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繁體中文
英語原文
In this chapter, I. The history of two of the kings of Judah is briefly recorded:—1. Of Azariah, or Uzziah, 2Ki 15:1-7. 2. Of Jotham his son, 2Ki 15:32-38. II. The history of many of the kings of Israel that reigned at the same time is given us in short, five in succession, all of whom, except one, went down slain to the pit, and their murders were their successors. 1. Zachariah, the last of the house of Jehu, reigned six months, and then was slain and succeeded by Shallum, 2Ki 15:8-12. 2. Shallum reigned one month, and then was slain and succeeded by Menahem, 2Ki 15:13-15. 3. Menahem reigned ten years, or tyrannised rather, such were his barbarous cruelties (2Ki 15:16) and unreasonable exactions (2Ki 15:20), and then died in his bed, and left his son to succeed him first, and then suffer for him, 2Ki 15:16-22. 4. Pekahiah reigned two years, and then was slain and succeeded by Pekah, 2Ki 15:23-26. 5. Pekah reigned twenty years, and then was slain and succeeded by Hoshea, the last of all the kings of Israel (2Ki 15:27-31) for things were now working and hastening apace towards the final destruction of that kingdom.
1-7
The Reign of Azariah (798 BC)
繁體中文
亞撒利雅的治理（主前798年）
¹ 以色列王耶羅波安第二十七年，猶大王亞瑪謝的兒子亞撒利雅登基。
² 他登基的時候年十六歲，在耶路撒冷作王五十二年。他母親名叫耶可利雅，是耶路撒冷人。
³ 亞撒利雅行耶和華眼中看為正的事，效法他父親亞瑪謝一切所行的；
⁴ 只是邱壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裡獻祭燒香。
⁵ 耶和華降災與王，使他長大痲瘋，直到死的那日；他就住在別的宮裡。他的兒子約坦管理家事，治理這地的百姓。
⁶ 亞撒利雅其餘的事、凡他所行的，豈不都寫在猶大諸王記上麼？
⁷ 亞撒利雅與他列祖同睡，人把他與列祖同葬在大衛城裡；他兒子約坦接續他作王。
這是亞撒利雅作王的簡短記述。1. 其中大多是一般性的，與論到別人的相同；他年幼登基、作王長久（2Ki 15:2），大部分時候行正事（2Ki 15:3）（好的治理長久，是國家的福氣），只是他沒有足夠的熱心和勇氣廢去邱壇（2Ki 15:4）。2. 那特別之處（2Ki 15:5，即神使他長大痲瘋），在2Ch 26:16-21等處有更詳盡的記述，連同其緣由；在那裡我們也讀到他在位前半期光榮的更詳盡記述，以及後半期不光彩的事。他行耶和華眼中看為正的事，正如亞瑪謝所行的；像他一樣，他開始得好，卻未完成到底就失敗了。此處我們被告知，（1）他長了大痲瘋。最偉大的人不僅受一般人性的共同災禍所制，也受其共同軟弱所制；他們若犯了什麼大罪，也與最卑微的人一樣，同樣暴露在神報應最嚴厲的擊打之下。（2）神用這大痲瘋擊打他，為要懲罰他擅自侵入祭司職任的狂妄。偉人若驕傲，神總要借某種方式使他們謙卑，使他們知道神既在他們之上、也反對他們，因為他阻擋驕傲的人。（3）他直到死的那日仍是大痲瘋患者。雖然我們有理由相信他悔改了，罪也蒙了赦免，但為了警告別人，他活著的日子仍被留在這神不高興的記號之下；這也許對他的靈魂是有益的。（4）他住在別的宮裡，因按律法在禮儀上成了不潔，雖然是君王，也必順服這規條。那擅自侵入神殿、強充祭司的人，如今被公正地逐出自己的宮殿，此後被當作囚犯或隱士一般關起來。我們推想他那別的宮已盡可能安排得舒適稱心。有人譯作自由之屋，他在其中可以自由取樂。然而，對一個向來如此尊貴、如此勤於事務的人而言，被隔離於社會之外、總是住在別的宮裡，是極大的磨煉；這幾乎使生命本身成為重擔——即使是君王，雖然總只能與比自己卑微的人交往，也是如此；最有默想功夫的人也很快會厭倦。（5）他的兒子在朝廷（因他管理家事）和國家（因他治理這地的百姓）的事務上作他的副手；他有這樣的兒子填補他的位置，既是他自己的安慰，也是國家的福氣。
英語原文
The Reign of Azariah (798 BC)
¹ In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
² Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
³ And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
⁴ Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.
