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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 15:5

And the Lord smote the king ,.... With leprosy; the reason of it was, because he intruded into the priest's office, and went into the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense, 2 Chronicles 26:19 , so that he was a leper unto the day of his death ; but how long it was to it from his being smitten cannot be said with certainty; Dr. Lightfoot F12 Works, vol. 1. p. 99. thinks he died the same year he was smitten: and dwelt in a several house : without Jerusalem, as the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 15:5

The Lord smote the king , so that he was a leper - The reason of this plague is well told in the above quoted chapter, 2 Chronicles 26:16 . That his heart being elated, he went into the temple to burn incense upon the altar, assuming to himself the functions of the high priest; that Azariah the priest, with fourscore others, went in after him, to prevent him; and that while they were remonstrating against his conduct, the Lord struck him with the leprosy, which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-7

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-7

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-7

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-7

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-38

REIGNS OF AZARIAH AND JOTHAM OVER JUDAH ; AND OF ZACHARIAH , SHALLUM , MENAHEM , PEKAHIAH , AND PEKAH OVER ISRAEL . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:1-38

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 15:5

And the Lord smote the king. This comes in somewhat strangely, following close upon a statement that the king "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord." We have to go to Chronicles for an explanation. By Chronicles it appears that, in the earlier portion of his reign, Azariah was a good and pious prince, and that God blessed him in all his undertakings. Not only did he recover Eloth ( 2 Chronicles 26:2 ), but he carried on a successful war with the Philistines—took Garb, Jabneh... read more

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