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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)
简体中文
亚撒利雅的统治（主前798年）
¹ 以色列王耶罗波安二十七年，犹大王亚玛谢的儿子亚撒利雅登基，
² 他登基的时候年十六岁，在耶路撒冷作王五十二年。他母亲名叫耶可利雅，是耶路撒冷人。
³ 亚撒利雅行耶和华眼中看为正的事，效法他父亲亚玛谢一切所行的；
⁴ 只是邱坛还没有废去，百姓仍在那里献祭烧香。
⁵ 耶和华降灾与王，使他长大麻风，直到死日，他就住在别的宫里。他儿子约坦管理家事，治理国民。
⁶ 亚撒利雅其余的事，凡他所行的，都写在犹大列王记上。
⁷ 亚撒利雅与他列祖同睡，葬在大卫城他列祖的坟地里。他儿子约坦接续他作王。
这里简要地记载了亚撒利雅的统治。1. 其中大部分是概括之言，与论到别人的相同；他年幼登基，在位长久（王下15:2），大体上行耶和华眼中看为正的事（王下15:3）（一个好的统治得以长久，对那国是有福的），只是他没有足够的热心和勇气除掉邱坛（王下15:4）。2. 其中特别之处，即王下15:5（神使他长大麻风），则在历代志下26:16-21等处有更详尽的记载，并叙明其缘由；在那里我们也读到对他统治前期诸般荣耀、以及后期诸般羞辱更完整的记述。他行耶和华眼中看为正的事，正如亚玛谢所行的；像亚玛谢一样，他起初行得好，却在未到终了之前就跌倒了。这里告诉我们：（1.）他长了大麻风。最尊贵的人不但同样遭受人性中常见的灾祸，也同样有人性中常见的软弱；他们若犯了任何重大的罪，也照样与最卑微之人一样，暴露在神最厉害的报应之下。（2.）神使他长这大麻风，是要惩治他擅自侵犯祭司职分之罪。大人物若骄傲，神总要用这样或那样的方法使他们谦卑，叫他们知道他既在他们之上，也与他们为敌，因为他阻挡骄傲的人。（3.）他长大麻风直到死日。我们虽有理由认为他悔改了，罪也得了赦免，然而为警戒他人，这神不喜悦的记号在他活着的日子一直留在他身上，或许这对他灵魂的益处正在于此。（4.）他住在别的宫里，因按律法他被算为礼仪上的不洁，他虽是王，也必须服在律法的管教之下。那擅自闯入神的殿、僭称作祭司的人，公义地被赶出自己的王宫，从此被关锁起来，如同囚徒或隐居者。我们可以推想，他那别的宫尽量布置得方便舒适。有人把它译作自由的宫，说他在其中有随意行乐的自由。然而对一个曾经那样有尊荣、那样办理国务的人来说，被隔绝于社交之外，常住在别的宫中，乃是极大的折磨；这几乎使生命本身成为重担，即便是君王也如此，虽然他们除了下属之外从无人可以交谈；最善于沉思默想的人，也很快会厌倦于此。（5.）他的儿子作了他的摄政，处理他宫廷的事务（因他管理家事）和国家的事务（因他治理国民）；他有这样一个儿子来填补他的空缺，对他是安慰，对他的国也是福气。
英文原文
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)
简体中文
撒迦利雅、沙龙、米拿现、比加辖、比加、何细亚诸王在位（主前758年）
⁸ 犹大王亚撒利雅三十八年，耶罗波安的儿子撒迦利雅在撒玛利亚作以色列王六个月。
⁹ 他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，效法他列祖所行的，不离开尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人陷在罪里的那罪。