⁵ And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.
⁶ And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
⁷ So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
This is a short account of the reign of Azariah. 1. Most of it is general, and the same that has been given of others; he began young and reigned long (2Ki 15:2), did, for the most part, that which was right, 2Ki 15:3 (it was happy for the kingdom that a good reign was a long one), only he had not zeal and courage enough to take away the high places, 2Ki 15:4. 2. That which is peculiar, 2Ki 15:5 (that God smote him with a leprosy) is more largely related, with the occasion of it, 2Ch 26:16-21, etc., where we have also a fuller account of the glories of the former part of his reign, as well as of the disgraces of the latter part of it. He did that which was right, as Amaziah had done; like him, he began well, but failed before he finished. Here we are told, (1.) That he was a leper. The greatest of men are not only subject to the common calamities, but also to the common infirmities, of human nature; and, if they be guilty of any heinous sin, they lie as open as the meanest to the most grievous strokes of divine vengeance. (2.) God smote him with this leprosy, to chastise him for his presumptuous invasion of the priests' office. If great men be proud men, some way or other God will humble them, and make them know he is both above them and against them, for he resisteth the proud. (3.) That he was a leper to the day of his death. Though we have reason to think he repented and the sin was pardoned, yet, for warning to others, he was continued under this mark of God's displeasure as long as he lived, and perhaps it was for the good of his soul that he was so. (4.) That he dwelt in a separate house, as being made ceremonially unclean by the law, to the discipline of which, though a king, he must submit. He that presumptuously intruded into God's temple, and pretended to be a priest, was justly shut out from his own palace, and shut up as a prisoner or recluse, ever after. We suppose that his separate house was made as convenient and agreeable as might be. Some translate it a free house, where he had liberty to take his pleasure. However, it was a great mortification to one that had been so much a man of honour, and a man of business, as he had been, to be cut off from society and dwell always in a separate house: it would almost make life itself a burden, even to kings, though they have never any to converse with but their inferiors; the most contemplative men would soon be weary of it. (5.) That his son was his viceroy in the affairs both of his court (for he was over the house) and of his kingdom (for he was judging the people of the land); and it was both a comfort to him and a blessing to his kingdom that he had such a son to fill up his room.
8-31
The Reigns of Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea (758 BC)
繁體中文
撒迦利雅、沙龍、米拿現、比加轄、比加之治理（主前758年）
⁸ 猶大王亞撒利雅第三十八年，耶羅波安的兒子撒迦利雅在撒馬利亞作以色列王六個月。
⁹ 他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，效法他列祖所行的，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
¹⁰ 雅比的兒子沙龍背叛他，在百姓面前擊殺他，篡了他的位。
¹¹ 撒迦利雅其餘的事，看哪，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
¹² 這正是從前耶和華對耶戶所說的話，說：你的子孫必坐以色列的國位，直到第四代。事情果然如此。
¹³ 猶大王烏西雅第三十九年，雅比的兒子沙龍登基，在撒馬利亞作王一個月。
¹⁴ 迦底的兒子米拿現從得撒上撒馬利亞，在那裡擊殺雅比的兒子沙龍，篡了他的位。
