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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Magnificence of Solomon; the Death of Solomon. (b. c. 975.)
THE MAGNIFICENCE OF SOLOMON; THE DEATH OF SOLOMON. (B. C. 975.) We have here Solomon in his throne, and Solomon in his grave; for the throne would not secure him from the grave. Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat—Death wrenc…
Rehoboam Succeeds Solomon. (b. c. 975.)
REHOBOAM SUCCEEDS SOLOMON. (B. C. 975.) We may observe here, 1. The wisest and best cannot give every body content. Solomon enriched and advanced his kingdom, did all (one would think) that could be done to make then ha…
Rehoboam's Folly. (b. c. 975.)
REHOBOAM'S FOLLY. (B. C. 975.) We may learn here, 1. That when public affairs are in a ferment violent proceedings do but make bad worse. Rough answers (such as Rehoboam here gave) do but stir up anger and bring oil to…
Rehoboam Forbidden to Make War. (b. c. 975.)
REHOBOAM FORBIDDEN TO MAKE WAR. (B. C. 975.) How the ten tribes deserted the house of David we read in the foregoing chapter. They had formerly sat loose to that family (2 Samuel 20:1-2), and now they quite threw it off…
The Priests Adhere to Rehoboam. (b. c. 974.)
THE PRIESTS ADHERE TO REHOBOAM. (B. C. 974.) See here, I. How Rehoboam was strengthened by the accession of the priests and Levites, and all the devout and pious Israelites, to him, even all that were true to their God…
Abijah's Reign over Judah. (b. c. 970.)
ABIJAH'S REIGN OVER JUDAH. (B. C. 970.) Israel was very much disgraced and weakened by being divided into two kingdoms; yet the kingdom of Judah, having both the temple and the royal city, both the house of David and th…
Jeroboam Defeated by Abijah. (b. c. 965.)
JEROBOAM DEFEATED BY ABIJAH. (B. C. 965.) The story of Rehoboam's reign is here concluded, much as the story of the other reigns concludes. Two things especially are observable here:—1. That he was at length pretty well…
Abijah's Reign over Judah. (b. c. 957.)
ABIJAH'S REIGN OVER JUDAH. (B. C. 957.) Abijah's mother was called Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, 2 Chronicles 11:20; here she is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel. It is most probable that she was a grand-daugh…
Jeroboam Defeated by Abijah. (b. c. 957.)
JEROBOAM DEFEATED BY ABIJAH. (B. C. 957.) We do not find that Jeroboam offered to make any answer at all to Abijah's speech. Though it was much to the purpose, he resolved not to heed it, and therefore he heard it as th…
Asa King of Judah. (b. c. 955.)
ASA KING OF JUDAH. (B. C. 955.) Here is, I. Asa's general character (2 Chronicles 14:2): He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 1. He aimed at pleasing God, studied to approve himself to h…
Asa Defeats the Ethiopians. (b. c. 945.)
ASA DEFEATS THE ETHIOPIANS. (B. C. 945.) Here is, I. Disturbance given to the peace of Asa's kingdom by a formidable army of Ethiopians that invaded them, 2 Chronicles 14:9-10. Though still they sought God, yet this fea…
God's Message to Asa. (b. c. 945.)
GOD'S MESSAGE TO ASA. (B. C. 945.) It was a great happiness to Israel that they had prophets among them; yet, while they were thus blessed, they were strangely addicted to idolatry, whereas, when the spirit of prophecy…
Asa Reforms His Kingdom. (b. c. 940.)
ASA REFORMS HIS KINGDOM. (B. C. 940.) We are here told what good effect the foregoing sermon had upon Asa. I. He grew more bold for God than he had been. His victory would inspire him with some new degrees of resolution…
Asa's League with Benhadad. (b. c. 929.)
ASA'S LEAGUE WITH BENHADAD. (B. C. 929.) How to reconcile the date of this event with the history of the kings I am quite at a loss. Baasha died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, 1 Kings 16:8. How then could this be done…
Asa's Death and Burial. (b. c. 914.)
ASA'S DEATH AND BURIAL. (B. C. 914.) Here is, I. A plain and faithful reproof given to Asa by a prophet of the Lord, for making this league with Baasha. The reprover was Hanani the seer, the father of Jehu, another prop…
Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa. (b. c. 914.)
JEHOSHAPHAT SUCCEEDS ASA. (B. C. 914.) Here we find concerning Jehoshaphat, I. What a wise man he was. As soon as he came to the crown he strengthened himself against Israel, 2 Chronicles 17:1. Ahab, an active warlike p…
Jehoshaphat's Prosperity. (b. c. 911.)
JEHOSHAPHAT'S PROSPERITY. (B. C. 911.) We have here a further account of Jehoshaphat's great prosperity and the flourishing state of his kingdom. I. He had good interest in the neighbouring princes and nations. Though h…
Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab. (b. c. 897.)
JEHOSHAPHAT'S ALLIANCE WITH AHAB. (B. C. 897.) Here is, I. Jehoshaphat growing greater. It was said before (2 Chronicles 17:5) that he had riches and honour in abundance; and here it is said again that his wealth and ho…
The Prophets Are Consulted. (b. c. 897.)
THE PROPHETS ARE CONSULTED. (B. C. 897.) This is almost word for word the same with what we had, 1 Kings 22:41-50 We will not repeat what was there said, nor have we much to add, but may take occasion to think, 1. Of th…
Ahab Slain in Battle. (b. c. 897.)
AHAB SLAIN IN BATTLE. (B. C. 897.) We have here, 1. Good Jehoshaphat exposing himself in his robes, thereby endangered, and yet delivered. We have reason to think that Ahab, while he pretended friendship, really aimed a…
Jehoshaphat's Piety. (b. c. 897.)
JEHOSHAPHAT'S PIETY. (B. C. 897.) Here is, I. The great favour God showed to Jehoshaphat, 1. In bringing him back in safety from his dangerous expedition with Ahab, which had like to have cost him dearly (2 Chronicles 1…
Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 19:5-11
Jehoshaphat, having done what he could to make his people good, is here providing, if possible, to keep them so by the influence of a settled magistracy. He had sent preachers among them, to instruct them (2 Chronicles…
Jehoshaphat's Prayer to God. (b. c. 892.)
JEHOSHAPHAT'S PRAYER TO GOD. (B. C. 892.) We left Jehoshaphat, in the foregoing chapter, well employed in reforming his kingdom and providing for the due administration of justice and support of religion in it, and expe…
God's Promise of Victory. (b. c. 892.)
GOD'S PROMISE OF VICTORY. (B. C. 892.) We have here God's gracious answer to Jehoshaphat's prayer; and it was a speedy answer. While he was yet speaking God heard: before the congregation was dismissed they had assuranc…