Ver. 5. God, or who had the gift of intelligence and prophecy from God. Heb. "who was intelligent in the visions of God." Others have read birath, with the Sept. "in the fear;" or Chal. &c. "instructing in the fear of the Lord." The Jews childishly understand Zacharias to mean the king himself, in the early part of his reign. Others suppose the priest, who was slain by Joas, is designated. Lyran. --- But this was rather his son (T. Cajet. C.) and successor, as well as a prophet, who had therefore a more perfect knowledge of God; though none can comprehend his being. H.

Ver. 6. In. Prot. "about Ashdod." Sept. "he built (or repaired) the cities of Azotus," to keep under the Philistines, who had revolted under Joram. C. xxi. 16.

Ver. 7. Gurbaal. Gerera, (S. Jer. Trad.) or Gebal. Ps. lxxxii. 8. Sept. "the rock," or Petra, in Arabia, where Stephanus places the Gabalenes. --- Ammonites. Heb. mehunim. Sept. "Mineans," (C. xx. 1. H.) upon the Red Sea, (Steph.) or Mediterranean, (Pliny vi. 28,) or in Arabia Felix. Strabo. M.

Ver. 8. Gifts. Tribute. C. xxvii. 5. C. --- Victories. Prot. "the strengthened himself exceedingly." H.

Ver. 9. Corner. Repairing what Joas had demolished. 4 K. xiv. 13. T.

Ver. 10. Wilderness, for the protection of shepherds. 4 K. xvii. 9. --- Plains. Heb. "valleys, and in the plains husbandmen, and vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel; for he loved the earth, or husbandry," like David. 1 Par. xvii. 25. &c. --- Carmel, means, "the vine of God;" as both the mount in Juda, where Nabal resided, and that on the Mediterranean Sea, were famous for wine. Ozias probably cultivated the former mountain. C.

Ver. 11. Doctor. Heb. shoter. Sept. "judge." Prot. "ruler." H. --- The term is commonly understood of one who executes the sentence of the judge. But this employment does not suit a general, (C.) though such a one might well command. It many denote any "officer." H.

Ver. 15. Engines. They are here mentioned for the first time. C. --- For the. Heb. "for he was wonderfully helped till he was established." H. --- He invented may things for the defence of his kingdom. C.

Ver. 17. Azarias. The prophet, who had hitherto kept the king (H.) within bounds, was now no more, v. 5. T.

Ver. 18. To thee. For usurping spiritual authority, the king was opposed by the high priest; and God confirmed the sentence of the latter, by striking Ozias with the leprosy; on which account, the was not only cast out of the temple, but also lost his kingdom, being obliged to live apart; (Lev. xiii. 46,) and after death, he could not be buried with his ancestors. W.

Ver. 19. Forehead. So that it could not be concealed. According to the rigour of the law, such an offender was to be slain. Num. iii. 10. and xviii. 7. The leprosy was considered as equivalent, and is styled destruction, (v. 16,) and death. Isai. vi. 1. M. See 4 K. xv. 6.

Ver. 22. Prophet. Yet we find little concerning him in the prophecy of Isaias; so that the work has been lost, except what Esdras hath preserved. C.

Ver. 23. Leper. So much was the disease abhorred, (C.) as well as the king's late conduct. H.