¹⁵ 沙龍其餘的事，和他所行的背叛，看哪，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
¹⁶ 那時米拿現攻打提斐薩和屬提斐薩的人，並四境；因他們不給他開門，他就攻打；其中所有懷孕的婦人，他都剖開。
¹⁷ 猶大王亞撒利雅第三十九年，迦底的兒子米拿現在以色列登基，在撒馬利亞作王十年。
¹⁸ 他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，終身不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
¹⁹ 亞述王普勒來攻擊那地；米拿現給普勒一千他連得銀子，請他幫助自己堅固國位。
²⁰ 米拿現向以色列一切富足大能的人索要銀子，各人五十舍客勒，好給亞述王。於是亞述王回去，不在那地停留。
²¹ 米拿現其餘的事、凡他所行的，豈不都寫在以色列諸王記上麼？
²² 米拿現與他列祖同睡；他兒子比加轄接續他作王。
²³ 猶大王亞撒利雅第五十年，米拿現的兒子比加轄在撒馬利亞登基作以色列王，作王兩年。
²⁴ 他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
²⁵ 比加轄的將軍利瑪利的兒子比加背叛他，在撒馬利亞王的宮裡，同亞珥歌伯和亞利耶，並基列人五十人，擊殺他，篡了他的位。
²⁶ 比加轄其餘的事、凡他所行的，看哪，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
²⁷ 猶大王亞撒利雅第五十二年，利瑪利的兒子比加在撒馬利亞登基作以色列王，作王二十年。
²⁸ 他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
²⁹ 以色列王比加的日子，亞述王提革拉毘列色來攻取了以雲、亞伯伯瑪迦、亞挪、基低斯、夏瑣、基列、加利利、拿弗他利全地，把這些地方的居民都擄到亞述去了。
³⁰ 以拉的兒子何細亞背叛利瑪利的兒子比加，擊殺他，篡了他的位，在烏西雅的兒子約坦第二十年登基。
³¹ 比加其餘的事、凡他所行的，看哪，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
以色列國最好的日子，是政權在耶戶家族手中的時候。在他和接下來三個王的治理下，以色列雖有許多可憎的腐敗和可悲的弊端，王位卻是按繼承傳遞，君王在床上壽終，國政也得著照料；但那些日子如今已經結束，本章我們所讀到的約三十三年的歷史，描繪了那國在想像得到的最混亂狀態中的景象。在那些日子裡，懷孕的和奶孩子的有禍了（2Ki 15:16），因為那時必有極大的苦難；那時因地上居民的過犯，首領眾多。
I. 讓我們一般地留意這些不幸的變革和必隨之而來的災禍——這些誠然可稱為壞時光的歲月。1. 神曾以審判和憐憫試驗以色列百姓，並由他的僕人眾先知加以解釋和強調，他們卻仍不肯悔改歸正，所以神公正地把這些災禍加在他們身上，正如摩西所警告的。你們若仍行事與我反對，我就要七倍地懲罰你們（Le 26:21-26等）。2. 神兌現了對耶戶的應許，使他的子孫直到第四代坐在以色列的寶座上，這是賜給在他之前或之後任何王家的更大恩典。神曾說必如此（2Ki 10:30），本章（2Ki 15:12）告訴我們果然如此。看神對他應許何等信實。這些災禍是神早為以色列定的，他們也理當受；然而直到那句話完全應驗之後，才臨到他們。如此神獎賞耶戶滅除巴力敬拜和亞哈家的熱心；然而當耶戶家的罪惡滿盈時，神仍要向它追討那時所流的血——稱為耶斯列的血（Ho 1:4）。3. 這些王都行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，因為他們都行尼八的兒子耶羅波安的罪。他們彼此傾軋，卻在維持偶像崇拜上一致同意；百姓也喜愛如此；他們雖被從這器皿倒在那器皿裡，那味道仍在其中，那氣味也沒有改變。當他們的政權如此頻繁更迭，卻從不變好——在所有這些相爭的利益中，竟沒有一個像別人從前支持金牛犢那樣，以毀滅金牛犢為己任，這誠然可悲。4. 這些王中每一個（除了一位）都背叛前任並殺了他——沙龍、米拿現、比加、何細亞，都是叛徒和殺人凶手，卻都稱王一時——其中一個十年，另一個二十年，又一個九年；因為神可以暫時容讓惡人亨通、暫時奪取財富和尊榮，但或遲或早，血債必以血償，行事詭詐的必遭詭詐對待。一個惡人常常成為鞭笞另一個惡人的鞭子，而每個惡人至終成為自己的毀滅。5. 大人物的野心使國家陷於痛苦。這裡有提斐薩，一座以色列的城，連同其四境，被其中一個覬覦者野蠻地毀滅了（2Ki 15:16）；無疑每一位都是踏著血路登上寶座的，這些王中也沒有一個能獨自滅亡。一個國家不能有更大的禍害，以色列也不能有更壞的患難，勝過那些不在乎國家的福祉和安寧被自己的報復和統治慾犧牲多少的人。6. 當國家這樣被內部分裂所震撼時，亞述諸王，先一個（2Ki 15:19）後又一個（2Ki 15:29），來攻擊它，為所欲為。沒有什麼比爭奪主權的內鬥更能使一個國家輕易成為共同仇敵的掠物。那政權穩定的地有福了。7. 這就是以色列在完全傾覆、被擄之前的光景——因為那事發生在這些篡位者中最後一位何細亞第九年。他們若在這些混亂困惑的日子裡謙卑在神面前、尋求他的面，那最終的毀滅或可避免；但當神施行審判時，他必得勝。這些派系之爭，是他們中間被差來的惡靈所結的果子，加速了那被擄；因為一個這樣自相分爭的國，必快快成為荒場。
II. 讓我們簡略看看這幾個王朝。
1. 耶羅波安的兒子撒迦利雅在猶大王亞撒利雅（即烏西雅）第三十八年登基（2Ki 15:8）。一些最嚴謹的年代學家推算，耶羅波安與他兒子撒迦利雅之間，王位空懸了二十二年，另有人說十一年，都是因國中的擾亂和紛爭；所以撒迦利雅還未坐穩寶座就被廢，也就不足為奇了：他只作王六個月，沙龍就在百姓面前殺了他（2Ki 15:13），也許像該撒在元老院被殺那樣，或把他當作罪犯公開處決，得百姓的贊同——他因某種方式使自己成了百姓所憎惡的；耶戶的世系就此結束。
2. 但殺主的沙龍有平安麼？沒有（2Ki 15:13），一個整月就量出了他的王朝，隨即他被剪除；也許當時的先知所指的就是這事（Ho 5:7）：現在一個月必以他們的產業吞噬他們。 建立在血和虛謊之上的統治，很少長久。米拿現或被他罪行激怒，或被他榜樣激勵，很快就照他對待主人那樣對待他——殺了他，篡了他的位（2Ki 15:14）。他大概是駐紮在得撒的軍隊元帥，聽見沙龍的叛逆和篡位，就急忙前去懲辦，正如暗利在類似情形下對待心利那樣（1Ki 16:17）。
3. 米拿現保持國位十年（2Ki 15:17）。然而，雖然我們聽說過以色列家的王都是仁慈的王（1Ki 20:31），這位米拿現（他國家的恥辱）對本國那些稍有猶豫不肯順服的人，竟如此駭人地殘忍：他不僅毀了一座城和其四境，更忘記自己也是婦人所生的，剖開了其中所有懷孕的婦人（2Ki 15:16）。我們實在要希奇，竟然有人心中會生出如此野蠻的念頭，竟至如此完全喪失人性。他想借這些殘忍的手段堅固自己，並威嚇一切人歸順他的利益；但看來他並未達到目的，因為當亞述王來攻時，（1）他對百姓如此缺乏信心，不敢以仇敵相待，只得花費巨資向他求和。（2）他為要堅固國位而如此需要幫助，竟把幫助他抵擋自己不滿的臣民作為交易的一部分（這交易亞述王無疑知道如何另作他用）——當然是他要求他如此行。他用來換取友誼的銀子是巨款，不少於一千他連得銀子（2Ki 15:19），大概是借軍事執行，向一切富足大能的人徵收的，十分體貼地放過窮人，把負擔（理所當然）加在最有力承擔的人身上；銀子收齊了，就交給亞述王，作他軍隊的軍餉，每名兵丁五十舍客勒銀子。如此他暫時擺脫了亞述王；亞述王沒有駐紮在那地（2Ki 15:20），但他的軍隊這次以如此少麻煩得著如此豐厚戰利品，就受鼓勵不久之後又來，把一切都毀了。如此他成了自己國家的出賣者——他本當是國家的保護者。
