99
The expression, 2 Chronicles 20:21, rendered "beauty of holiness" in our A.V., means" holy array," and probably
refers to the full Temple -dress of the priests and Levites.
100
A.V.: "the end of the brook" (ver. 16). For the scenery generally comp. Robinson's Researches, Vol. 1. pp. 486 to
488, and 508.
101
The reader who will take the trouble of examining the interesting account of the district in Robinson's Biblical
Researches, Vol. 1. pp. 486-508 (passim), will see how our suggestions are borne out by the description of the great
American traveller.
102
The word "dead bodies" has been supposed to be a misreading or miswriting for," raiments." But I see no need for
this hypothesis, and would propose translating: "accoutrement [substance, all belonging to an army - the Hebrew wo rd
as in 11:13], dead bodies [probably of animals], and precious vessels Daniel."
103
See Robinson, u.s., pp. 490, 491; Vol. 3., p. 275. It has been supposed by some (Thenius, Hitzig) that the valley of
Berakhah was just outside the walls of Jerusalem, bein g, indeed, that part of the Kidron Valley known as the Valley of
Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12), where in the future the judgment on the heathen enemies of God and of His Israel would
take place. But the text does not admit of this identification (see vers. 27 , 28). Accordingly, most critics have suggested
that "the valley of Jehoshaphat" derived its name from the expectation that the future judgment would resemble in
character the victory which God had given to Jehoshaphat. But may it not have been that Jehoshaphat had there
addressed to the people, when going out to battle, the words recorded in verses 20 and 21, and that this gave its name to
the valley?
104
Zoekler has aptly noted a number of circumstances tending to confirm the historical accuracy of this n arrative.
Among these he reckons (1) that the dark sides in Jehoshaphat's character and reign are not withheld. (2) The mention
of definite names, such as that of the high-priest Amariah, and of Zebadiah, the chief of the tribe of Judah (2 Chronicles
19:11 ). (3) The detailed references to localities such as to "the new court" in the Temple (20:5), or to circumstances,
such as the inspiration of the Levite Jahaziel (ver. 14). (4) That the prophet Joel must have known and treated this
account as historical wh en he spoke of "the valley of Jehoshaphat." (5) The reference to other historical documents
(ver. 34). (6) Lastly, we must here include the evidence afforded by the so-called "Moabite Stone," to which further
reference will be made in the sequel.
105
Tarshish is, no doubt, the ancient Tartessus on the western coast of Spain, between the two mouths of the
Guadalquivir. Its situation is indicated in Genesis 10:4, comp. Psalm 72:10; its commerce in Ezekiel 38:13; its export
of silver, iron, tin, and lead in Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:12, 25. The Palestinian harbor for Tarshish was Joppa (Jonah
1:3; 4:2). All this shows that the xpedition from Ezion-Geber could not have been to Tarshish. But t was in "Tarshish
ships," - a name which also otherwise occurs or a cla ss of large merchantmen (like our "East Indiaman," or ocean
liner"), see Isaiah 2:16; 23:1, 14; 60:9. We can only uggest that the origin of the name "Tarshish ships" for these arge
vessels may have been that the first expedition to Ophir - ndeed, the first maritime expedition of the Jews was
ndertaken under the direction of Hiram, king of Tyre. But we now both from Scripture (comp. also Isaiah 23:1, 6, 10)
and rom classical writers that the trade to Tarshish was wholly in he hands of Tyre. Hiram would pro bably construct for
the xpedition to Ophir the same class of ships as those that traded o Tarshish - "Tarshish ships;" - and from and after
that olitary expedition in the time of Solomon, all large merchant essels may have borne in Judaea that name. The
writer of the ook of Chronicles - or else some copyist - evidently knew othing of a Jewish or Phoenician trade to Ophir,
but very much f that to Tarshish, and so finding in the source from which he rew a reference to Tarshish ships and
Ophir, he omitted the atter, and spoke of ships going to Tarshish.
106
*The other sites suggested are a port in India, or else one on he eastern coast of Africa.
107
A candid examination of 2 Chronicles 20:35 -37 and of 1 Kings 2:49 conveys to my mind this conclusion. The two
passages are upplementary, and not contradictory of each other.
108
This was first done in the (Greek) rendering of the LXX. (there 3 and 4 Kings).