(23) Jehoahaz.--Several Hebrew MSS. read Ahaziah, as in 2 Kings 14:13, with which the rest of the verse agrees: see the Notes there. (See Note on 2 Chronicles 21:17.)
The corner gate.--So 2 Kings 14:13, rightly. Our Hebrew text has, "gate of the turning one," or "gate that turneth;" which would require some word indicating the direction of the turning. (Comp. Ezekiel 8:3, "gate that turneth northward.") Some MSS., and all the versions, agree with Kings. It is merely a matter of different points. (Comp. also 2 Chronicles 26:9.)
Verse 23. - Joash... took; Hebrew, תָּפַּשׂ, "seized" (as Genesis 39:12), or "caught up" (as Deuteronomy 9:17), or "capture" (as Joshua 8:8). The gate of Ephraim (see Conder's 'Handbook to the Bible,' p. 343). It led out on the north or north-west side of the city. There is very little to identify it with the high gate of Benjamin (see ditto, p. 346). The corner gate. This is not the translation of our Hebrew text (שַׁעַר הַפּונֶה, which, see margin, means "that looketh"), but of the Hebrew text of the parallel (חַפִנָּה); see pp. 343-346 of Conder's 'Handbook to the Bible,' and map facing p. 334, 2nd edit. Four hundred cubits. Probably about a hundred and eighty yards.
25:17-28 Never was a proud prince more thoroughly mortified than Amaziah by Joash king of Israel. A man's pride will bring him low, Pr 29:23; it goes before his destruction, and deservedly brings it on. He that exalteth himself shall be abased. He that goes forth hastily to strive, will not know what he shall do in the end thereof, when his neighbour has put him to shame, Pr 25:8. And what are we when we offer to establish our own righteousness, or presume to justify ourselves before the Most High God, but despicable thistles, that fancy themselves stately cedars? And are not various temptations, is not every corruption, a wild beast of the desert, which will trample on the wretched boaster, and tread his haughty pretensions to the dust? A man's pride shall bring him low; his ruin may be dated from his turning from the Lord.
But Amaziah would not hear,.... What the king of Israel advised him to, not to meddle to his hurt:
for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies; Amaziah and his army into the hands of Joash and his; this was the will of God, and was brought about by his providence; and that it might be, Amaziah was given up to blindness and hardness of heart, as a punishment of his idolatry:
The corner gate.--So 2 Kings 14:13, rightly. Our Hebrew text has, "gate of the turning one," or "gate that turneth;" which would require some word indicating the direction of the turning. (Comp. Ezekiel 8:3, "gate that turneth northward.") Some MSS., and all the versions, agree with Kings. It is merely a matter of different points. (Comp. also 2 Chronicles 26:9.)
for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies; Amaziah and his army into the hands of Joash and his; this was the will of God, and was brought about by his providence; and that it might be, Amaziah was given up to blindness and hardness of heart, as a punishment of his idolatry:
because they sought after the gods of Edom; he and his nobles, and many of the people following his example; from hence to the end of the chapter the same things are recorded as in 2 Kings 14:11, see the notes there; see Gill on 2 Kings 14:11, 2 Kings 14:12, 2 Kings 14:13, 2 Kings 14:14, 2 Kings 14:15, 2 Kings 14:16, 2 Kings 14:17, 2 Kings 14:18, 2 Kings 14:19, 2 Kings 14:20