Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 26:15

"And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong." — 2 Chronicles 26:15 (ASV)

Engines, invented by cunning men. —The first mention of artillery. Literally, devices, a devising of a deviser. The word “engine” (i.e., ingenium, which is late Latin for ballista) fairly represents chishshâbôn. Septuagint, μηχανὰς, Vulgate, machinas.

Bulwarks. — Pinnôth.Zephaniah 1:16, towers.

To shoot arrows and great stones. —So that they were like the well-known catapults and ballisters of Roman warfare. An instrument like the ballista is represented on the Assyrian sculptures, and probably both kinds of artillery passed from Assyria to Palestine.

And his name spread. — Went forth (2 Chronicles 26:8).

He was marvellously helped. —The Hebrew phrase only occurs here.

Till. — So that he became strong.