¹⁰ 雅比的儿子沙龙背叛他，在百姓面前击杀他，篡了他的位。
¹¹ 撒迦利雅其余的事都写在以色列诸王记上。
¹² 这是从前耶和华应许耶户说：你的子孙必坐以色列的国位直到四代。这话果然应验了。
¹³ 犹大王乌西雅三十九年，雅比的儿子沙龙登基在撒玛利亚作王一个月。
¹⁴ 迦底的儿子米拿现从得撒上撒玛利亚，杀了雅比的儿子沙龙，篡了他的位。
¹⁵ 沙龙其余的事和他背叛的情形都写在以色列诸王记上。
¹⁶ 那时米拿现从得撒起攻打提斐萨和其四境，击杀城中一切的人，剖开其中所有的孕妇，都因他们没有给他开城。
¹⁷ 犹大王亚撒利雅三十九年，迦底的儿子米拿现登基，在撒玛利亚作以色列王十年。
¹⁸ 他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，终身不离开尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人陷在罪里的那罪。
¹⁹ 亚述王普勒来攻击以色列国，米拿现给他一千他连得银子，请普勒帮助他坚定国位。
²⁰ 米拿现向以色列一切大富户索要银子，使他们各出五十舍客勒，就给了亚述王。于是亚述王回去，不再留在国中。
²¹ 米拿现其余的事，凡他所行的，都写在以色列诸王记上。
²² 米拿现与他列祖同睡。他儿子比加辖接续他作王。
²³ 犹大王亚撒利雅五十年，米拿现的儿子比加辖在撒玛利亚登基作以色列王二年。
²⁴ 他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，不离开尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人陷在罪里的那罪。
²⁵ 比加辖的将军、利玛利的儿子比加背叛他，在撒玛利亚王宫里的卫所杀了他，亚珥歌伯和亚利耶并基列的五十人帮助比加；比加击杀他，篡了他的位。
²⁶ 比加辖其余的事，凡他所行的，都写在以色列诸王记上。
²⁷ 犹大王亚撒利雅五十二年，利玛利的儿子比加在撒玛利亚登基作以色列王二十年。
²⁸ 他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，不离开尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人陷在罪里的那罪。
²⁹ 以色列王比加年间，亚述王提革拉毗列色来夺了以云、亚伯伯玛迦、亚挪、基低斯、夏琐、基列、加利利，和拿弗他利全地，将这些地方的居民都掳到亚述去了。
³⁰ 乌西雅的儿子约坦二十年，以拉的儿子何细亚背叛利玛利的儿子比加，击杀他，篡了他的位。
³¹ 比加其余的事，凡他所行的，都写在以色列诸王记上。
以色列国最好的日子是在政权归于耶户家的时候。在他的在位之时，以及随后的三代在位之时，以色列虽有许多可憎的败坏与可悲的弊端，王位却是承袭相传的，诸王都得善终，国事也多少受到照管；但如今那些日子已到尽头，我们在这几节经文中所记约三十三年的史事，便描绘出那国的局势陷入了无以想象的混乱。那些日子，怀孕的和奶孩子的有祸了（王下15:16），因为必有大灾难，当国中因有罪过，君王就多了之时。
