lifted up against him, seems to have tamely sur-to the Lord in uprightness of heart.'—Every rendered. (Notes, 2 Chr. 12:1-11.) Thus in less than five years from Solomon's death, the temple was plundered, as well as his royal palaces; and Shishak having seized the booty, appears to have relinquished his conquests in Judah.-Reho-ed boam replaced the golden shields with others made of brass: and the use which he made of these shews for what purposes those of gold had been designed; and intimates, that he still on some occasions attended the worship of God at his temple. (Notes, 7:2. 10:16,17.) V. 29. Marg. Ref. Note, 19. V. 30. Rehoboam was not allowed to attack Jeroboam, in the beginning of his reign, and we read of no great battles fought between them: yet by mutual incursions, they molested and weakened each other all their days. (Notes, 12:21-24. 15:6,7.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-20. providential favor demands a return of grateful obedience, and aggravates future transgression; and thus prosperous sinners accumulate guilt and wrath, with a rapidity proportioned to their abusmercies. (Note. Rom. 2:4-6.)-When men have witnessed, and have even gained by, the wrath of God against the sins of other men, and yet imitate and exceed them in iniquity; they may expect to be visited with more tremendous vengeance: and as they dishonor him by their crimes, he will disgrace them in their punishment.-A man is not indeed affected by the indignity shewn to his dead body, or even by the miseries of his posterity; yet the prospect may torment his mind while he lives: such judgments form a proper emblem of the punishment of the wicked after death; and they strongly express the abhorrence and indignation of God for a warning to others.-Instruments will readily be found, among the depraved sons of men, for the most bloody and savage acts of inhumanity: but the circumstance of their be Parents often suffer and are corrected in the who over-rules their crimes to the accomplishing advanced to power by the providence of God, affliction of their children: and on such occasions ment of his own righteous purposes, forms no exthey should examine their lives, repent of their sins, humble themselves before God, submit to his sinners often flatter themselves, that threatened cuse for their ambition and cruelty.-Impeniteut will, seek help from him, and especially pray that judgments are very distant, when they are even the affliction may be sanctified for the good of their at the door; and excuse themselves, because they souls. But sinners are more anxious to know the were persuaded or frighted into compliance.secret purposes of God, than to understand his reAwful indeed will be the doom of those who emreed will and their own duty: and they are often ploy their abilities and authority to make others conscious, that their forms are not to be depended sin; for thousands will for ever execrate some of on; but are afraid that others should perceive their them, as the causes of their eternal perdition. convictions, and despise them. They secretly They however, who yield to temptation, follow reverence the faithful servants of God: and, hav- bad examples, and obey sinful commands, will ing found the truth of some of their words, they provoke the Lord to give them up, and cast them have an inward persuasion, that the rest also will off, unless they deeply repent of their iniquity.— be verified; except as they flatter themselves with The Lord deals with men according to their habithopes of escaping the miseries denounced against ual character: and he will not mention against the them. They form, indeed, very erroneous judg-upright believer, who has cordially followed him, ments both of God and of his servants; yet they those incidental sins of which he has repented, would be glad of help or information in times of and for which he has patiently borne correction. trouble, did they not fear rebukes and warnings. They therefore, either keep at a distance, or at- he frequently reserves an individual or two out of -To shew the power and sovereignty of his grace,. tempt to impose upon faithful ministers, by dis- the worst of families, in whom there is "some good guising their real characters, and pretending kind-thing toward the LORD God of Israel." The fruits ness to them. Indeed the wisest of men may thus of his grace he peculiarly delights in, when they be 'eceived; but God searches every heart, and flourish from the hearts of the young and the affluoften unmasks the hypocrite before the world: heent, and of those who are surrounded with conta1..ore frequently enables his servants to see through their disguises, and to address them in their real, not their assumed characters; and at last he will expose them to universal shame and contempt before the assembled world. What then doth it "avail thee, thou deceiver, to attempt imposing "npon men? "Why feignest thou thyself to be 'another" person? In vain dost thou expect an 'answer of peace, while thou continuest in