4. 米拿現的兒子比加轄接續他父親，但只作王兩年，就被比加背信棄義地殺了，落在他自己和父親雙重的惡行之下。論到他，也和從前一樣重複：他不離開耶羅波安的罪。這一點仍被提及，是要顯明神在他們身上施行那不久就來到的毀滅是公義的，因為他們恨惡改正（2Ki 15:24）。看來比加在自己一方有一些有地位的人，其中兩位在此被點名（2Ki 15:25），在他的幫助下他成就了計謀。
5. 比加雖然借叛逆得國，卻保持國位二十年（2Ki 15:27），過了這麼久他的強暴才回報到自己頭上，但終究報應到了。這位利瑪利的兒子比加，（1）在國外比這些篡位者中任何一位都更為可觀，因為即使在他末年（在亞哈斯作王時，亞哈斯在比加第十七年登基），他對猶大國也是極大的威脅，正如我們在賽亞書七章所見。（2）他失去國家一大片給亞述王。此處點名幾座城（2Ki 15:29），都是從他手中被奪去的；約但河對岸的基列全地，以及北方的加利利（包括拿弗他利和西布倫兩支派），都被攻取，居民被擄到亞述。神借這審判懲罰他攻擊猶大和耶路撒冷的企圖。那時曾預言，在他發動那企圖之後兩三年內，在一個剛出生的孩子能叫我父、我母之前，撒馬利亞的財寶必在亞述王面前被奪去（Isa 8:4）；此處我們看見這預言應驗了。（3）此後不久，他因國人不滿而喪命，國人大概因他在入侵猶大時任他們暴露於外敵面前而對他不滿；何細亞利用這機會，為得冠冕而奪去他的性命，殺了他，篡了他的位。如今以色列的冠冕已失去其最美的花和寶石，所襯的荊棘卻比從前更多，近來對戴過它的每個頭都是致命的，已被判屬神的公義，如今預備要倒在塵土之中——這樣的冠冕，明哲人不會在街上撿起來，何細亞不但冒險接受它，更是冒險爭奪它，並為之付出了慘重代價。
英語原文
The Reigns of Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea (758 BC)
⁸ In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
⁹ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
¹⁰ And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
¹¹ And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
¹² This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.
¹³ Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
¹⁴ For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
¹⁵ And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
¹⁶ Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
¹⁷ In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
¹⁸ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
¹⁹ And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
²⁰ And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
²¹ And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
²² And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
²³ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
²⁴ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
²⁵ But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
²⁶ And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
²⁷ In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
²⁸ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
²⁹ In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
³⁰ And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
³¹ And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
The best days of the kingdom of Israel were while the government was in Jehu's family. In his reign, and the next three reigns, though there were many abominable corruptions and miserable grievances in Israel, yet the crown went in succession, the kings died in their beds, and some care was taken of public affairs; but, now that those days are at an end, the history which we have in these verses of about thirty-three years represents the affairs of that kingdom in the utmost confusion imaginable. Woe to those that were with child (2Ki 15:16) and to those that gave suck in those days, for then must needs be great tribulations, when, for the transgression of the land, many were the princes thereof.