I. 让我们先就这些不幸的政变以及随之而来的灾祸——这些可称为真正的乱世——作一概观。1. 神曾藉审判与怜悯试验以色列百姓，又藉他仆人众先知加以阐明与申诫，他们却仍不肯悔改、不肯改正，所以神公义地将这些灾祸降在他们身上，正如摩西所警告的。你们若仍行事与我相违，我就要按你们的罪加七倍惩罚你们（利26:21-26等）。2. 神向耶户所应许的话也都应验了，就是他四代以内的子孙必坐以色列的国位，这是赐给他的恩宠，比赐给他前后任何王室的都大。神曾说必如此（王下10:30），我们在本章（王下15:12）读到果然如此应验了。看神是何等信守他的应许。这些灾祸是神早已为以色列所定的，他们也是该受的，然而直到那话完全应验之先，灾祸并未临到。神这样赏赐耶户，因他热心翦除巴力崇拜与亚哈家；然而当耶户家罪恶的量满了，神便追讨那时所流的血，称为耶斯列的血（何1:4）。3. 这些王都行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，因他们行尼八的儿子耶罗波安的罪。他们彼此虽相争，在这事上却同心，要维持偶像崇拜，百姓也乐意如此；他们虽被倒来倒去，那味却尚存，那香气也未改。当他们的政权如此屡屡更替、却从未变好之时，实在可悲——在那一切相争的势力中，竟无一个肯认为毁灭那些牛犊像是与他攸关的，正如别人认为支持它们与己攸关一样。4. 这些王（除一人外）各都背叛其前任并杀了他——沙龙、米拿现、比加与何细亚，都是叛逆者与杀人者，却都作了一时之王，一个十年，一个二十年，一个九年；因为神或会容让邪恶亨通一时，得着财富与尊荣，但迟早，血必偿血，那行诡诈的也必被人以诡诈相待。一个恶人常被作成鞭打另一个恶人的鞭子，而每一个恶人，到头来，都成了自取灭亡的人。5. 大人物的野心使全国陷入悲惨。在此有以色列的一座城提斐萨，连同它四境，残暴地被这些篡位者之一所毁灭（王下15:16），且无疑他们每一个都是踏着血登上王位的，没有一个王能独自灭亡。一国所能有的最大祸患，以色列所能遭的最深苦难，莫过于这样一等人，他们竟不顾国家的安宁与太平，将其牺牲于自己的报复与权欲。6. 当这国因内部的纷争而四分五裂之时，亚述诸王先是一个（王下15:19），后又一个（王下15:29），来攻击它，任意而行。最易使一国成为公敌之囊中物的，莫过于内讧与争夺王权。那能将此事安定的国，便有福了。7. 这就是以色列被彻底毁灭、被掳之前的光景，因那毁灭乃在何细亚第九年，这最后一个篡位者的时候。他们在这困惑纷扰的日子里，若肯在神面前自卑、寻求他的面，那最终的毁灭原可避免；但神施行审判时，必要得胜。这些纷争，乃是神差遣在他们中间的恶魔之果，催促了那被掳之事，因为一国自相纷争，必速速归于荒凉。
II. 让我们简略看看各王的在位。
1. 耶罗波安的儿子撒迦利雅，在犹大王亚撒利雅（即乌西雅）三十八年开始作王（王下15:8）。一些最精于考据的年代学者推算，在耶罗波安与他儿子撒迦利雅之间，因国中的扰乱与纷争，王位空缺了二十二年，另一些则推算为十一年；如此说来，撒迦利雅尚未在王位上坐稳便被废黜，也就不足为奇了：他只作了六个月王，沙龙便在百姓面前杀了他，或许如该撒在元老院被杀一般，或是沙龙公然如处决罪犯般将他处死，并得了百姓的赞同，因撒迦利雅以某种方式使自己为百姓所憎恶；耶户的世系便这样终止了。
2. 然而那杀其主人的沙龙得了平安么？没有（王下15:13），一月的日子便量尽了他的在位，随后他就被剪除；当时正活着的先知所说的话或许便是指此（何5:7），*到了月朔，他们和他们的地业必被吞灭。*那建立在血与诡诈之上的权柄鲜少长久。米拿现或是被他的罪所激，或是被他的样子所怂恿，不久便如沙龙待其主人一样待沙龙——杀了他，篡了他的位（王下15:14）。他大概是当时屯营在得撒的军队的元帅，一听见沙龙叛变篡位，便急速去惩治，正如暗利在类似情形中惩治心利之事一般（王上16:17）。
