet long, three below Mount feet broad, and in the centre about four feet in height. The Carmel."-Kitto. shape is various, and the following is more common than any b Roberts. Jehu orders the death of Jezebel other. The drapery is of white or scarlet cloth, and the whole is covered with garlands of flowers. The servants then carry it on their shoulders to the place of sepulture, or burning. 30-33. (30) painted her face, lit. placed her eyes in paint. Tinged the eyelids and lashes with a dye prepared fr. stibium and antimony. tired her head, dressing herself well a "In perform-so as to show herself a queen to the very last. ing this opera(31) Zimri, tion the eye closed, and is 1 Ki. xvi. 9-15. Some trans. "Hail to the new Zimri," etc. a (32) eunuchs, or officers of the chamber. (33) down, fr. the window or kiosk over the palace-gate. he trode, or they trode. But doubtless Jehu drove right over her. B.C. 884. considered with to power of small ebony rod, Painting the face (v. 30).-In the evening we accompanied smeared them on shore, and took some coffee in the house of the consul, the composition, where we were introduced to the ladies of his family. We were is squeezed between the lids, amused by seeing his wife, a very beautiful woman, sitting cross80 as to tinge legged by us upon the divan of his apartment, and smoking their edges with tobacco with a pipe six feet in length; her eyelashes, as well as colour. This is those of all the other women, were tinged with a black powder add greatly to made of the sulphuret of antimony, and having by no means a the brilliancy cleanly appearance, although considered as essential an addition and to the decorations of a woman of rank in Syria, as her ear-rings, the eye, und to deepen the effect or the golden cinctures of her ankles. Dark streaks were also of the long black pencilled, from the corners of her eyes, along the temples. This eyelashes of curious practice instantly brought to our recollections certain which the Eastpassages of Scripture, wherein mention is made of a custom ably proud." among Oriental women of "putting the eyes in painting ;" and Kitto. which our English translators of the Bible, unable to reconcile Je. iv. 30; Eze. with their notions of a female toilet, have rendered "painting xxiii. 40. the face." b erns are excus v. 31. Bp. G. more of .... for of the and doth the tread sure on True and false beauty.-Hearing a young lady highly praised Williams, 41. for her beauty, Gotthold asked: What kind of beauty do youb Clarke. mean? Merely that of the body, or that also of the mind? I "Every spirit, as see well that you have been looking no further than the sign it is m st rure, which nature displays outside the house, but have never asked and hath in it for the host who dwells within. Beauty is an excellent gift of the heavenly light, God, nor has the pen of the Holy Spirit forgotten to speak its so it the fairer praise: but it is virtuous and godly beauty alone which Scripture body doth prohonours, expressly declaring, on the other hand, that a fair cure to habit in; woman which is without discretion, is a jewel of gold to a soul the body swine's snout (Prov. xi. 22). Many a pretty girl is like the form doth take; flower called the imperial crown, which is admired, no doubt, for for soul is form, its showy appearance, but despised for its unpleasant odour. body make."Were her mind as free from pride, selfishness, luxury, and levity, Spenser. as her countenance from spots and wrinkles, and could she govern her inward inclinations as she does her external carriage, she would have none to match her. But who loves the caterpillar, and such insects, however showy their appearance, and bright and variegated the colours that adorn them, seeing they injure and defile the trees and plants on which they settle? What the better is an apple for its rosy skin, if the maggot have penetrated its heart? What care I for the beautiful brown of the nut, if it be worm-eaten, and fill the mouth with corruption? Even so, external beauty of person deserves no praise, unless matched with the inward beauty of virtue and holiness. It is therefore far better to acquire beauty than to be born with it. The best kind is that which does not wither at the touch of fever, like a flower, but lasts and endures on a bed of sickness, in old age, and even Adams. at death. My God! my beauty exists only in the sunshine of c Scriver. of Thy grace. Without light nothing is beautiful, and unless irradiated by Thy goodness, every object is ugly and hideous. Lord Jesus! Thou fairest of the sons of men, shed on my poor soul the beams of Thy love; that is all the beauty I desire.c 34-37 (34) eat and drink, this is told to show the cool death and way in wh. these dreadful deeds were done. cursed woman, 1 Ki. xxi. 23. king's daughter, 1 Ki. xvi. 31. (35) palms, "Beauty, like ice, our footing does betray; who can the smooth slipper y way? Pleased with the passage, we glide swiftly on, and see the dangers which we cannot shun."