2Ki 17:24-41, Ezr 4, Neh 4:1-2, Luk 9:52-56, Act 1:8, 10:28 | TSK | STEP | A.M. 3326. B.C. 678. the king. Babylon. Ava. Ivah. Hamath. in the cities thereof.

Cuth.Cuth is probably the Cush watered by the Gihon, or Araxes, now Aras (Ge 2:13,) the ancient country of the Scythians, where we meet with the Quitians, Coëthians, or Coëtæ, and Cytheans, and the cities of Cotatis, Cetemane, Cythanum, Cyta, Cethena, etc.

Nergal.Supposed to denote the solar orb; the emblem of which, according to the Rabbins, was a cock.

Ashima.Jarchi says this idol was of the form of a goat.

the Avites.

24; Ezr 4:9

Nibhaz.Supposed to be the same as the Anubis of the Egyptians; and was in form partly a dog and partly a man.

burnt their children.

17; Le 18:21; De 12:28,31

made unto themselves.

1Ki 12:31; 13:33

the houses.

29; 23:19; 1Ki 13:31

They feared.

41; 1Ki 18:21; Ho 10:2; Zep 1:5; Mt 6:24; Lu 16:13

whom they carried, etc. or, who carried them away fromthence. The new inhabitants of the land imitated the idolatrous Israelites, by associating their idols with Jehovah, as the objects of worship. The remainder, however, of the verses seem to relate to the Israelites after they were carried captive. They still persevered in idolatry and disobedience; and not being purified, were left to be consumed in the furnace. It is said that the Israelites "did not fear the Lord," yet the heathens, who followed their example, are said "to have feared the Lord." The Israelites did not so much as fear the wrath of Almighty God; but, on the other hand, the poor pagans feared the power of his wrath, and to avert it paid some ignorant worship, according to the wretched instructions given them. As this was an external acknowledgement of his power and Godhead, and a homage paid to him,he was pleased in consequence to withdraw his judgements from them.--SCOTT

fear not.

25,27,28,33

whom he named Israel.

Ge 32:28; 33:20; 35:10; 1Ki 11:31; 18:11; Isa 48:1

With whom.

15; Ex 19:5,6; 24:6-8; De 29:10-15; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:6-13

charged them.

Ex 20:4,5; 34:12-17; De 4:23-27; 13:1-18; Jos 23:7,16

fear other gods.

Jud 6:10; Jer 10:5

a stretched.

Ex 6:6; 9:15; De 5:15; Jer 32:21; Ac 4:30

him shall ye fear.

Le 19:32; De 6:13; 10:20; 12:5,6,11,12; Mt 10:28; Re 15:4

the statutes.

Le 19:37; De 4:44,45; 5:31-33; 6:1,2; 12:32; 1Ch 29:19; Ps 19:8-11

Ps 105:44,45

wrote for you.

De 31:9,11; Ne 9:13,14

and ye shall not.

ye shall not forget.

De 4:23; 6:12; 8:14-18

the Lord.

36; 1Sa 12:24; Isa 8:12-14; Jer 10:7; Mt 10:28; Lu 1:50

he shall deliver.

Ne 9:27; Lu 1:71,74,75

they did not.

Jer 13:23

but they did.

8,12,34; De 4:28

these nations.

32,33; Jos 24:14-20; 1Ki 18:21; Zep 1:5; Mt 6:24; Re 3:15,16

unto this day.

Ezr 4:1-3

Ezra 4

1 The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavour to hinder it.

7 Their letter to Artaxerxes.

17 The answer and decree of Artaxerxes.

23 The building is hindered.

the adversaries.These were the Samaritans, the descendants of the various nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants captive.

7:9; 1Ki 5:4,5; 1Ch 22:9,10; Ne 4:1-11; Da 9:25; 1Co 16:9

children of the captivity. Heb. sons of the transportation.

1:11; *marg:

6:16,19,20; 10:7,16; Da 5:13

Zerubbabel.

1:5; 2:2; 3:2,12

Let us.

Pr 26:23-26; 2Co 11:13-15; Ga 2:4; 2Ti 3:8; 2Pe 2:1,2

we do.

2Ki 17:24,27-33,41

Esarhaddon.

Asnappar.

2Ki 19:37

Assur.

Ge 10:11; Ps 73:8; Isa 37:37

Assyria.

Ho 14:3

Asshur.

Ye have nothing.

Ne 2:20; Joh 4:22,23; Ac 8:21; Ro 9:4,5; 3Jo 1:9,10

king Cyrus.