I. Let us observe something, in general, concerning these unhappy revolutions and the calamities which must needs attend them—these bad times, as they may truly be called. 1. God had tried the people of Israel both with judgments and mercies, explained and enforced by his servants the prophets, and yet they continued impenitent and unreformed, and therefore God justly brought these miseries upon them, as Moses had warned them. If you will yet walk contrary to me, I will punish you yet seven times more, Le 26:21-26, etc. 2. God made good his promise to Jehu, that his sons to the fourth generation after him should sit upon the throne of Israel, which was a greater favour than was shown to any of the royal families either before or after his. God had said it should be so (2Ki 10:30) and we are told in this chapter (2Ki 15:12) that so it came to pass. See how punctual God is to his promises. These calamities God long designed for Israel, and they deserved them, yet they were not inflicted till that word had taken effect to the full. Thus God rewarded Jehu for his zeal in destroying the worship of Baal and the house of Ahab; and yet, when the measure of the sins of the house of Jehu was full, God avenged upon it the blood then shed, called the blood of Jezreel, Ho 1:4. 3. All these kings did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, for they walked in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Though at variance with one another, yet in this they agreed, to keep up idolatry, and the people loved to have it so; though they were emptied from vessel to vessel, that taste remained in them, and that scent was not changed. It was sad indeed when their government was so often altered, yet never for the better—that among all those contending interests none of them should think it as much their interest to destroy the calves as others had done to support them. 4. Each of these (except one) conspired against his predecessor, and slew him—Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea, all traitors and murderers, and yet all kings awhile, one of them ten, another twenty, and another nine years; for God may suffer wickedness to prosper and to carry away the wealth and honours awhile, but, sooner or later, blood shall have blood, and he that dealt treacherously shalt be dealt treacherously with. One wicked man is often made a scourge to another, and every wicked man, at length, a ruin to himself. 5. The ambition of the great men made the nation miserable. Here is Tiphsah, a city of Israel, barbarously destroyed, with all the coasts thereof, by one of these pretenders (2Ki 15:16), and no doubt it was through blood that each of them waded to the throne, nor could any of these kings perish alone. No land can have greater pests, nor Israel worse troubles, than such men as care not how much the welfare and repose of their country are sacrificed to their revenge and affectation of dominion. 6. While the nation was thus shattered by divisions at home the kings of Assyria, first one (2Ki 15:19) and then another (2Ki 15:29), came against it and did what they pleased. Nothing does more towards the making of a nation an easy prey to a common enemy than intestine broils and contests for the sovereignty. Happy the land where that is settled. 7. This was the condition of Israel just before they were quite ruined and carried away captive, for that was in the ninth year of Hoshea, the last of these usurpers. If they had, in these days of confusion and perplexity, humbled themselves before God and sought his face, that final destruction might have been prevented; but when God judgeth he will overcome. These factions, the fruit of an evil spirit sent among them, hastened that captivity, for a kingdom thus divided against itself will soon come to desolation.