sin. "The ministers of Christ are all sent to thee with 'heavy tidings: thine attempt to impose on them, or to bribe them by presents, does but increase thy guilt: they will not thus be diverted from giving thee faithful reproofs and awful warnings; and the event will shortly inform thee of the pur'pose of God concerning thee; the foreknowledge of which, would only augment thy misery, ex'cept thou repent of all thy wickedness, and turn gious examples and instructions. When such young persons are spared, they prove blessings to their families and connexions: but their premature death forebodes awful judgments, and may well be mourned over as a public calamity. But they "are taken away from the evil to come," and their death can never be a loss to themselves. V. 21-31. No wonder that they, who live at a distance from the ordinances of God, are hardened in iniquity; when such as are most favored provoke him to jealousy by their crimes, and are uninfluenced by his judgments, mercies, warnings, and promises.-The perpetration of the worst crimes, of the worst of the heathen, in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen for his temple and worship; and at present in this favored land and city; de CHAP. XV. Abijam's wicked reign, 1-7. He dies, and is succeeded by Asa, 8. Asa's good reign, 9-15. In his war with Baasha, he makes a league with Benhadad, king of Syria; compels Baasha to desist from building Ramah; and with the materials builds Geba and Mizpah, 16-22. He dies, and is succeeded by Jehoshaphat, 23, 24. Nadab's wicked reign over Israel, 25, 26. Baasha slays him, seizes the kingdom, and executes Ahijah's prophecy against Jeroboam's family, 27Baasha's wicked reign, 33, 34. 32. 5 Because i David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, * only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his NOW in the eighteenth year of king life. Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, reigned Abijam over Judah. 2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, i and to establish Jerusalem: monstrates, that nothing can render the heart of fallen man holy, but the special sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit: on this alone may we depend; for this may we daily pray, in behalf of ourselves and of all around us!-But sin quickly enfeebles, impoverishes, and disgraces the most prosperous nations: and when holiness, the real glory of a religious profession, is gone, all external splendor will follow it, or become worthless. Yet many, who live in gross wickedness, keep up a formal attendance upon divine ordinances, and are pleased with an ostentatious imitation of the usages of better times; which have lost all their intrinsic value, and retain nothing, except the external glitter that amuses weak and carnal minds.— Death still marches his solemn round, and conveys monarchs from their thrones, as well as peasants from their cottages. Happy are they, and they alone, who possess the "lively hope of an incorruptible inheritance," in that world, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest!" NOTES. CHAP. XV. V. 1—3. (Marg. Ref. a, b. Note, 9.) There is no sufficient ground for the opinion, that Maachah was the daughter of Absalom the son of David. (Marg. Ref. c, d.) She is called "Michaiah the daughter of Uriel," in Chronicles. -His heart was not perfect, &c. (3) Marg. Ref. f. Note, 14.-As Abijam, though a wicked man, was a professed worshipper of JEHOVAH, he is called "the LORD his God." (Note, 2 Chr. 28:5.) V. 4. Notwithstanding the wickedness of Abijam, and others of David's race; they were for his sake continued as "a lamp in Jerusalem:" (Notes, 11:12,13,34-36, v. 36.) and they were made highly useful, both to establish the civil state of that city, and to maintain the true worship of God in it; when the light of divine truth was extinguished in almost all other places of the earth. m save 953. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Abi- гB. C. jam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war bctween Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and P Asa his son reigned in his stead. 9 T And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. 10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. V. 5. Save only, &c.] Many other parts of David's conduct were evidently faulty: but in this instance alone he acted so inconsistently with his profession, in all respects, as otherwise it could scarcely have been conceived, that a truly pious man could have done. (Notes, 2 Sum. 11:) -Those who know the human heart, and the state of a believer in this world of conflict and temptation, will never expect to see in mere man a character and conduct free from blemish and criminality; though they observe many preserved from falling, or from continuing long, under the power of notorious evils. David, however, deeply repented of this part of his conduct; and to the close of his life he shewed himself to be the upright and devoted servant and worshipper of the Lord, and in no instance turned aside to idolatry, or countenanced it in his subjects. (Notes, 11:1-8, conclusion. 