The Expositor's Bible
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t LiekAkY FROM ^•J?-.,,?:r9^^X 2^0.7 28015 \ T^ No. Pti 2 '^m.^ (f^.r^^^»^Jd' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Brigham Young University «c http://www.archive.org/details/expositorsbible10nico2 rilK EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE EDITED BY THE KEV. W. ROBERTSON NICOLL, M.A., LL.D. Editor of " The Exposilot;'" etc. THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS BY F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S NEW YORK A. c. armstro:ng and son 3 AND 5 WEST EIGHTcENTlI STREET LoNDOxN' : HODDER AND STOUGHTON 1903 THE EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE. Crown Svo, cloth ^ price %i,^o each vol. First Series, 1887-8. Fifth Series, 1891-2. Colossians, The Psalms. By the Rev. A. Maclarhn, D.D. Vol. I. By the Rev. A. Maclarbn, D.D. 1 and 2 Thessalonians. St. Mark. By Prof. James Dennhv, D.D. By the Right Rev. the Bishop of Derry. Genesis. The Book of Job. By the Rev. R. A. Watson, M.A., D.D. By Prof. Marcus Dods, D.D. Ephesians. 1 Samuel. By Prof. G. G. Findlav, B.A , D.D. By Prof. W. G. Blaikie, D.D. 2 Samuel. The Gospel of St. John. By Prof. M. Dods, D.D. Vol II. By the same Author. Hebrews. The Acts of the Apostles. By Prof. Stokes, D.D. Vol, II. By Principal T. C. Edwards, D.D. Sixth Series, 1892-3. Second Series, 1888-9. 1 Kings. Galatlans. By the Very Rev. the Dean of Canterbury. Findlav, B.A., D.D By Prof. G. G. Philippians. The Pastoral Epistles. By Principal Rainy, D.D. D.D. By the Rev. A. Plummhr, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Isaiah i.—xxxix. By Prof W. F. Adenev, M.A. By Prof. G. A. Smith, D.D. Vol. I. Joshua. The Book of Revelation. By Prof. W. G. Blaikie, D.D. By Prof. W. Milligan, D.D. The Psalms. 1 Corinthianaft^ By the Rev. A. Maclaren, D.D. Vol. II. By Prof. Marcus Dods, D.D, The Epistles of St. Peter. The Epistles of St. John. By Prof. Rawson Lumby, D.D. By the Most Rev. the Archbishop of Armagh. Seventh Series, 1893-4. 2 Kings. Third Series, 1889-go. By the Very Rev. the Dean of Canterbury. Judges and Ruth. Romans. By the Rev. R. A. Watson, M.A., D.D By the Right Rev. H. C. G. Moule, D.D. Jeremiah. The Books of Chronicles. By the Rev. C. J. Ball, M.A. By Prof. W. H. Bennett, M.A. Isaiah xl.—lxvi. 2 Corinthians. By Prof. G. A. Smith, D.D. Vol. II. By Prof. James Denney, D.D. St. Matthew. Numbers. By the Rev. J. Monro Gibson, D.D. By the Rev. R. A. Watson, M.A.,*D.D. Exodus. Psalms. By the Right Rev. the Bishop of Derry. The Bythe Rev. A. Maclaren, D.D. Vol. III. St. Luke. By the Rev. H. Burton, M.A. Eighth Series, 1895-6. Daniel. Fourth Series, 1890-91. By the Very Rev. the Dean of Canterbury. Ecclesiastes. The Book of Jeremiah. By the Rev. Samuel Cox, D.D. By Prof. W. H. Bennett, M.A. St. James and St. Jude. Deuteronomy. By the Rev. A. Plummer, D.D. By Prof. Andrew Harper, B.D. Proverbs. The Song of Solomon and By the Rev. R. F. Horton, D.D. Lamentations. Leviticus. By Prof. W. F. Adeney, M.A. By the Rev. S. H. Kellogg, D.D. Ezekiel. The Gospel of St. John. ByProT. John Skinner, M.A. By Prof. M. Dods, D.D, Vol. I. The Books of the Twelve The Acts of the Apostles. Prophets. By Prof. Stokes, D.D. Vol. I. By Prof. G. A. Smith, D.D. Two Vols. THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S. LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; DEAN OF CANTERBURY -t SECOND EDITION NEW YORK A. C. ARMSTRONG AND SON 3 AND 5 WEST EIGHTEENTH STREET London : RODDER AND STOUGHTON 1903 Printed by Hazel!, Watson (5= Vi'ney, Ld., London and Aylesbury, England. — CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE AHAZIAH BEN-AHAB OF ISRAEL (b.C. 855-854) . 3 A weak, shadowy, and faithless king— I. Relations between Judah and Israel — 2. Alliance with Jehoshaphat—3. Revolt of Moab—Mesha and the Moabite Stone—4. The fall from the lattice—Baal-Zebub—Elijah calling down fire from heaven How are we to judge respecting the Elijah-spirit?