Verse 1

Israel, in his dominions. The kingdom of Jeroboam had long before apostatized, though there were still many true servants of God, who would not bend the knee before Baal, ver. 12. (Haydock)

Verse 3

Troglodites, who dwell in caverns, near the Red Sea. Pliny ([Natural History?] v. 8., and vi. 29.) speaks of the city Suca, which in Hebrew means a tent, as here we read succiyim, (Haydock) "dwelling in tents;" which some explain of the Arabs, who are called Scenites, on the same account. (Tirinus) --- People of this description, without any fixed abode, inhabited the Stony as well as the Desert Arabia, chap. xiv. 14.

Verse 7

A little help. I will not suffer them to be quite destroyed. Hebrew also signifies, "shortly." (Calmet) --- Fall, (stillabit) like drops of water, even to the last. (Haydock) --- How soon is God appeased! (Tirinus) --- Even when he punishes, he does not let the whole flood of his indignation fall upon the guilty. (Menochius)

Verse 10

Bearers. Hebrew, "runners," as the guards attended the king on foot.

Verse 12

For even. Protestants, "and also in Judah things went well;" (Haydock) or, "he spoke good words even to Juda." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "for even in Juda there were good words, and in all pleasing." Words are often put for works. (Haydock) --- The Lord regarded the fidelity of some, and the humility of the princes. (Calmet) --- This advantage was derived from tribulation, that the king entered into himself, at least for a time: (Haydock) but he was not constant, ver. 14. After the scourge was withdrawn, he presently relapsed. He had betrayed great cowardice, as even his son confessed; and had probably been treated with great indignity, (Tirinus) as it was the custom with Sesac, or Sesostris, to chain the conquered princes to his triumphal car, and to leave obscene representations of women in the country. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] viii. 4.) (Herodotus ii.) --- Sesostris proceeded to the conquest of Asia. (Tirinus)

Verse 14

Lord, with sincerity, being actuated only by a servile fear. He died impenitent. (Calmet)

Verse 15

And diligently. Hebrew, "in their genealogical accounts." (Haydock) See chap. xiii. 22.

Verse 23

CHAPTER XII.