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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Elisha Foretells the Relief of Samaria. (b. c. 891.)
ELISHA FORETELLS THE RELIEF OF SAMARIA. (B. C. 891.) Here, I. Elisha foretels that, notwithstanding the great straits to which the city of Samaria is reduced, yet within twenty-four hours they shall have plenty, 2 Kings…
The Siege of Samaria Raised. (b. c. 891.)
THE SIEGE OF SAMARIA RAISED. (B. C. 891.) We are here told, I. How the siege of Samaria was raised in the evening, at the edge of night (2 Kings 7:6-7), not by might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, str…
Samaria Plentifully Supplied. (b. c. 891.)
SAMARIA PLENTIFULLY SUPPLIED. (B. C. 891.) Here we have, I. The king's jealousy of a stratagem in the Syrian's retreat, 2 Kings 7:12. He feared that they had withdrawn into an ambush, to draw out the besieged, that they…
A Famine in Israel; the Shunammite's Possessions Restored. (b. c. 886.)
A FAMINE IN ISRAEL; THE SHUNAMMITE'S POSSESSIONS RESTORED. (B. C. 886.) Here we have, I. The wickedness of Israel punished with a long famine, one of God's sore judgments often threatened in the law. Canaan, that fruitf…
Hazael's Barbarity Predicted. (b. c. 885.)
HAZAEL'S BARBARITY PREDICTED. (B. C. 885.) Here, I. We may enquire what brought Elisha to Damascus, the chief city of Syria. Was he sent to any but the lost sheep of the house of Israel? It seems he was. Perhaps he went…
The Reign of Jehoram. (b. c. 884.)
THE REIGN OF JEHORAM. (B. C. 884.) We have here a brief account of the life and reign of Jehoram (or Joram), one of the worst of the kings of Judah, but the son and successor of Jehoshaphat, one of the best. Note, 1. Pa…
The Reign of Ahaziah. (b. c. 884.)
THE REIGN OF AHAZIAH. (B. C. 884.) As among common persons there are some that we call little men, who make no figure, are little regarded, as less valued, so among kings there are some whom, in comparison with others,…
Jehu Anointed King. (b. c. 884.)
JEHU ANOINTED KING. (B. C. 884.) We have here the anointing of Jehu to be king, who was, at this time, a commander (probably commander-in-chief) of the forces employed at Ramoth-Gilead, 2 Kings 9:14. There he was fighti…
Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 9:11-15
Jehu, after some pause, returned to his place at the board, taking no notice of what had passed, but, as it should seem, designing, for the present, to keep it to himself, if they had not urged him to disclose it. Let u…
Jehu's Approach to Jezreel. (b. c. 884.)
JEHU'S APPROACH TO JEZREEL. (B. C. 884.) From Ramoth-Gilead to Jezreel was more than one day's march; about the mid-way between them the river Jordan must be crossed. We may suppose Jehu to have marched with all possibl…
Joram and Ahaziah Slain. (b. c. 884.)
JORAM AND AHAZIAH SLAIN. (B. C. 884.) The greatest delinquent in the house of Ahab was Jezebel: it was she that introduced Baal, slew the Lord's prophets, contrived the murder of Naboth, stirred up her husband first, an…
Death of Ahab's Sons; the Death of Ahaziah's Brethren. (b. c. 884.)
DEATH OF AHAB'S SONS; THE DEATH OF AHAZIAH'S BRETHREN. (B. C. 884.) We left Jehu in quiet possession of Jezreel, triumphing over Joram and Jezebel; and we must now attend his further motions. He knew the whole house of…
Interview between Jehu and Jehonadab; the Worshippers of Baal Destroyed. (b. c. 884.)
INTERVIEW BETWEEN JEHU AND JEHONADAB; THE WORSHIPPERS OF BAAL DESTROYED. (B. C. 884.) Jehu, pushing on his work, is here, I. Courting the friendship of a good man, Jehonadab the son of Rechab, 2 Kings 10:15-16. This Jeh…
Jehu's Inconsistency. (b. c. 884.)
JEHU'S INCONSISTENCY. (B. C. 884.) Here is all the account of the reign of Jehu, though it continued twenty-eight years. The progress of it answered not to the glory of its beginning. We have here, I. God's approbation…
The Death of Athaliah. (b. c. 878.)
THE DEATH OF ATHALIAH. (B. C. 878.) God had assured David of the continuance of his family, which is called his ordaining a lamp for his anointed; and this cannot but appear a great thing, now that we have read of the u…
Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 11:4-12
Six years Athaliah tyrannised. We have not a particular account of her reign; no doubt it was of a piece with the beginning. While Jehu was extirpating the worship of Baal in Israel, she was establishing it in Judah, as…
Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 11:13-16
We may suppose it was designed when they had finished the solemnity of the king's inauguration, to pay a visit to Athaliah, and call her to an account for her murders, usurpation, and tyranny; but, like her mother Jezeb…
Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 11:17-21
Jehoiada had now got over the harlot part of his work, when, by the death of Athaliah, the young prince had his way to the throne cleared of all opposition. He had now to improve his advantages for the perfecting of the…
The Reign of Joash, King of Judah. (b. c. 878.)
THE REIGN OF JOASH, KING OF JUDAH. (B. C. 878.) The general account here given of Joash is, 1. That he reigned forty years. As he began his reign when he was very young, he might, in the course of nature, have continued…
The Repairing of the Temple. (b. c. 853.)
THE REPAIRING OF THE TEMPLE. (B. C. 853.) We have here an account of the repairing of the temple in the reign of Joash. I. It seems, the temple had gone out of repair. Though Solomon built it very strong, of the best ma…
Death of Joash, King of Judah. (b. c. 840.)
DEATH OF JOASH, KING OF JUDAH. (B. C. 840.) When Joash had revolted from God and become both an idolater and a persecutor the hand of the Lord went out against him, and his last state was worse than his first. I. His we…
The Reign of Jehoahaz. (b. c. 839.)
THE REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ. (B. C. 839.) This general account of the reign of Jehoahaz, and of the state of Israel during his seventeen years, though short, is long enough to let us see two things which are very affecting an…
The Reign of Joash, King of Israel. (b. c. 839.)
THE REIGN OF JOASH, KING OF ISRAEL. (B. C. 839.) We have here Jehoash, or Joash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu, upon the throne of Israel. Probably the house of Jehu intended some respect to the house of Davi…
The Death of Elisha. (b. c. 837.)
THE DEATH OF ELISHA. (B. C. 837.) We must here attend, I. The sepulchre of Elisha: he died in a good old age, and they buried him; and what follows shows, 1. What power there was in his life to keep off judgments; for,…