1 Chr. 28: 29: Ps. 51:) V. 6, 7. God vouchsafed to continue the royal authority over Judah in the family of David: yet, instead of ruling over Israel aiso, as David and Solomon had done, both Rehoboam and Abijain were harassed by perpetual wars with Jeroboam the king of Israel. Rehoboam left this unnatural war, after it had lasted all his days, to his son Abijam, who obtained a most decisive victory over Jeroboam, but died soon after. (Noles, 14:30. 2 Chr. 13:3—22.) V. 9. Abijam began to reign during the eighteenth year of Jeroboam; he reigned through his nineteenth year, and he died before the close of his twentieth, when Asa succeeded him. Thus Abijam is said, according to the Hebrew idiom, to have reigned "three years," in the same manner as Christ is said to have risen after "three days." Thus also Nadab began to reign in the second year of Asa, and reigned two years: yet Baasha succeeded him in the third year of Asa. (28) This is the way, in which the com [255 in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 11 And Asa did that which was right || the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king ot Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 12 And he took away the Sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa destroyed her idol and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 2 14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 15 And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. [Practical Observations.] 16 T And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and q 3 2 Chr. 14:2,11. 15:17. 16:7 -10. r See on 14:24.-22:46. Rom. 1:26, 27. Jude 7. $ 3. 11:7,8. 14:23. 2 Chr. 14:2 5. Ez. 20:18,19. Zech. 1:26. 1 Pet. 1:18. t 2.10. 2 Chr. 15.13. u Deut. 13:6-11. 33:9. Zech. 13.3. Matt. 10:37. 12:46―30. 2 Cor. 5:16. Gal. 2.5.6,14. Heb. cut off. Lev. 26:30. Deut. 7:5. 2 Kings 13:4. 23:12 -15. 2 Chr. 34:4. v Ex. 32:20. Deut. 9:21. Josh. 6:24. 12 Sam. 15-23. 2 Kings 23:6. John 18:1. Cedron. y 22:43. 2 Kings 12:3. 14:4. 15:4. z 8:61. 11.4. 2 Chr. 15:17. 16:9. 19 There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy fa ther: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 20 So Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and " Dan, and " Abelbeth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. m 21 And it came to pass, P when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in 9 Tirzah. r 22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded: and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and * Mizpah. 8 23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, a See on 7.51.-1 Chr. 26:26 and all his might, and all that he did, and 28. 2 Chr. 14:13. 15:18. t Heb. holy things. b 6,7,32. 14:30. 2 Chr. 16:1, c 27. 2 Chr. 16.1. d 21. Josh. 13:25. 1 Sam. 15: 34. Jer. 31:15. e 12:27. 2 Cnr. 11:13-17. f 15. 14:26. 2 Kings 12:18. 18: putation of the years between the two kingdoms may be made to coincide: for, in the numerous successions in the kingdom of Israel, the same year is frequently twice reckoned; both to him who reigned in its commencement, and to him who succeeded before the close of it. V. 10-13. Maachah was Asa's grandmother, but probably his own mother was dead, and Maachah had brought him up: (Noles, 1-3. 2 Chr. 11:18-23.) he however deprived her of authority, and removed her from court, for her idolatry, which he entirely suppressed.-The words translated, "from being queen," may be rendered, from the queen, namely, lest Maachah should seduce Asa's queen also into idolatry.—Idols. (12) Dhia. Dungy gods. Deut. 29:17. marg. Note, Lev. 26:30. Exvbaλa. Phil. 3:5. An idol. (13): Which imports something of terror and horror, either because it was of a frightful aspect, or brought dreadful "ments on its worshippers.' Bp. Patrick. g 20:1-5,33,34. 2 Kings 8:7 15. h 11:23,24. Gen. 14:15. 15:2. i 2 Chr. 19:2. Is. 31:1. k 2 Sam. 21:2. 2 Chr. 16:3. Ez. n 2 Sam 20:14, 15. o Josh 11-2. 12:3. q 14:17. 16:15-18. Heb. free. Cant. 6:4 s Josh. 18:24. Gaba. 21:17. Gen. 14:14. Judg. u 7,3. 14:29-31. deliberate wickedness. (Notes, 5,17–24. 2 Chr. 16: Ps. 19:12-14.) But some explain it to mean no more, than that he never turned aside from the worship of God to idolatry, as Solomon had done.-He had not, however, zeal and resolution enough to suppress the high places, on which the people sacrificed to the Lord, instead of coming to the temple; though he destroyed the idols out of the land. (Notes, 3:2—4.) V. 15. It seems that Abijam, in his war with Jeroboam, had made some vow of dedicating the spoil to God, which he did not live to perform. But Asa fulfilled it, as well as a similar vow of his own. (Marg. Ref. Noles, Lev. 27:28,29. 