Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 15:37
In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
37. In those days ] In the days of Jotham the confederacy between Israel and Syria against Judah was formed, though the effects were not felt to the full till the days of Jotham’s son Ahaz. In Isaiah 7 we find that Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, had come up against Jerusalem to fight against it, and were minded to set up a king in Judah of their own choosing, who is there spoken of as ‘the son of Tabeel’. At that time for the consolation and encouragement of Ahaz the oracle concerning ‘Immanuel’ was sent to him through Isaiah.
the Lord began to send ] Though He began to send enemies upon Judah, yet the Lord did not, as Isaiah’s prophecy shews us, leave His people without hope, but in the midst of their chastisement He was thinking upon mercy, and spake by the mouth of the prophet concerning that greatest mercy, the sending of His Son.
Rezin the king of Syria ] The name of this king appears several times in the Assyrian records. His country had before this time been made tributary to Assyria. The policy of Rezin appears not only to have embraced a conquest of Judah in alliance with Pekah, but also, after making himself more powerful in that way, the shaking off the yoke of Assyria. For this reason the Assyrian power was the more easily induced to help Ahaz in resisting Israel and Syria. The history of that help is given in the next chapter where the acts of Pekah against Judah are more fully dwelt upon.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The recent invasions of Pul and Tiglath-Pileser had effectually alarmed Pekah and Rezin, and had induced them to put aside the traditional jealousies which naturally kept them apart, and to make a league offensive and defensive. Into this league they were anxious that Judaea should enter; but they distrusted the house of David, which had been so long hostile both to Damascus and to Samaria. They consequently formed the design of transferring the Jewish crown to a certain Ben-Tabeal Isa 7:6, probably a Jewish noble, perhaps a refugee at one of their courts, whom they could trust to join heartily in their schemes (2Ki 16:5 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 37. In those days the Lord began to send] It was about this time that the Assyrian wars, so ruinous to the Jews, began; but it was in the following reigns that they arrived at their highest pitch of disaster to those unfaithful and unfortunate people. However much we may blame the Jews for their disobedience and obstinacy, yet we cannot help feeling for them under their severe afflictions. Grievously they have sinned, and grievously have they suffered for it. And if they be still objects of God’s judgments, there is revelation to believe that they will yet be objects of God’s goodness. Many think the signs of the times are favourable to this ingathering; but there is no evidence among the people themselves that the day of their redemption is at hand. They do not humble themselves; they do not seek the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In those days i.e. towards the end of Jothams reign.
The Lord began to send, i.e. disposed their hearts to unite their forces together, and to make preparation for a war against Judah; which yet they did not execute till Ahazs reign.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
37. the Lord began to send againstJudah Rezin the king of Syria, &c.This is the firstintimation of the hostile feelings of the kings of Israel and Syria,to Judah, which led them to form an alliance and make jointpreparations for war. [See on 2Ch27:5.] However, war was not actually waged till the reign ofAhaz.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
In those days,…. At the end of the days of Jotham, or after his death, things might be in design, and preparations made before, but nothing of what follows came to pass in his life, but in the times of his son;
the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah: to make war with them as a scourge to Ahaz for his sins; of which is in the following chapter.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin, etc. It is evident from the position of this verse at the close of the account of Jotham, that the incursions of the allied Syrians and Israelites into Judah under the command of Rezin and Pekah commenced in the closing years of Jotham, so that these foes appeared before Jerusalem at the very beginning of the reign of Ahaz. – It is true that the Syrians had been subjugated by Jeroboam II (2Ki 14:28); but in the anarchical condition of the Israelitish kingdom after his death, they had no doubt recovered their independence. They must also have been overcome by the Assyrians under Pul, for he could never have marched against Israel without having first of all conquered Syria. But as the power of the Assyrians was greatly weakened for a time by the falling away of the Medes and Babylonians, the Syrians had taken advantage of this weakness to refuse the payment of tribute to Assyria, and had formed an alliance with Pekah of Israel to conquer Judah, and thereby to strengthen their power so as to be able to offer a successful resistance to any attack from the side of the Euphrates. – But as 2Ki 16:6. and 2 Kings 17 show, it was otherwise decreed in the counsels of the Lord.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
REIGN OF JOTHAM, KING OF JUDAH, 2Ki 15:32-38.
37. In those days Evidently near the close of Jotham’s reign.
Began to send Rezin and Pekah That is, the Syro-Israelitish war against Judah only began in Jotham’s day. It belonged rather to the reign of Ahaz. See notes on chap. 2Ki 16:5-9.
The reign of Jotham is more fully detailed in 2 Chronicles 27, where see notes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 15:37 In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
Ver. 37. In those days. ] But not till good Jotham was laid up in peace.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rezin. The war which broke out in the reign of Ahaz was already threatening. Compare Isa 7:1-16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 3262, bc 742
In those days: “At the end of Jotham’s reign.” This Jotham died at forty-one. He was too great a blessing to be continued long to such an unworthy people. His death was a judgment, especially considering the character of Ahaz, his son and successor: for we read – 2Ki 16:3 Ahaz made his son pass through the fire. This son may have been Hezekiah, who served the Lord, and whose prayer in sickness was most graciously herd and answered. Isa 38:1-22
began: 2Ki 10:32, 1Sa 3:12, Jer 25:29, Luk 21:28
to send: Deu 28:48, Psa 78:49, Isa 10:5-7, Jer 16:16, Jer 43:10
Rezin: 2Ki 16:5, 2Ch 28:6, Isa 7:1, Isa 7:8, Hos 5:12, Hos 5:13
Pekah: 2Ki 15:27
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 15:37. In those days That is, toward the end of Jothams reign; the Lord began to send against Judah, Rezin and Pekah As he bid Shimei curse David, when he gave him an opportunity of doing it, without fear of punishment. Wicked men are the sword, the rod in Gods hand, which he makes use of as he pleases, to serve his own righteous counsels, though they be unrighteous in their intentions. This storm was gathered in the reign of pious Jotham, but he came to his grave in peace, and it fell upon his degenerate son Ahaz, whose heart, upon notice of it, was moved, as were the hearts of the people, as the trees of the wood are moved by the wind, Isa 7:2.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:37 In {m} those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and {n} Pekah the son of Remaliah.
(m) After the death of Jotham.
(n) Who in one day slew 120,000 of Judah’s fighting men 2Ch 28:6 , because they had forsaken the true God.