3. 米拿现掌国十年（王下15:17）。然而，我们虽曾听说以色列家的王都是仁慈的王（王上20:31），这米拿现（他本国的耻辱）却对他本族中那些稍一迟疑、不肯臣服于他的人异常残暴，他不但毁灭一城及其四境，竟忘了他自己也是妇人所生的，剖开了一切孕妇（王下15:16）。我们大可惊讶，一个人心里怎能存这样的念头，如此残暴，如此全然丧尽人性。他指望藉这些残暴的手段坚固自己，恐吓其余众人归附他的利益；但看来他并未达到目的，因当亚述王来攻击他时，（1.）他对自己的百姓如此没有把握，竟不敢以仇敌之态迎击他，反不得不花极大的代价向他买和。（2.）他如此需要援助以坚定国位在他手中，竟将此事列为与亚述王交易的一部分（无疑这交易亚述王日后懂得如何从中渔利），就是要亚述王帮助他对付他本国中那些对他离心的臣民。他用来买亚述王友谊的银子是一笔巨款，不下于一千他连得银子（王下15:19），这是米拿现大概藉军法强征来的，向一切大富户索取，却很体谅地宽免了穷人，将这重担（这本是合宜的）加在那最能承担的人身上；银子既已筹得，便交给亚述王作他军队的饷银，军中每人五十舍客勒银子。他便这样暂时摆脱了亚述王；亚述王没有停留在境内驻扎（王下15:20），但他的军队这次如此轻易便得了这般丰厚的掳物，便受了怂恿，不久之后又来，那时他们就使全地荒废了。这样，他这本该作国家保护者的，反成了国家的出卖者。
4. 米拿现的儿子比加辖接续他父亲，却只作了二年王，便被比加用诡计杀了，承担着他自己并他父亲罪恶的重担而倒下。经上像先前一样重提他没有离开耶罗波安的罪。这话仍被提起，是要表明神后来降在他们身上的毁灭——那不久便临到的毁灭——是公义的，因他们恨恶受管教（王下15:24）。看来比加在他的党羽中有几个有头脸的人物，其中两人在此被指名（王下15:25），他便藉他们的帮助成就了他的图谋。
5. 比加虽藉叛逆得了王国，却保有了二十年（王下15:27），过了这么久他的强暴才报应在他自己头上，但终究是报应了。这利玛利的儿子比加，（1.）在国外比这些篡位者中任何一个都更有声势，因为甚至在他末后的日子（在亚哈斯的在位之时，亚哈斯在比加第十七年开始作王），他对犹大国仍是大大的威胁，这从赛7:1-25等处可以看出。（2.）他将国中很大一部分丢给了亚述王。此处指名了好几座城（王下15:29）是从他手中夺去的，约旦河外基列全地，并北方的加利利（包括拿弗他利与西布伦二支派）都被夺去，居民被掳到亚述。神藉这审判惩罚他攻击犹大与耶路撒冷之举。那时早有预言说，在他作那攻击之后两三年内，一个那时所生的孩子还不晓得叫我父我母之先，撒玛利亚的财宝就要在亚述王面前被夺去（赛8:4），我们在此便见这预言的应验。（3.）此后不久，他便将性命断送在他本国之人的愤恨之下，他们大概因他撇下他们暴露于外敌之前、自己却去攻打犹大而恼恨他，何细亚趁此机会，为夺他的王冠，便取了他的性命，杀了他，篡了他的位。一个人若在此时甘冒一个叛逆者所冒的那等风险，他必是真切贪恋王冠的了；因以色列的王冠如今已失去了它最精美的花朵与珍宝，比从前更被荆棘所环绕，近来于一切戴它的头都是致命的，已落入神公义的追讨之中，如今就要被埋在尘土里了——这是一顶智慧人就算在街上拾着也不肯捡起的冠冕，何细亚不但甘冒险戴上它，更是甘冒险去争夺它，这便使他付出了重大的代价。
英文原文
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.
