Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 22:13
Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
13. our fathers have not hearkened ] The two reigns of Manasseh and Amon had led the whole people away to idolatry. Of the former of these kings it is said (2Ki 12:11) ‘He hath made Judah also to sin with his idols’. For two generations at the least the retrospect of king Josiah was a very dark one.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Enquire of the Lord – As inquiry by Urim and Thummim had ceased – apparently because superseded by prophecy – this order was equivalent to an injunction to seek the presence of a prophet (compare 2Ki 3:11; 1Ki 22:5).
Because our fathers have not hearkened – Josiah, it will be observed, assumes that preceding generations had had full opportunity of hearing and knowing the Law. He thus regards the loss as comparatively recent (compare 2Ki 22:8 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Inquire of the Lord; either what he intends to do with us, or what we shall do to him, to appease his wrath.
Concerning the words of this book; whether the curses here threatened must come upon us without remedy, or whether there be hope in Israel concerning the prevention of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Go ye, inquire of the Lord,…. Of some of his prophets, as Jeremiah, who began to prophesy in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign, and had been a prophet five years, Jer 1:1,
for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for he observed that this book threatened and foretold not only the captivity of the ten tribes, but of Judah, and of their king; and Jarchi thinks, he had a particular respect to that passage,
the Lord shall bring thee and thy king, c. De 28:36 and therefore was desirous of knowing what he and his people must do to avert those judgments:
for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us which he concluded from the threatenings denounced:
because that our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all which is written concerning us: he clearly saw that his ancestors more remote and immediate had been very deficient in observing the laws, commands, and ordinances enjoined them in that book; and therefore feared that what was threatened would fall upon him and his people, who, he was sensible, came short of doing their duty.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
From the commission, “Inquire ye of Jehovah for me and for the people and for all Judah (i.e., the whole kingdom) concerning the words of this book of the law that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord which has been kindled against us, because our fathers have not heard …,” we may infer that the curses of the law upon the despisers of the commandments of God in Lev 26; Deu 28:1, and other passages, had been read to the king. means to inquire the will of the Lord, what He has determined concerning the king, his people, and the kingdom. signifies here to hearken to anything, to observe it, for which is used elsewhere. , to prescribe for performance. , “prescribed for us,” is quite appropriate, since the law was not only given to the fathers to obey, but also to the existing generation-a fact which Thenius has overlooked with his conjecture . To render the king’s alarm and his fear of severe judgments from God intelligible, there is no need for the far-fetched and extremely precarious hypothesis, that just at that time the Scythians had invaded and devastated the land.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(13) Enquire of the Lord.Or, seek ye Jehovah. Josiah wished to know whether any hope remained for himself and his people, or whether the vengeance must fall speedily.
For the people.Of Jerusalem.
Written concerning us.Thenius conjectures written therein, a slight change in the Hebrew. But Josiah identifies the people and their fathers as one nation. (Comp. also Exo. 20:5.) However Chronicles has in this book, and the Arabic here in it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Inquire of the Lord for me He does not instruct them where to go, or say whether they shall inquire by urim or by the prophets. He assumes that they know better where to go than he.
Concerning the words of this book Not whether it were really the book of the law of Moses, and its words to be credited, for he had no doubt of this when he rent his clothes, (2Ki 22:11; 2Ki 22:19,) but to know whether the words of the book are to be immediately fulfilled, and what he is to do and expect under the fearful state of things that has come upon the nation for its sins.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 22:13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
Ver. 13. For great is the wrath of the Lord. ] A good heart trembleth at God’s judgments whilst they yet hang in the threatenings; Isa 66:2 when carnal people put off all with a “God forbid,” Luk 20:16 and bless themselves, though God curse them. Deu 29:19-20
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and for all Judah. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “and for the remnant in Israel and in Judah”. Compare 2Ch 34:21. 2Ch 6:4); Deborah (Jdg 4:4); Noadiah (Neh 6:14); Isaiah’s wife (Isa 8:3); Anna (Luk 2:36); and Philip’s daughters (Act 21:9).
the wife. Compare the usage (Jdg 4:4). The employment of a woman as prophet shows the degeneracy of the times, deplored by Isaiah (2Ki 9:15), denounced by Jeremiah (2Ki 5:7, 2Ki 5:8; 2Ki 14:14; 2Ki 23:14-30; 2Ki 37:19. Lam 2:14), and by Ezekiel (2Ki 13:2-23). Inferred also from Huldah’s words (verses: 2Ki 22:15-18), and Jer 5:31.
wardrobe: i.e. vestry, or vestments.
now. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis.
in the college. Hebrew in the second. Some supply “part”, or “city”. Probably = “second gate [of the city]”. Compare 2Ch 34:22 and Zep 1:10,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
inquire: 2Ki 3:11, 1Ki 22:7, 1Ki 22:8, 1Ch 10:13, 1Ch 10:14, Psa 25:14, Pro 3:6, Jer 21:1, Jer 21:2, Jer 37:17, Eze 14:3, Eze 14:4, Eze 20:1-3, Amo 3:7
great: Exo 20:5, Deu 4:23-27, Deu 29:23-28, Deu 31:17, Deu 31:18, Neh 8:8, Neh 8:9, Neh 9:3, Psa 76:7, Dan 9:5-7, Nah 1:6, Rom 3:20, Rom 4:15, Rom 7:9, Rev 6:17
because our fathers: 2Ch 29:6, 2Ch 34:21, Psa 106:6, Jer 16:12, Jer 44:17, Lam 5:7, Dan 9:8, Dan 9:10, Jam 1:22-25
Reciprocal: Deu 31:26 – a witness 2Ki 19:2 – he sent Eliakim Isa 5:25 – the anger Isa 24:5 – because Jer 18:11 – return Jer 36:7 – for Eze 9:4 – that sigh
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22:13 Go ye, {f} enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
(f) Meaning, to some prophet to whom God reveals the knowledge of things, as in Jer 21:8 , though at other times they enquired the Lord by Urim and Thummim.