2 Chronicles 22:1

XXII.

THE SHORT REIGN OF AHAZIAH (2 Chronicles 22:1-9). (Comp. 2 Kings 8:25-29.)

(1) And the inhabitants of Jerusalem.—2 Chronicles 21:11; 2 Chronicles 21:13.

Made Ahaziah . . . king.—This variation from the usual formula—“And Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead”—has been supposed to indicate that the succession was disputed, either Athaliah, the queen-mother, or Jehoiada, the high priest, opposing it. It is more likely that the difference of expression simply points to the use of a different source by the writer.

The band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp.—The Hebrew is obscure for want of further details. “The troop that came among the Arabs to the camp” appears to have been some party of half-savage warriors, who, after the Jewish camp had been stormed by the invaders and the royal princes taken prisoners, fell upon and slew their captives. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 21:17; and Judges 8:18, seq.; 1 Samuel 15:32.)

All the eldest.—Heb., the former (rîshonîm). Syriac: “For all the elder the troop had destroyed them; for the Arabs came and destroyed the camp of Israel.”