Go. The contents of this chapter are of a more ancient date than those of the foregoing chapter; for the order of time is not always observed in the writings of the prophets. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- King Joakim, who succeeded Sellum, the year of the world 3394. (Usher)

Myself, having none greater, Hebrews vi. 13. Oaths evince the insincerity of men, who distrust each other; but when God condescends to use them, it shews men's incredulity. --- House, the temple, or rather the palace, where the king was sitting at the gate, ver. 2. (Calmet)

Galaad, the head of Libanus. By Galaad, a rich and fruitful country, is here signified the royal palace of the kings of the house of David; by Libanus, a high mountain abounding in cedar-trees, the populous city of Jerusalem. (Challoner) (Worthington) (Theodoret) --- Both mountains are connected. (St. Jerome) (Strabo xvi.) --- Yet the proper Galaad was at some distance, and on the side of Ammon very barren. The palaces had arisen from a miserable state to resemble Libanus. They shall surely be destroyed. (Calmet) --- The advantageous situation of Jerusalem should not protect it, no more than it had done Galaad, 4 Kings xv. 29. (Junius; Grotius)

Prepare. Literally, sanctify; (Challoner) as various religious ceremonies were used before the declaration of war, and to know what would be the success. (Calmet) --- The Chaldeans were destined to execute God's decrees. (St. Jerome) --- Cedars; fine buildings, (ver. 14.; Calmet) and chiefs. (Haydock)

Dead. He means the good king Josias, who by death was taken away, so as not to see the miseries of his country. --- Away. Sellum, alias Joschaz, who was carried captive to Egypt, (Challoner) ver. 12., and 4 Kings xxiii. 33. (Calmet) --- He was the fourth son of Josias, (1 Paralipomenon iii. 15.) and had probably the title of king after the death of Sedecias. (Worthington)

Friend. Joakim forced his subjects to work for him for nothing.

CHAPTER XXII.

Wide. Hebrew, "measured;" large, and well-proportioned. --- Vermilion, (cynopide.) This colour was invented in the town of Pontus, and was used for statues, &c. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxiii. 6., and xxxv. 6.) (Wisdom xiii. 14.) (Calmet) --- Hebrew shashar (Haydock) may mean indigo. (Junius) (Calmet)

Cedar; Josias. (Calmet) --- Shall thy magnificent palaces secure thy empire? (Haydock) --- Him. Obey the Lord, in like manner, that thou mayst prosper.

Sister. They shall not condole with his consort.

Jerusalem. Chap. xxxvi. 30. He died indeed with or like his fathers, 4 Kings xxiv. 6. But it is not said that he was buried. (St. Jerome) --- The Chaldeans designed to send him to Babylon, (2 Paralipomenon xxxvi. 6.) but slew him on the road, (Usher, the year of the world 3405) or treated his corpse ignominiously after his arrival. (Grotius)

Go; Jerusalem. The verbs are feminine. --- Lovers; citizens, or Egyptians, &c., chap. xxvii. 2.

Pastors, or princes, whose expectations of aid will be frustrated, Osee xii. 1. Chaldean, "Thy leaders shall be scattered to all the winds."

Jechonias: Joachin, (4 Kings xxiv. 6.; Worthington) or Chenias, who did not take warning by his predecessor's misfortune. --- Ring, or seal, if he were most dear to me, the prime minister of the greatest monarch, Aggeus ii. 24. (Calmet) --- Alexander the Great gave his ring to Perdiccas, designating him his successor, or regent. (Curtius x.)

Mother; Nohesta, (4 Kings xxiv. 8.) who perverted, (Calmet) or did not correct him in his youth. (Haydock)

Mind; ardently desiring and expecting to be liberated. (Calmet)

Jechonias. Protestants, "Koniah, a despised broken idol? is he," &c. Alexandrian Septuagint, "Jechonias has been dishonoured as a vessel, or which there is no need, for he hath been snatched and cast," &c. (Haydock)

Write this man barren. That is childless: not that he had no children, but that his children should never sit on the throne of Juda, (Challoner) ver. 28., Matthew i. 12., and Ezechiel xvii. 24. Zorobabel was of his seed, yet he never obtained the title or sovereign power of a king. The Machabees were of a different family. (St. Jerome) --- Joachin, or Jechonias, was restored indeed to some favour, (4 Kings xxv. 27.) but not to the kingdom, no more than any of his posterity, till Christ. (Worthington)