—Variations of moral standard. CHAPTER II THE ASCENSION OF ELIJAH ...... I9 Uncertain date —The journey to Gilgal ; to Bethel ; to Jericho ; to the Jordan—The double portion —Chariot and horses of fire—Elisha recrosses the Jordan— The young prophets and their search—Grandeur of Elijah. CHAPTER III ELISHA 25 C3 cle of supernatural stories —Elisha and Elijah—The cure of the unwholesome fountain—"Go up, thou bald-head" The children and the bears. CHAPTER IV THE INVASION OF MOAB 29 Death of Ahaziah—Jehoram Ben-Ahab of Israel—Good beginnings—Attempts to recover Moab—Alliance with Judah and Edom—The invasion—An army perishing of thirst—Elisha —Music—Trenches in the wady—Error of the Moabites | — vi CONTENTS PAGE Their disastrous rout— Devastation of the country—Mesha propitiates Chemosh— " Great wrath against Israel "—The invading army retreats. CHAPTER V elisha's miracles 40 Their chronological vagueness—Difierence between Elisha and Elijah—Contrasts and resemblances — Social life in Israel I. The widow and the oil — 2. The lady of Shunem—Her hospitality—Her reward—3. The boy's death —Her distress —The resuscitation—4. Death in the pot— 5. The multiplied first-fruits. CHAPTER VI THE STORY OF NAAMA 50 The little maid —The leper— Letter of Benhadad to Jehoram — His indignation —Elisha's message—Naaman's disappoint- ment and anger—His servants—His healing—His gratitude Bowing in the house of Rimmon—Mean cupidity of Gehazi —Stricken with leprosy —The axe-head. CHAPTER VII ELISHA AND THE SYRIANS 66 Syrian marauders—They are baffled —Anger of Benhadad The vision at Dothan—Meaning of the promises —How ful- filled to God's saints on earth —Some are delivered, some are not—Elisha misleads the Syrians—His generosity to them Its effects—A fresh Syrian invasion. CHAPTER VIII THE FAMINE AND THE SIEGE . ..76 Horrible straits of the besieged Samaritans— Stress of famine—The King of Israel —The miserable women—Sack- cloth under the purple—The king's fury and despair—He threatens Elisha—The messenger—Th king upbraids him Prophecy of sudden plenty—The disbelieving lord—The extra- mural lepers—The Syrian camp—The king's misgivings —The lord killed in the rush of the people. — CONTENTS vii CHAPTER IX PAGE THE SHUNAMMITE AND HAZAEL ..... 87 The lady of Shunem leaves her estate —Her return —Gehazi talks with the king—Entrance of the Shunammite—Her estates restored — Elisha visits Damascus—A royal present — Ben- hadad's illness — Hazael —The dark prophecy— Unexplained death of Bcnhadad —Hazacl's usurpation—Real meaning of Elisha's. words to Hazael. CHAPTER X TWO SONS OF JEHOSHAPHAT 99 Jehoram (b.c. 851-843)—Ahaziah (b.c. 843-842) —Jehoram ben-Jehoshaphat of Judah— Perplexing uncertainty of minute chronological details—The blight of the Jezebel-alliance—The husband of Athaliah —His apostasies—Revolt of Edom Narrow escape of Jehoram—Revolt of Libnah—Jehoram's murder by his brethren —Philistine invasion —Incurable disease —Ahaziah ben-Jehoram—Joins his uncle (Jehoram ben-Ahab) in the campaign against Ramoth-Gilead—Visits him at Jezreel —Shot down by Jehu. CHAPTER XI THE REVOLT OF JEHU (b.C. 842) .... I06 Misery of Jehoram's reign —Thwarted invasion of Moab —Aggression of Benhadad—At Ramoth-Gilead—The young prophet — The two kings absent from the camp — The dangerous commission — The assembled captains — Jehu secretly anointed —His accession enthusiastically welcomed by the army— His sudden enthronement —His swift resolution The watchman at Jezreel—The two horsemen—The two kings —Their murder—Ferocity of Jehu—Elijah's prophecy—Jezebel —She is hurled down—Jehu drives over her body—The curse fulfilled. CHAPTER XII. JEHU ESTABLISHED ON THE THRONE (b.C. 842-814) . 125 His politic subtlety—The murder of the seventy princes— The ghastly heaps— Hypocritic ferocity. — viU CONTENTS CHAPTER XIII PAGE FRESH MURDERS—THE EXTIRPATION OF BAAL-WORSHIP (b.c. 842) 13T Wading through blood to a throne—The ride to Samaria The brethren of Ahaziah of Judah—The corpse-choked tank of the shepherds—The Bedawy ascetic —The scene of slaughter in the temple of Baal— Did Elisha approve of these atrocities? —Prophetic judgment on Jehu—Ravages of Hazael —Jehu's anguish—He pays tribute to Assyria. CHAPTER XIV ATHALIAH (b.C. 842-836)—JOASH OF JUDAH (b.C. 836-796) 146 The murderess-daughter of Jezebel— Fierce ambition Jehosheba—The rescued child —Reared in the Temple —The high priest's plot—The coronation of the boy-king —Athaliah enters the Temple—Her murder—The fate of Baal's high priest— Proposed restoration of the Temple—Joash calls to task the defaulting priests—Death of Jehoiada— Defection 01 Joash—Murder of Zechariah —Bad record of the line of Jewish priests—Hazael attacks Judah —Defeat of Joash and plunder of Jerusalem —Murder of Joash—Names of the murderers. CHAPTER XV AMAZIAH OF JUDAH (b.C. 796-783 [?] ) . 167 The House of David — Amaziah brings to justice the murderers of his father, but spares their children—Grounds for this —Different views taken of him by the historian and the chronicler—Splendid victory of Amaziah in the Valley of Salt —Expansion of the story in the Chronicles —His defiance of Joash—His defeat and murder. CHAPTER XVI THE DYNASTY OF JEHU—JEHOAHAZ (b.C.