1:1-3; 6:3-5; 2Ch 36:22,23; Isa 44:28; 45:1,4; Mt 10:16

weakened.

3:3; Ne 6:9; Isa 35:3,4; Jer 38:4

troubled.

Ne 4:7,8,11

hired.

Ps 2:1,2; Na 1:11; Ac 24:1-27

Darius.

24; 5:5-17; 6:1-18

A.M. 3475. B.C. 529. Ahasuerus. Heb. Ahashverosh.This was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who succeeded his father, A.M. 3475, and reigned seven years and five months.

wrote.

Mt 27:37; Ac 24:5-9,13; 25:7; Re 12:10

A.M. 3482. B.C. 522. Artaxerxes.This Artaxerxes was one of the Magi, who usurped the throne after the death of Cambyses, for seven months, feigning himself to be Smerdis, brother of Cambyses: he is called Oropoestus by Justin, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by AEschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias.

Bishlam. or, in peace. companions. Heb. societies.

9,17; 5:6

the Syrian tongue.That is, probably, both the language and character were Syrian or Chaldaic; and therefore, from the 8th verse of this chapter, to ch. 7:27, the original is not Hebrew, but Chaldee, in those parts which consist of letters, decrees, etc., originally written in that language.

2Ki 18:26; Isa 36:11; Da 2:4

scribe. or, secretary.

9; 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 2Ki 18:18

companions. Chal. societies. the Dinaites.

2Ki 17:24,30,31

Apharsathchites.

5:6; 6:6

Apharsachites. Susanchites.

Es 1:2; 2:3; Da 8:2

Elamites.

Ge 10:22; Isa 21:2; Jer 25:25; 49:34; Eze 32:24; Ac 2:9

And the rest.

1; 2Ki 17:24-41

noble Asnappar.

Ro 13:7

at such a time. Chal. Cheeneth.

11,17; 7:12

rebellious.

15,19; 2Ki 18:20; 24:1; 2Ch 36:13; Jer 52:3; Eze 17:12-21

Lu 23:2-5; Ac 24:5; 1Th 5:22; 1Pe 2:13-15

bad city.

Ps 48:1,2; Isa 1:21-23; Lu 13:34

set up. or, finished.

Ne 1:3; Da 9:25

joined. Chal. sewed together.

if this city.

Ne 5:4; Ps 52:2; 119:69

pay. Chal. give. toll.

7:24; Mt 9:9; 17:25; Ro 13:6,7

revenue. or, strength.

have maintenance, etc. Chal. are salted with the salt of thepalace. Salt is reckoned among the principal necessaries of life, (Ecclus. 39:26 or 31;) hence, by a very natural figure, salt is used for food or maintenance in general. I am well informed, says Mr. Parkhurst, that it is a common expression of the natives in the East Indies, "I eat such a one's salt," meaning, I am fed by him. Salt was also, as it still is, among eastern nations, a symbol of friendship and hospitality; and hence, to eat a man's salt, is to be bound to him by the ties of friendship.

and it was.

Eze 33:31; Joh 12:5,6; 19:12-15

this city.

12; Ne 2:19; 6:6; Es 3:5-8; Da 6:4-13; Ac 17:6,7

moved. Chal. made. within the same. Chal. in the midstthereof. for which.

2Ki 24:20; 25:1,4; Jer 52:3-34

thou shalt have.

20; 2Sa 8:3; 1Ki 4:24

companions. Chal. societies.

7,9

Peace.

5:7; 7:12; Lu 10:5; Ac 23:26; Ro 1:7

at such a time.

10,11

I commanded. Chal. by me a decree is set. search.

15; 5:17; 6:1,2; De 13:14; Pr 25:2

and it is found.

2Ki 18:7; 24:20; Eze 17:13-19

made insurrection. Chal. lifted up itself.

mighty king.

1Ki 4:21,24; 1Ch 18:3; Ps 72:8

beyond.

16; Ge 15:18; Jos 1:3,4

toll.

1Ch 18:6,13; 19:19; 2Ch 9:14,23,24; 17:11; 26:7,8

Give ye, etc. Chal. Make a decree.

why should.

13; Es 3:8,9; 7:3,4

Rehum.

8,9,17

they went up.

Pr 4:16; Mic 2:1; Ro 3:15

force. Chal. arm.

So.

Ne 6:3,9; Job 20:5; 1Th 2:18

Darius.This was Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven princes who slew the usurper Smerdis: he ascended the throne of Persia, A.M. 3483, B.C. 521, and reigned 36 years.

5:5; 6:1; Hag 1:15