-Dryden. "Beauty is like an almanack: if it last a year it is well." burial of Jezebel T. B.C. 884. a Stanley. "The body had in E. stories, etc., the harder parts of the human frame." The half-wild dogs make a rapid clearance of the flesh of dead bodies left exposed. (36) the word, 1 Ki. xxi. 23. (37) this is Jezebel, and so give her burial honours. been left on the A king's daughter (v. 34).-Who was this king's daughter? mounds,' as Jezebel. One of the most infamous of women. Because a king's they are called daughter, she should have tried to be one of the very best. Why? where the offal Influence of example. So we say of rich or well educated people is thrown out- who do wrong, that they are less to be excused than others. But side the city we shall now speak of quite another kind of king's daughter. A gates."-Stanley. good Christian girl is a true princess in the best sense, for she is "In an account the daughter of a King. I. Then consider her duties. 1. Her of the drowning words should be true, etc.: the word of a king is his bond; 2. of a number of Her manner should be courteous: you expect princesses to be Indian pilgrims, a spectator says, polite; 3. Her conduct should be circumspect: princesses often "The only por- set the fashions; 4. Her spirit should be humble: she is daughter tions of the of a King by adoption. His love, not her merits, the reason of I noticed that that relation. II. Consider her situation. 1. Her home, a palace: remained entire the house of God; 2. Her attendants, teachers, etc., all trying to and untouched, help her to adorn her station; 3. Her companions: the daughter of such a King will not associate with the vile and worthless, nor with rebels against her Father; but with the rest of the King's the hands.' household (Ps. xlv. 9). III. Consider her privileges. 1. She The dog has a wears a robe, i.e. of Christ's righteousness; 2. She expects to inherit title, honour, and wealth; 3. She has many instructors in all the high arts of the Christian life learns the language of heaven learns to sing the new song; 4. She is the bride of a King's son. several corpses were the bottoms of the feet and the insides of rooted antipathy to the human hands and feet." -Kitto. b Hive. 1 Ki. xxi. 14-23. v. 36. H. Blunt, Elisha. "This day hath lie scatter'd on coldly embrac Jezreel (v. 36).—After half an hour more we began to ascend a low spur of Mount Gilboa, or rather a projecting knob of rising ground, covered with a few flat-topped huts, and with fresh verdure in pleasant contrast to the fallow plain below, but not relieved by a tree or shrub. This was Zerim, the ancient Jezreel. A lovely position for a capital city, but not a vestige of it remains. made much work for tears in many The very ruins have crumbled from the desolate heaps to flat an English mo- turf-clad hillocks. On the crest a number of Arab boys were ther, whose sons playing at hokey, near a marble sarcophagus, now converted the bleeding into a horse-trough. One other perfect and several broken sarcoground. Many a phagi were strewn about, sculptured with the figure of the widow's husband crescent moon, the symbol of Ashtaroth, the goddess of the grovelling lies, Zidonians; but these were the only relics of the ancient beauty, ing the discol- no greater helps to the identification of Jezreel than "the skull, our'd earth." and the feet, and the palms of the hands" of the accursed queen Shakespeare. were the signs by which men were able to say, "This is Jezreel." "Mind alone On that rocky slope must have been Naboth's vineyard, but not a (bear witness, shrub now clothes the bare hill-side; here must have been the heaven) the liv-watch-tower, where for miles we could trace the route from the ing fountains in Jordan, by which, after dashing up round the knoll