II. Let us take a short view of the particular reigns.
1. Zachariah, the son of Jeroboam, began to reign in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah, or Uzziah, king of Judah, 2Ki 15:8. Some of the most critical chronologers reckon that between Jeroboam and his son Zachariah the throne was vacant twenty-two years, others eleven years, through the disturbances and dissensions that were in the kingdom; and then it was not strange that Zachariah was deposed before he was well seated on the throne: he reigned but six months, and then Shallum slew him before the people, perhaps as Caesar was slain in the senate, or he put him to death publicly as a criminal, with the approbation of the people, to whom he had, some way or other, made himself odious; so ended the line of Jehu.
2. But had Shallum peace, who slew his master? No, he had not (2Ki 15:13), one month of days measured his reign and then he was cut off; perhaps to this the prophet, who then lived, refers (Ho 5:7), Now shall a month devour them with their portions. That dominion seldom lasts long which is founded in blood and falsehood. Menahem, either provoked by his crime or animated by his example, soon served him as he had served his master—slew him and reigned in his stead, 2Ki 15:14. Probably he was general in the army, which then lay encamped at Tirzah, and, hearing of Shallum's treason and usurpation, hastened to punish it, as Omri did that of Zimri in a like case, 1Ki 16:17.
3. Menahem held the kingdom ten years, 2Ki 15:17. But, whereas we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel were merciful kings (1Ki 20:31), this Menahem (the scandal of his country) was so prodigiously cruel to those of his own nation who hesitated a little at submitting to him that he not only ruined a city, and the coasts thereof, but, forgetting that he himself was born of a woman, ripped up all the women with child, 2Ki 15:16. We may well wonder that ever it should enter into the heart of any man to be so barbarous, and to be so perfectly lost to humanity itself. By these cruel methods he hoped to strengthen himself and to frighten all others into his interests; but it seems he did not gain his point, for when the king of Assyria came against him, (1.) So little confidence had he in his people that he durst not meet him as an enemy, but was obliged, at a vast expense, to purchase a peace with him. (2.) Such need had he of help to confirm the kingdom in his hand that he made it part of his bargain with him (a bargain which, no doubt, the king of Assyria knew how to make a good hand of another time) that he should assist him against his own subjects that were disaffected to him. The money wherewith he purchased his friendship was a vast sum, no less than 1000 talents of silver (2Ki 15:19), which Menahem exacted, it is probable, by military execution, of all the mighty men of wealth, very considerately sparing the poor, and laying the burden (as was fit) on those that were best able to bear it; being raised, it was given to the king of Assyria, as pay for his army, fifty shekels of silver for each man in it. Thus he got clear of the king of Assyria for this time; he staid not to quarter in the land (2Ki 15:20), but his army now got so rich a booty with so little trouble that it encouraged them to come again, not long after, when they laid all waste. Thus was he the betrayer of his country that should have been the protector of it.
4. Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, succeeded his father, but reigned only two years, and then was treacherously slain by Pekah, falling under the load both of his own and of his father's wickedness. It is repeated concerning him as before that he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam. Still this is mentioned, to show that God was righteous in bringing that destruction upon them which came not long after, because they hated to be reformed, 2Ki 15:24. Pekah, it seems, had some persons of figure in his interest, two of whom are here named (2Ki 15:25), and with their help he compassed his design.
5. Pekah, though he got the kingdom by treason, kept it twenty years (2Ki 15:27), so long it was before his violent dealing returned upon his own head, but it returned at last. This Pekah, son of Remaliah, (1.) Made himself more considerable abroad than any of these usurpers, for he was, even in the latter end of his time (in the reign of Ahaz, which began in his seventeenth year), a great terror to the kingdom of Judah, as we find, Isa 7:1-25, etc. (2.) He lost a great part of his kingdom to the king of Assyria. Several cities are here named (2Ki 15:29) which were taken from him, all the land of Gilead on the other side Jordan, and Galilee in the north containing the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon, were seized, and the inhabitants carried captive into Assyria. By this judgment God punished him for his attempt upon Judah and Jerusalem. It was then foretold that within two or three years after he made that attempt, before a child, then born, should be able to cry My father and my mother, the riches of Samaria should be taken away before the king of Assyria (Isa 8:4), and here we have the accomplishment of that prediction. (3.) Soon after this he forfeited his life to the resentments of his countrymen, who, it is probable, were disgusted at him for leaving them exposed to a foreign enemy, while he was invading Judah, of which Hoshea took advantage and, to gain his crown, seized his life, slew him, and reigned in his stead. Surely he was fond of a crown indeed who, at this time, would run such a hazard as a traitor did; for the crown of Israel, now that it had lost the choicest of its flowers and jewels, was lined more than ever with thorns, had of late been fatal to all the heads that had worn it, was forfeited to divine justice, and now ready to be laid in the dust—a crown which a wise man would not have taken up in the street, yet Hoshea not only ventured upon it but ventured for it, and it cost him dear.
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The Reign of Jotham (742 BC)
繁體中文
約坦的治理（主前742年）
³² 以色列王利瑪利的兒子比加第二年，猶大王烏西雅的兒子約坦登基。
³³ 他登基的時候年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王十六年。他母親名叫耶路沙，是撒督的女兒。
³⁴ 約坦行耶和華眼中看為正的事，效法他父親烏西雅一切所行的。
³⁵ 只是邱壇還沒有廢去，百姓仍在那裡獻祭燒香。他建造耶和華殿的上門。
³⁶ 約坦其餘的事、凡他所行的，豈不都寫在猶大諸王記上麼？
³⁷ 那些日子，耶和華才開始差亞蘭王利汛和利瑪利的兒子比加去攻擊猶大。
³⁸ 約坦與他列祖同睡，與他列祖一同葬在他祖大衛城裡；他兒子亞哈斯接續他作王。
此處我們讀到猶大王約坦作王的簡短記述；我們被告知：1. 他治理得很好，行耶和華眼中看為正的事（2Ki 15:34）。約瑟夫給他極高的評價，說他敬虔待神、公義待人、為公眾福祉盡心——凡有不妥之處，他都留心改正——總之，他不缺任何作好君王當有的美德。雖然邱壇沒有被廢去，但為吸引百姓離開邱壇、使他們緊貼神的聖所，他對聖殿表示極大的敬意，建造了他進聖殿所經過的上門。官長若不能盡如所願地壓制罪惡和不敬，就當更加在支持和推進敬虔和美德、並使之得聲望上努力。他們若不能拆毀罪惡的邱壇，也當建造並美化神殿的上門。2. 他中年離世（2Ki 15:33）。論到大多數猶大王，我們被告知他們登基時的歲數，借此可推算他們死時的歲數；但就我所記得，以色列諸王的年齡沒有記載，只記他們作王的年數。這是神要使大衛家的君王比別家的更得尊榮。從這些記載可見，猶大諸王中沒有一個達到大衛的年歲——七十歲，即一般人壽。亞撒的年歲我未見。烏西雅活到六十八歲，瑪拿西六十七歲，約沙法六十歲；這三個是最年長的；許多顯赫的都未到五十歲。約坦四十一歲而死。他實在太大的一個福氣，不能長久賜給這樣不配的百姓。他的死是審判，特別是考慮到他兒子和繼承人的品格。3. 在他作王時，利汛和利瑪利的兒子——亞蘭王和以色列王——結成同盟對付猶大；這同盟在亞哈斯作王初期顯得十分可怕，一聽見這消息，那君王的心和百姓的心就都跳動，好像林中的樹被風吹動一樣（Isa 7:2）。同盟者企圖不義，然而此處說（2Ki 15:37），耶和華才開始差他們攻擊猶大——正如他吩咐示每咒詛大衛，又任示巴人搶奪約伯。人是神的手——是他手中的刀、他手中的杖——他隨己意使用他們來成就自己公義的旨意，雖然人的動機不義。這風暴在敬虔的約坦作王時醞釀，但他平安地歸到墳墓，風暴卻落在他敗壞的兒子身上。