2 Chr. 14:9-15.) V. 16-22. (25-31.) The conduct of Asa evidently arose from unbelief, and was very crimi nal in itself. It was wholly wrong to tempt Benhadad to "break his league" with the king of Israel; and still worse to hire him to it with the consecrated treasures of the temple: and the cajudg-vasions on the inhabitants of the cities in the lamities and miseries brought by Ben-hadad's innorthern part of the land, were very great. This cccurred in the latter years of Asa's reign.Baasha's policy was not unlike the impious devices of Jeroboam: (Note, 12:26-29.) but God could have turned it into foolishness, without Asa opposing it by a policy not more justifiable. (Notes, 2 Chr. 16:1—10.) V. 14. Was perfect, &c.] This may be opposed to the external good behavior, and the insincere and divided heart, of hypocrites; and may signify, that Asa was cordially devoted to the service and worship of God all his days; and that his sins arose from infirmity, not from presumptuous, || the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. B. C h 29 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 24 And Asa slept with his fa914. thers, and was buried with his fahers in the city of David his father: and 30 Because of the sins of Jeroboam y Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. which he sinned, and which he made Is25 ¶ And Nadab the son of Jerobo-rael sin, by his provocation wherewith ambegan to reign over Israel in the he provoked the LORD God of Israel to second year of Asa, king of Judah, and anger. reigned over Israel two years. a 26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. e 27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him: and Baasha smote him at Gibbehon, which belongeth to the Philistines; (for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon;) 28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. x 2 Chr. 16:12-14. Ps. 90:10. | 22:52. z 14:12,20. Heb. reigned. a 16:7,25,30. 12:28-33. 13:33,34. Gen. 20:9. Ex. 32:21. 1 Sam. 2:24. 2 Kings 3:3. 21: d See on 16,17. e 16:9. 2 Kings 12:20. f 16:15,17. Josh 19:44. 21:29. V. 23, 24. Marg. Ref.—Notes, 14:19. 2 Chr. 16:12-14.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-15. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are 3 they not written. in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, 1twenty and four years. 34 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. rents' sake, often forsake their righteous ways, and but few, especially in superior stations, or V. 27. Gibbethon.] Marg. Ref.-Note, 16:15. among kings and rulers, have hitherto served V. 29, 30. No doubt Baasha left the dead God in uprightness of heart. He has, however, bodies of Jeroboam's family unburied, as it had still taken care of his cause; while those, who been predicted. (Notes, 14:9-14.) It is also ought to have been serviceable to it, have perreferred to as a well-known fact_in_subse-ished in their sins: and the Son of David will quent passages. (16:3,4. 21:22-24.) Baasha, continue a Light to his church, to establish it in however, only sought to secure himself in the|| truth_and_righteousness, to the end of time, and kingdom by this cruelty, and therefore he im- for ever. (Note, Rev. 21:22—27.)-It is happy for itated Jeroboam in his idolatry and other impi- nations, when wicked rulers are speedily removeties. (34. Notes, 16:2-7.) ed; and when the righteous come in their stead, and are long preserved, "to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD."-Those who would please him, and promote reformation, must prefer his glory to the reputation of every friend or relative: nay, they must oppose the crimes even of their own parents, though this may seem a reflection upon the memory of the deceased, or a slight put upon the characters of the living. Nor may any age, sex, or relative tie, induce euch as are intrusted with authority, to allow those to possess power or influence, who abuse it to the dishonor of God, and to promote idolatry, superstition, or ungodliness; and in every situation our duty to him must have the precedency over all other duties. (Notes, Matt. 10:37-39. Luke 14:25-27.) How absurd then is it, to be satisfied with a religion, merely because our fathers professed it! for indeed that reason, if allowed to be valid, would generally prove that men ought to continue in idolatry, superstition, and immorality. (Note and P. O. 1 Pet. 1:17-21.)-Every reformation upon earth has hitherto been defective: the utmost attain ment of fallen man has been an upright and persevering endeavor to glorify God; and this meets with his merciful acceptance, by faith in Jesus Christ. Even a superficial acquaintance with the divine law may enable us to perceive evident defects in the conduct of eminent believers; and man's natural enmity to God and his servants disposes him to delight in severely animadverting on them: yet if the habitual conduct of the righteous, towards God and man, be impartially contrasted with that of unbelievers, the difference is very visible, and they appear to be of another spirit, and far more excellent than their neighbors. But when the secret desires and good works of the righteous, and the secret evils of the hearts and lives of ungodly men, shall be made manifest at the day of