of Bethitself contains of shean, Jehu urged on his horses over that smooth plain, as he sublime: here drove from Ramoth-gilead. Down that other side of the hill, hand in hand and across the plain to En-gannim, "the garden house" (2 sit paramount Kings ix. 27), now Jenin, he pursued the flying Ahaziah. With Graces." all these points, so clear and unmistakable, no destruction has been more complete and utter, even in this land of ruins, than that of Jezreel.c earth and beauteous and the Akenside. c Dr. Tristram. CHAPTER THE TENTH. B.C. SS4. the death of Ahab's children a "Including grandsons, and 1-7. (1) sons, the term probably includes descendants.a Jehu orders rulers, princes. brought up, nourished, and educated. (2) master's sons, actual sons of Jehoram. fenced city, such Samaria was. (3) fight for, in this Jehu intimates that he is prepared to struggle for his claim to the throne. (4) two kings, Joram and Ahaziah. (5) over the house, the officer in charge of the palace. over the city, governor of the town. (6) the heads, i.e. behead them. (7) baskets, Heb. dudim.e Poss. Ahab had gathered Naboth's grapes in baskets. great grandsons. Ahab had now een dead about 14 years."Wordsworth. bThe existing usage in Persia, numerous pro- Ahab's seventy sons (v. 1).-To those who are unaccustomed to the effects of polygamy and concubinage, this appears a very and in some remarkable circumstance. In Homer, old King Priam is repre- other Eastern sented as having fifty sons and twelve daughters. Artaxerxes countries, is for the king to throw Mnemon, king of Persia, had, by his concubines, who amounted upon his nobles to three hundred and sixty, not less than one hundred and fifteen the cost of mainsons, besides three by his queen. "Muley Abdallah, who was taining his emperor of Morocco in 1720, is said, by his four wives, and the many thousand women he had in his seraglio during his long reign, to have had seven hundred sons able to mount a horse; but the number of his daughters is not known (Stewart's Journey to Mequinez).§ 8-11. (8) two heaps, one on each side the gate. (9) ye be righteous, Jehu asks a judgment whether all the bloodshed lies on him. (10) fall, etc.," he means that it is evidently the time when God's judgment on the house of Ahab must be fully accom-a 1 Sa. iii. 19. plished. (11) kinsfolk, marg. acquaintance, friends. priests, those connected with the court. d 1 Ki. xxii. 26. e Je. xxiv. 2. f Burder. the house of Ahab destroyed v. 10. R. Warner, Who slew all these? (v. 9). [A temperance sermon].-I. The case of the slaughtered. 1. Their number; 2. Their relationship: our countrymen; 3. Their death: violent, sad, untimely; 4. Their mourning survivors. II. The case of the slaughterer. b Morier. Strong drink.-1. Works by stealth and stratagem; 2. Under patronage in high places; 3. A fashionable poisoner. The heads of the slain (v. 8).-During this fight, ten tomauns were given for every head of the enemy that was brought to the prince; and it has been known to occur, after the combat was over, that prisoners have been put to death in cold blood, in order that the heads, which are immediately despatched to the king, and deposited in heaps at the palace-gate, might make a more considerable show. Arrived at the palace of the pacha, inhabited by the dey, the first object that struck our eyes were six bleeding heads, ranged along before the entrance; and as if this dreadful sight were not sufficient of itself to harrow up the soul, it was still further aggravated by the necessity of stepping over them, in order to pass into the court. They were the heads of some turbulent agas, who had dared to murmur against the dey. "The pacha of Diarbech has sent to Constantinople a circumstantial report of his expedition against the rebels of Mardin. This report has been accompanied by a thousand heads, severed from the vanquished. These sanguinary trophies have been exposed, as usual, at the gate of the seraglio. The Tartar who brought them has obtained a pelisse of honour; presents have VOL. IV. O.T. K "The neighbouring plain with arms is cover'd o'er, the vale an iron harvest seems to yield, of thick-sprung lances in a wav ing field. The polish'd steel gleams terribly from far, and every moment nearer shows the war."-Dryden. c Penanti's Residence in Algiers. The last part of continuing to for bearance of God, is necessarily the worst part of it. |