(7) And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God.--Literally, And from God came the downtreading of Ahaziah, so that he went to Joram. The coin cidence of the visit with Jehu's rebellion revealed the working of Divine providence. It thus came to pass that the three chief representatives of the house of Ahab--Joram, Jezebel, and Ahaziah--were involved in one catastrophe of ruin; Athaliah, however, escaped for the time. "Downtreading" (teb-sah) occurs here only. (Comp. meb-sah,Isaiah 22:5.)
Verse 7. - He went out with Jehoram against Jehu. The "against" is the simple preposition אֶל, and need intend nothing more than "to meet" Jehu; not to meet him hostilely. What the manner of the meeting was, however, we know from 2 Kings 9:21, 22, 27, 28. The history of this and following two verses is here given very briefly; much must be filled in to give its full explanation, as in 2 Kings 9:11-29. Whom the Lord had anointed to out off the house of Ahab; i.e. had raised him to the throne, possessed of the characteristic qualities which he had for this purpose (2 Kings 9:1-7; 1 Kings 19:16). Jehu the son of Nimshi. Strictly, "the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi" (2 Kings 9:2).
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.
And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram,.... Of his appointing; it was according to his purpose and decree, and was brought about by his overruling Providence, ordering the occasion and manner of it very justly for his sins:
for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi; see 2 Kings 9:21,
whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab; raised up to be king of Israel for that purpose, 2 Kings 9:6, the Targum is,"whom Elijah anointed by the command of the Word of the Lord;''but it was not Elijah, but a prophet by the order of Elisha, that anointed him, 2 Kings 9:1, and this being done by direction of the Lord, is ascribed to him.
For.--And.
With Jehoram.--So 2 Kings 9:21.
Against Jehu.--Rather, unto Jehu. Kings, l.c., "to meet Jehu."
The son of Nimshi--i.e., grandson. Jehu was son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi (2 Kings 9:2).
Whom the Lord had anointed.--Comp. 1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 9:1-10.
for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi; see 2 Kings 9:21,
whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab; raised up to be king of Israel for that purpose, 2 Kings 9:6, the Targum is,"whom Elijah anointed by the command of the Word of the Lord;''but it was not Elijah, but a prophet by the order of Elisha, that anointed him, 2 Kings 9:1, and this being done by direction of the Lord, is ascribed to him.