Commentari biblici

Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat. — But in the second year of Jehoram, 2 Kings 1:17 whom his father Jehoshaphat had made viceroy; but misliking his son’s evil practices, as it is probable, he resumed the sceptre.

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And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.

But not like his father, and like his mother. — Not all out so bad; and yet not very much better than they. Optimi putantur si vel leviter mali sint, saith a Popish writer concerning the Popes of Rome, vel minus boni quam caeteri mortales esse solent. They are held very good popes if they be not grossly evil; or if somewhat less good than other men use to be. Think the same of the kings of Israel.

For he put away the image of Baal. — This was somewhat toward a reformation, and he was drawn to it by good Jehoshaphat’s persuasion likely, who hoping to work further with him, was content to be his confederate, as it followeth.

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Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

Nevertheless he cleaved. — This partiality in reformation marreth all. God liketh not that men should plough here, and make a balk there: this is putid hypocrisy.

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And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.

And Mesha king of Moab. — Mesha signifieth Salvation, a fit name for a king. But this man might as ill deserve it, as did Antiochus, surnamed Soter, that is, a saviour: not for any great good he did, but because he did not much harm.

With the wool. — It was grown to a proverb among our forefathers, Curia Romana non petit ovem sine lana. Rain., De Idol. Rom., p. 272.

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But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

When Ahab was dead. — Elephanti mortuo vel mus insultat. But besides the death of Ahab, Ahaziah his son and successor was weak; and hence this revolt of Moab from him.

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And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.

The same time. — That is, So soon as by the death of his brother he came to the kingdom.

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And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, [and] my horses as thy horses.

And he said, I will go up. — See on 2 Kings 3:2 . The Moabites had lately, with other nations, invaded Judah, 2 Chronicles 20:1 and therefore it may be Jehoshaphat hearkened the rather to Jehoram’s motion.

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And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

The way through the wilderness of Edom. — Imprudens erat hoc responsum et concilium. Jehoshaphat spoke this impoliticly; and no wonder, since he consulted not time enough with God, by his prophets. Jehoshaphat is usually an Epimetheus, a postmaster, an after wit.

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