(10) And he set all the people.--2 Kings 9:11 : "And the Couriers stood." By "the people," the chronicler obviously means, not the mass of the congregation, but the armed body who were to "compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand" (2 Chronicles 23:7).
His weapon.--Or, his missiles, arms. LXX., ?????. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 32:5.) Kings has a commoner word. The remainder of the verse is identical with its parallel.
Verse 10. - Allthe people; i.e., again, all those, not being Levites and priests, who had been trusted to assist. The parallel (ver. 11) summarizes them under the name the guard. It may be just noted, in passing, that, while the Hebrew text has in both places "shoulder," i.e. for the "side" of this verse, and the "corner" of the parallel, the Revised Version has harmonized the rendering, electing the rendering side. From the right side of the temple to the left side. This is equivalent to saying, those composing the guard were placed on the south and north sides. Along by the altar. This was the altar of burnt offerings in front of the perch, and close by which the young "king stood at his pillar," or on his pedestal (ver. 13), the rows of the guard bristling with weapons before and behind and round about him.
23:12-20 A warning from God was sent to Jehoram. The Spirit of prophecy might direct Elijah to prepare this writing in the foresight of Jehoram's crimes. He is plainly told that his sin should certainly ruin him. But no marvel that sinners are not frightened from sin, and to repentance, by the threatenings of misery in another world, when the certainty of misery in this world, the sinking of their estates, and the ruin of their health, will not restrain them from vicious courses. See Jehoram here stripped of all his comforts. Thus God plainly showed that the controversy was with him, and his house. He had slain all his brethren to strengthen himself; now, all his sons are slain but one. David's house must not be wholly destroyed, like those of Israel's kings, because a blessing was in it; that of the Messiah. Good men may be afflicted with diseases; but to them they are fatherly chastisements, and by the support of Divine consolations the soul may dwell at ease, even when the body lies in pain. To be sick and poor, sick and solitary, but especially to be sick and in sin, sick and under the curse of God, sick and without grace to bear it, is a most deplorable case. Wickedness and profaneness make men despicable, even in the eyes of those who have but little religion.
His weapon.--Or, his missiles, arms. LXX., ?????. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 32:5.) Kings has a commoner word. The remainder of the verse is identical with its parallel.
Along by.--Towards the altar.