2Ch 12:5-12 | Clarke

2 Chronicles 12:5-12

Verse 6

Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves - This is not mentioned in the parallel place, 1Kgs 14:25-29 : this was the sole reason why Jerusalem was not at this time totally destroyed, and the house of David entirely cut off; for they were totally incapable of defending themselves against this innumerable host. Verse 8

They shall be his servants - They shall be preserved, and serve their enemies, that they may see the difference between the service of God and that of man. While they were pious, they found the service of the Lord to be perfect freedom; when they forsook the Lord, they found the fruit to be perfect bondage. A sinful life is both expensive and painful. Verse 9

Took away the treasures - Such a booty as never had before, nor has since, come into the hand of man.

The shields of gold - These shields were the mark of the king's body-guard: it was in imitation of this Eastern magnificence that Alexander constituted his Argyraspides, adorned with the spoils taken from Darius. See Quintus Curtius, lib. viii., c. 5, et alibi.