John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And as soon as the commandment came abroad , etc.] Not only was published in the city of Jerusalem, but the report of it, or rather that itself, was spread throughout the cities of Judah: the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey ; the three first of these are expressed in the law, ( Deuteronomy 18:4) but not honey; wherefore the Targum here, and the Jewish writers in general, interpret it of the “dubsa” of the palm tree, as they call it, the fruit and liquor of that, which is of a sweet taste, and which the Scenite Arabs called “dabusa”, as Pliny from Juba relates; for so it should be read, and not “dabulan” or “dablan”, as in some copies: but though honey was forbid to be used in sacrifice, it was not forbidden to be eaten; and as the land of Judea abounded with honey, properly so called, the priests might have the firstfruits of that as of other liquors; (see Gill on “ Deuteronomy 8:8”), and of all the increase of the field ; of the trees of it, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, etc. as Kimchi; and the tithe of all things ; even of herbs, as the same writer, and so the Talmud f133 , which were free from tithes by the law, (see Matthew 23:23), brought they in abundantly ; even of all that their vineyards, oliveyards, and fields produced.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Hezekiah destroys idolatry.
--After the passover, the people of Israel applied with vigour to destroy the monuments of idolatry. Public ordinances should stir us u to cleanse our hearts, our houses, and shops, from the filth of sin and the idolatry of covetousness, and to excite others to do the same The after-improvement of solemn ordinances, is of the greates importance to personal, family, and public religion. When they ha tasted the sweetness of God's ordinance in the late passover, they wer free in maintaining the temple service. Those who enjoy the benefit of a settled ministry, will not grudge the expense of it. In all tha Hezekiah attempted in God's service, he was earnest and single in his aim and dependence, and was prospered accordingly. Whether we have fe or many talents intrusted to us, may we thus seek to improve them, an encourage others to do the same. What is undertaken with a sincer regard to the glory of God, will succeed to our own honour and comfor at last _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew וכפרץ6555 הדבר1697 הרבו7235 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 ראשׁית7225 דגן1715 תירושׁ8492 ויצהר3323 ודבשׁ1706 וכל3605 תבואת8393 שׂדה7704 ומעשׂר4643 הכל3605 לרב7230 הביאו׃935
