(5) He walked also after (in) their counsel.--An allusion to Psalm 1:1. He became a close partner in the politics of his ally, and joined in his expedition against the Syrians. The words are not in Kings.
Hazael king of Syria.--See Note on 2 Kings 8:8, seq.; 13:3.
The Syrians.--Heb., h?rammim, instead of 'Arammim' (Kings). So Vulg. and Targum. The Syriac, as usual, confuses Aram with Edom. The LXX. renders "the archers," as if the word were the participle of r?m?h, "to shoot." Perhaps the chronicler intended ha-romim, "the archers." (Comp. 1 Samuel 31:3; Jeremiah 4:29.)
Verse 5. - He... went with Jehoram the sonof Ahab. So the evil example of even the good lives after them. See Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:29; 2 Chronicles 18:8) followed by his son Jehoram first (2 Kings 3:9), and now by his grandson Ahaziah. The words of this verse and the next are almost identical with the parallel (2 Kings 8:28, 29). Ramoth-Gilead. It will be remembered that Ahab failed when he solicited and obtained the help of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:3-36; 2 Chronicles 18:3-34) in his enterprise against Ramoth-Gilead. The present attempt, however, seems to have had a different issue (2 Kings 9:14, 15). The Syrians; Hebrew, הָרַמִּים. The initial radical here should be א, from neglect of observing which the Septuagint has translated "archers" (relate).
22:1-12 The reign of Ahaziah, Athaliah destroys the royal family. - The counsel of the ungodly ruins many young persons when they are setting out in the world. Ahaziah gave himself up to be led by evil men. Those who advise us to do wickedly, counsel us to our destruction; while they pretend to be friends, they are our worst enemies. See and dread the mischief of bad company. If not the infection, yet let the destruction be feared, Re 18:4. We have here, a wicked woman endeavouring to destroy the house of David, and a good woman preserving it. No word of God shall fall to the ground. The whole truth of the prophecies that the Messiah was to come from David, and thereby the salvation of the world, appeared to be now hung upon the brittle thread of the life of a single infant, to destroy whom was the interest of the reigning power. But God had purposed, and vain were the efforts of earth and hell.
He walked also after their counsel,.... Did as they advised him, as in matters of religion, so in political things, of which there is an instance in this and the next verse; of which see Gill on 2 Kings 8:28, 2 Kings 8:29.
And went with Jehoram.--2 Kings 8:28, "Joram."
King of Israel.--Added by chronicler.
Against.--Kings, "with."
Hazael king of Syria.--See Note on 2 Kings 8:8, seq.; 13:3.
The Syrians.--Heb., h?rammim, instead of 'Arammim' (Kings). So Vulg. and Targum. The Syriac, as usual, confuses Aram with Edom. The LXX. renders "the archers," as if the word were the participle of r?m?h, "to shoot." Perhaps the chronicler intended ha-romim, "the archers." (Comp. 1 Samuel 31:3; Jeremiah 4:29.)