32-38
The Reign of Jotham (742 BC)
简体中文
约坦的统治（主前742年）
³² 利玛利的儿子比加作以色列王第二年，犹大王乌西雅的儿子约坦登基。
³³ 他登基的时候年二十五岁，在耶路撒冷作王十六年。他母亲名叫耶路沙，是撒督的女儿。
³⁴ 约坦行耶和华眼中看为正的事，效法他父亲乌西雅一切所行的。
³⁵ 只是邱坛还没有废去，百姓仍在邱坛献祭烧香。他建造耶和华殿的上门。
³⁶ 约坦其余的事，凡他所行的，岂不都写在犹大列王记上吗？
³⁷ 在那些日子，耶和华才使亚兰王利汛和利玛利的儿子比加去攻击犹大。
³⁸ 约坦与他列祖同睡，葬在他祖大卫城他列祖的坟地里。他儿子亚哈斯接续他作王。
此处对犹大王约坦的统治有一简短记载。论到他，我们被告知：1. 他行善政，行耶和华眼中看为正的事（王下15:34）。约瑟夫对他评价极高，称他敬虔事神、待人以公，并为公益而竭力尽心；凡有不妥之处，他必加以整顿纠正；总之，凡善君所当有的美德，他一样也不缺。虽然邱坛未被拆除，但为要使百姓远离邱坛、专心归向神的圣所，他对圣殿甚为敬重，并建造了他前往圣殿所经过的上门。掌权者既不能尽除罪恶与亵渎之事，便当更加竭力地扶持并推广敬虔与美德，使之在人中得着尊荣。他们若不能拆毁罪恶的邱坛，也当建造并美化神殿的高门。2. 他中年离世（王下15:33）。论到大多数犹大王，经上都记载他们登基时的年岁，由此可推算他们离世时的年岁；但据我所记，以色列诸王却从未记载其年龄，只记他们在位的年数。这是神要使大卫家的诸王比别家的诸王更为尊荣。从这些记载可见，犹大众王无一达到大卫的寿数七十岁，即世人通行的寿数。亚萨的寿数我未查到。乌西雅活到六十八岁，玛拿西六十七岁，约沙法六十岁，这三人是寿数最高的；许多显赫之人都未满五十。约坦四十一岁便离世。对这样不配的百姓而言，他实在是过于珍贵的福气，不能长久存留。他的死乃是审判，尤其考虑到他儿子与继位者的品性。3. 在他年间，亚兰王利汛与利玛利的儿子（以色列王）结盟攻击犹大，这联盟在亚哈斯登基之初显得极为可畏，以致那王一经听闻，王的心和百姓的心就跳动，好像林中的树被风吹动一样（赛7:2）。结盟者图谋不义，然而此处却记着（王下15:37）：耶和华才使他们去攻击犹大——正如他吩咐示每咒骂大卫，又如他允许示巴人抢夺约伯的财物。人是神手中的工具——是他手中的刀、他手中的杖——他随己意使用以成就自己公义的旨意，尽管人本身的居心并不公义。这场风暴虽在敬虔的约坦年间已开始酝酿，但他却平安归入坟墓，灾祸最终落在他那堕落的儿子身上。
英文原文
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.
在本章中，一、犹大两位君王的历史被简略记载：—1. 亚撒利雅，或称乌西雅，2Ki 15:1-7。2. 他的儿子约坦，2Ki 15:32-38。二、与他们同时作王的许多以色列君王的历史，则以简短方式呈现在我们面前；他们五人相继而立，除一人外，全都被杀而下到坑中，且杀害他们的人又成为他们的继承者。1. 撒迦利雅，耶户家最后一位君王，作王六个月，随后被杀，由沙龙继位，2Ki 15:8-12。2. 沙龙作王一个月，随后被杀，由米拿现继位，2Ki 15:13-15。3. 米拿现作王十年，或者毋宁说是暴虐专政，因为他的残忍极其野蛮（2Ki 15:16），苛索也极不合理（2Ki 15:20）；后来他寿终正寝，留下儿子先继承他，随后又替他受苦，2Ki 15:16-22。4. 比加辖作王二年，随后被杀，由比加继位，2Ki 15:23-26。5. 比加作王二十年，随后被杀，由何细亚继位；他是以色列诸王中最后的一位（2Ki 15:27-31），因为此时诸事已经迅速运作，并急促趋向那国最终的毁灭。