Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 16:4

Charles Ellicott Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:4

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:4

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali." — 2 Chronicles 16:4 (ASV)

Abel-maim. — In Kings, it is “Abel - beth - maachah” (compare 2 Samuel 20:14–15 and 2 Kings 15:29). This city is nowhere else called Abel-maim, which is perhaps an early mistake. The Syriac reads Abel-beth-maachah.

And all the store-cities (miskĕnôth, 2 Chronicles 8:4). — Literally, And all the stores (magazines) of the cities of Naphtali. In Kings, it says: “And all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.”

Cinneroth is mentioned (Joshua 19:35) as a town of Naphtali, and the Sea of Galilee was called the Sea of Cinneroth (Joshua 12:3). Probably the fertile district west of the lake was also called Cinneroth, and this was the country which Benhadad’s army laid waste.

The present reading of Chronicles may be either a mere textual corruption or a paraphrase of that of Kings. Some critics assume its originality, which is less likely. We prefer to regard it as a paraphrase or explanation.