John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali , etc.] Which though they belonged to the ten tribes, yet these being carried captive by the king of Assyria, they that were left became subject to the kings of Judah, (See Gill on “ 2 Kings 23:19”), with their mattocks round about ; or hammers or mauls, as Kimchi, or pick axes, such sort of instruments as were used in demolishing altars and images: the Targum is, “in the house of their desolation;” and so other versions, “in their desolate places” f157 , which were become such, the inhabitants being carried captive, and few left behind.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Josiah's good reign in Judah.
--As the years of infancy cannot be useful to our fellow-creatures, ou earliest youth should be dedicated to God, that we may not waste any of the remaining short space of life. Happy and wise are those who see the Lord and prepare for usefulness at an early age, when others ar pursuing sinful pleasures, contracting bad habits, and forming ruinou connexions. Who can express the anguish prevented by early piety, an its blessed effects? Diligent self-examination and watchfulness wil convince us of the deceitfulness and wickedness of our own hearts, an the sinfulness of our lives. We are here encouraged to humble ourselve before God, and to seek unto him, as Josiah did. And believers are her taught, not to fear death, but to welcome it, when it takes them awa from the evil to come. Nothing hastens the ruin of a people, nor ripen them for it, more than their disregard of the attempts made for their reformation. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. The current and tid of affections only turns at the command of Him who raises up those tha are dead in trespasses and sins. We behold peculiar loveliness, in the grace the Lord bestows on those, who in tender years seek to know an to love the Saviour. Hath Jesus, the Day-spring from on high, visite you? Can you trace your knowledge of this light and life of man, lik Josiah, from your youth? Oh the unspeakable happiness of becomin acquainted with Jesus from our earliest years _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ובערי5892 מנשׁה4519 ואפרים669 ושׁמעון8095 ועד5704 נפתלי5321 בהר2719 בתיהם1004 סביב׃5439
