And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
Read Chapter 20
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
New court of the priests. Why it is so called, does not appear. (Calmet)
Some understand the court for the women; (Salien) others, that for Gentiles. (Le Clerc)
Probably some of the courts had been found too spacious after the schism, and had been neglected; but now, as many had returned to serve the Lord in the dominions of Josaphat, he had made some repairs. (Tirinus) Ver. 7. All, or the greatest part. Hebrew, "drive out the inhabitants. "(Haydock) Ver. 9. Sword of. Protestants, "as the sword, judgment, or "Septuagint, "the sword, judgment, death, famine. "All these are sent in punishment of sin. (Haydock)
The sword of the enemy is a judgment of God. (Menochius) Ver. 12. Judge and punish them, as they fight against thee? (Calmet)
Enough. Yet we read that Josaphat had above a million soldiers; and he knew that his father had discomfited a greater army of Zara with half the forces. He thus puts us in mind that no power can stand against God's will; and he endeavours, by humility, to obtain the protection of heaven. The invading army must, however, have been very numerous, to extort these expressions from a potent king, and to have thrown his whole people into such consternation. It could hardly be less than that of Zara; and thus, in the space of a century, above two millions and a half of idolaters perished by the hand of God, without Juda losing a single man, ver. 29., and chap. xiii. 17. (Haydock) Ver. 13. Children. Even the little infants were deprived of the breasts, on such emergencies, that their cries might be more affecting. (Haydock) (Joel ii. 16., and Judith iv. 8.)
The pagans of Ninive even made the cattle also fast, Jonas iii. 7. (Calmet) (St. Ambrose, ser. 40.) (Tirinus) Ver. 14. Spirit of prophecy. (Menochius)
Jahaziel is known only by this event. (Calmet) Ver. 16. Six. Some translate "flowry ascent. "(Calmet)
Protestants, "the cliff of Ziz. "(Haydock)
If it had been Zin, we might understand the desert of stony Arabia, where Ptolemy places the town of Ziza. (Calmet)
But we may recollect that the army was already advanced as far as Engaddi; (ver. 2,) so that it seems to have lain nearer Jerusalem. (Haydock)
Jeruel, "the fear of God "which name was given to the place, in consequence of the panic with which God struck the enemy. (St. Jerome) (Menochius) Ver. 19. High. Rejoicing at the promised deliverance. (Calmet) Ver. 20. Thecua, two mile east of Bethlehem, on the road to Jeruel. (Adrichomius) (Menochius)
Believe. Faith is the foundation of all good works; (Hebrews xi.) but not alone sufficient, as here the people fasted and prayed, and would have fought, if God had not dispensed with them. See Josue xxiii. (Worthington)
We may also translate Hebrew "trust. "Ver. 21. Ever. This was usually sung in times of joy, chap. v. 13. The army seemed thus to be returning victorious. (Calmet) Ver. 22. Ambushments, placed by the Moabites, (Menochius) and Ammonites, (Haydock) against Juda. Some detachments of Mount Seir, perhaps, coming suddenly on them, were taken for foes, and slaughtered. (Haydock) Ver. 24. Tower. Maspha, in the tribe of Benjamin, (Calmet) or some other (Haydock) eminence. (Menochius) Ver. 25. Insomuch. Hebrew and Septuagint, "Three days passed, while they gathered the spoils, because it was great "(Haydock) "without weight "or estimation. (Calmet) Ver. 26. Blessing. Sts. Jerome and Epiphanius place Caphar-barucha, "the field of blessing "near Hebron, on the east. Hither Abraham attended the Lord, when he was going to destroy Sodom. (Epist. Paulæ.) Ver. 29. Lands, in the vicinity. (Menochius)
Israel, as he had lately treated Zara, chap. xiv. 13. (Haydock) Ver. 33. Places, erected in honour of God, but displeasing to him, chap. xvii. 6. (Haydock)
The good king perhaps attempted to take these also away, but was obliged to desist by the rebellious people. (Menochius)
Hence we find that they are here blamed. (Haydock)
They would not conform exactly to the law, (Leviticus xvii. 3.; Tirinus) and the king was not able to bring all to perfection. (Worthington)
"It is better to pass over. Vices, than to show which we cannot subdue. "(Tacitus, An. iii.) Ver. 34. Which. Septuagint, "who wrote a book of the kings of Israel. "(Haydock)
Jehu rebuked Josaphat, chap. xix. (Calmet)
His book is not extant. (Menochius) Ver. 35. Things: the victory over Ammon (Haydock)
Wicked. See chap. xvi. 3. Ver. 36. Tharsis; probably Cilicia, (Calmet) or some part of the ocean.
Asion-gaber was on the Red Sea; and ships would not have been built there, to trade on the Mediterranean, chap. ix. 21. (Tirinus)
