And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord ,.... At the beginning of his reign, and in an external way: according to all that his father Amaziah had done ; who did not do what he did as David, sincerely and cordially, 2 Kings 14:3 . read more
He did that which was right - It is said, 2 Chronicles 26:5 , that he sought the Lord in the days of Zechariah the prophet, and God made him to prosper; that he fought against the Philistines; broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod; prevailed over the Arabians and Mehunims; and that the Ammonites paid him tribute; and his dominion extended abroad, even to the entering in of Egypt; that he built towers in Jerusalem, at the corner gate, valley gate, and turning of the... read more
THE REIGN OF AZARIAH OVER JUDAS . The writer now more and more compresses his narrative. Into a single chapter he crowds the events of seven reigns, covering the space of nearly seventy years. He is consequently compelled to omit several most important historical events, which are however, fortunately supplied by the writer of Chronicles. Azariah's reign, which here occupies only seven verses, in Chronicles fills an entire chapter (twenty-three verses). (See 2 Chronicles 26:1-23 ... read more
The leper-king a pattern and a warning. I. IN HIS EARLIER YEARS AZARIAH WAS A PATTERN KING . He "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" ( 2 Kings 15:3 ); he "sought God" ( 2 Chronicles 26:5 ); he consorted with "Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God;" and the result was that "God made him to prosper," "God helped him against the Philistines and the Arabians and the Mehunim" ( 2 Chronicles 26:7 ), and he "was marvelously helped" ( 2... read more
Prosperity and its dangers. The contrast between the opening and the close of Uzziah's reign—here so sharply set before us—has few parallels in history. There is, indeed, no lack of monarchs who have risen to proud positions of authority and power, and then suddenly have fallen ignominiously from their pinnacle of pride. Memory at once recalls such names as Nebuchadnezzar, one day surveying with pride great Babylon that he had made, and the next dwelling among the beasts of the field, his... read more
Another king beginning well, ending ill. It is remarkable that three kings of Judah in succession exhibited this characteristic. They begin well, serve God for a time and prosper, yet stumble and fail at last. We have seen the fates of Joash and Amaziah; and Azariah furnishes a third example. I. AZARIAH 'S REIGN . 1. His righteous rule . Azariah began to reign when only sixteen years of age; he reigned long—fifty-two years, and during the greater part of his reign he... read more
REIGNS OF AZARIAH AND JOTHAM OVER JUDAH ; AND OF ZACHARIAH , SHALLUM , MENAHEM , PEKAHIAH , AND PEKAH OVER ISRAEL . read more
Some lessons from the history of kings. "In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam," etc. The mighty Governor of the universe is represented as saying to the Jewish nation, "I gave thee a king in mine anger" ( Hosea 13:2 ). And truly, with a certain number of exceptions here and there through the ages, kings have proved malific scourges of the race. In this chapter there are mentioned no less than seven of those men who are called kings, but who, instead of having one grain of moral... read more
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done . Josephus uses still stronger expressions. "Azariah was," he says ( l.s.c. ), "a good king, naturally just and high-minded, and indefatigable in his administration of affairs." According to the author of Chronicles ( 2 Chronicles 26:5 ), he "sought God in the days of Zechariah." read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-7
This is a short account of the reign of Azariah. 1. Most of it is general, and the same that has been given of others; he began young and reigned long (2 Kgs. 15:2), did, for the most part, that which was right, 2 Kgs. 15:3 (it was happy for the kingdom that a good reign was a long one), only he had not zeal and courage enough to take away the high places, 2 Kgs. 15:4. 2. That which is peculiar, 2 Kgs. 15:5 (that God smote him with a leprosy) is more largely related, with the occasion of it, 2... read more