16. the Lord repented him of the evil—God is often described in Scripture as repenting when He ceased to pursue a course He had begun.

     22, 23. the people gave a shout, &c.—JOSEPHUS' account of his death is remarkably similar to this [Antiquities, 19.8.2]. Several cases of such deaths occur in history. Thus was this wretched man nearer his end than he of whom he had thought to make a public spectacle.