英語原文
The Reign of Jotham (742 BC)
³² In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
³³ Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
³⁴ And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
³⁵ Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
³⁶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
³⁷ In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
³⁸ And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
We have here a short account of the reign of Jotham king of Judah, of whom we are told, 1. That he reigned very well, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, 2Ki 15:34. Josephus gives him a very high character, stating that he was pious towards God, just towards men, and laid out himself for the public good,—that, whatever was amiss, he took care to have it rectified,—and, in short, wanted no virtue that became a good prince. Though the high places were not taken away, yet to draw people from them, and keep them close to God's holy place, he showed great respect to the temple, and built the higher gate which he went through to the temple. If magistrates cannot do all they would for the suppressing of vice and profaneness, let them do so much the more for the support and advancement of piety and virtue, and the bringing of them into reputation. If they cannot pull down the high places of sin, yet let them build and beautify the high gate of God's house. 2. That he died in the midst of his days, 2Ki 15:33. Of most of the kings of Judah we are told how old they were when they began their reign, and by that may compute how old they were when they died; but no account is kept of the age of any of the kings of Israel that I remember, only of the years of their reigns. This honour God would put upon the kings of the house of David above those of other families. And by these accounts it appears that there was none of all the kings of Judah that reached David's age, seventy, the common age of man. Asa's age I do not find. Uzziah lived to be sixty-eight, Manasseh sixty-seven, and Jehoshaphat sixty; and these were the three oldest; many of those that were of note did not reach fifty. This Jotham died at forty-one. He was too great a blessing to be continued long to such an unworthy people. His death was a judgment, especially considering the character of his son and successor. 3. That in his days the confederacy was formed against Judah by Rezin and Remaliah's son, the king of Syria and the king of Israel, which appeared so very formidable in the beginning of the reign of Ahaz that, upon notice of it, the heart of that prince was moved and the heart of the people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind, Isa 7:2. The confederates were unjust in the attempt, yet it is here said (2Ki 15:37), The Lord began to send them against Judah, as he bade Shimei curse David, and took away from Job what the Sabeans robbed him of. Men are God's hand—the sword, the rod in his hand—which he makes use of as he pleases to serve his own righteous counsels, though men be unrighteous in their intentions. This storm gathered in the reign of pious Jotham, but he came to his grave in peace and it fell upon his degenerate son.
本章，I. 簡略記載了猶大兩個王的歷史：1. 亞撒利雅，即烏西雅，2Ki 15:1-7。2. 他的兒子約坦，2Ki 15:32-38。II. 簡短地記述了同時期作王的以色列諸王的歷史，前後共有五位，除了一位之外，其餘都被殺而下入坑中，殺他們的就成了他們的繼承人。1. 耶戶家最後一個王撒迦利雅作王六個月，隨後被殺，沙龍繼位，2Ki 15:8-12。2. 沙龍作王一個月，隨後被殺，米拿現繼位，2Ki 15:13-15。3. 米拿現作王十年——與其說是作王，不如說是暴政，因他殘酷的暴行（2Ki 15:16）和不合理的勒索（2Ki 15:20）就是如此；之後他死在自己的床上，先讓兒子繼位，再讓兒子因他而受苦，2Ki 15:16-22。4. 比加轄作王兩年，隨後被殺，比加繼位，2Ki 15:23-26。5. 比加作王二十年，隨後被殺，何細亞繼位——他是以色列諸王中的最後一位（2Ki 15:27-31），因為如今事態正急速發展、加速邁向那國度最終的毀滅。