judgment; the glory of the divine justice and mercy will be displayed to the whole world, in the allotment of their everlasting porion of happiness or misery. (Note, Mal. 3:13 -18.) The general conduct of the Lord's servants may therefore be held forth as an example for imitation: and numbers are blessed on their account, both while they live, and after they are gone to their rest. But alas! even children, who Lave been favored and spared for their pa CHAP. XVI. Jehu the prophet predicts the ruin of Baasha's family, 1-4. slays Elah, succeeds him, and fulfils Jehu's prophecy, 8-14 Omri usurps the kingdom, and besieges Zimri in Tirzah, who burns himself in the palace, 15-20. Tibni opposes Omri, who prevails against him, 21, 22. Omri builds Samaria, reigns very wickedly, dies, and is succeeded by Ahab, 23-28. Ahab's excessive wickedness and idolatry, as instigated by his wife Jezebel, 29-33. Joshua's curse on him that should rebuild Jericho, is fulfilled on Hiel, 34. b HEN the word of the LORD came to a c 2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; e 3 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. h 5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, 8,13,14. V. 16-34. Even true believers find it very difficult in times of urgent danger, "to trust in the LORD with all their heart, and not to lean to their own understanding:" and unbelief proportionably makes way for carnal policy. This has often induced Christians to call in the help of the enemies of God, in their contests with their brethren; to spend that time and substance to obtain their favor, which ought to have been devoted to|| the Lord's service; and to tempt others to behave deceitfully or cruelly. Such evils have frequently disgraced religious disputes: the victories thus acquired have weakened the common cause, and ended in shame and bitterness: and some, who once shone bright in the meridian of the church, have been thus covered with a dark cloud toward the close of their days. May God help us "to follow after peace, and those things, wherewith one may edify another;" that our "path may shine more and more bright unto the perfect day!"-But after all, how much happier are those who are connected with godly people, than such as have their lot cast among the profane and wicked! (Note, 16:21,22.)-Wretched is it for others, but most so for themselves, when children inherit the vices, with the estates, of their wicked parents: their temporal calamities may arise from the sins of their fathers; but "the wrath to come" will be the recompense of their own crimes.-Ungodly men execute the just judgment of God upon each other, whilst gratifying their own ambition, avarice, or revenge; and at the same time they ripen for severer vengeance, by imitating the sins of those whom they have supplanted. Many suffer, and many are induced to commit iniquity, by such rulers and usurpers. But in the midst of all these enormities, and this apparent confusion, the Lord is carrying on his universal plan: and when it shall be fully completed, all rational and holy creatures, and all 28 k See on 1,2. 1 Ps. 115:4. Is. 2:8. 44:9-20. 2 Kings 9:14. 12:20. 15:10,25,30. o 20:16. 1 Sam. 25.36-38. 2 Sam. 13:28,29. Prov. 23:29--35. Jer. 51:57. Dan. 5:1-4, 30. Nah. 1:10. Hab. 2:15,16. Matt. 24:49-51. Luke 21:34. Heb. which was over. Gen. 15:2. 24:2,10. 39:4,9. the company of redeemed sinners, will perceive, admire, and adore the glorious justice, wisdom, truth, and mercy, displayed in every part of it, through all the ages of eternity. NOTES. CHAP. XVI. V. 1. Hanani, the father of Jehu, was a prophet, as well as his son. (Note, 2 Chr. 16:7-10.) Jehu was a young man at this time, and he continued for many years employed by the Lord, and useful to his people. (Notes, 2 Chr. 19:2. 20:31-34.)-Thus a succession of prophets was raised up in the nation of Israel, through every generation, till the advent of Christ approached. (Preface to Malachi.) V. 2. The conduct of Baasha, in conspiring against Nadab, and murdering him and Jeroboam's family, was highly criminal. But the success of his conspiracy, and his advancement from a very low condition, to the throne of Israel, were from the Lord; whose benefits aggravated the guilt of his subsequent idolatry and wickedness. (Note, 2 Sam. 12:8.)-God acknowledged Israel as his people, notwithstanding their apostacy, because they professed themselves his worshippers; because there were many believers in the land; and because he intended to maintain religion among them, and not utterly to cast them off. This also was an aggravation of Baasha's sin; that being, by Providence, made prince over the Lord's people, he employed his authority in causing them to sin against him. V. 3-6. (Notes, 14:5-14.) Baasha was not slain, but died and was buried; Jeroboam also died: but the threatenings were executed on his whole family and posterity. I will take away. (3) : I will consume as by fire. V. 7. It is likely, that Jehu was sent from Judah, of which kingdom he seems to have been, |