(18) Invaded--i.e., "fell upon" (2Chronicles 25:13).

The low country.--The sheph???lah, or lowland of Judah, between the hill-country and the Mediterranean.

The south.--The Negeb, or southland of Judah, nearly co-extensive with the territory assigned to Simeon (2Samuel 24:7).

Beth-shemesh.--See 1Chronicles 6:59.

Ajalon.--1Chronicles 6:69.

Gederoth.--In the lowland (Joshua 15:41).

Shocho.--Rather, Socho (2Chronicles 11:7).

Timnah.--Now Tibna (Joshua 15:10).

Gimzo.--Now Jimsu, between Lydda and Beth-horon (Robinson, iii. 271).

And the villages thereof.--And her daughters. (See Note on 1Chronicles 7:28, "and the towns thereof.")

And they dwelt there.--Permanently occupied the country. (Comp. 1Chronicles 5:22. See also Isaiah 14:29-30.)

Verse 18. - The Philistines. These also had been subjugated again and again, and of late by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6, 7), work that was now undone. The exultant relief to the Philistines, short-lived though it was, is referred to elsewhere, as in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 14:29, 81), the Psalms (Palm 60:8). Beth-shemesh. On the border of Judah (2 Chronicles 25:23, and our note there; 1 Chronicles 6:44). Ajalon, This was also on the border (1 Chronicles 6:54; 2 Chronicles 11:10). Gederoth. This was in the Shefelah (Joshua 15:41). Shocho; or, Socho, one of Rehoboam's cities, near the Philistines, and therefore selected for fortification (2 Chronicles 11:7). Timnah. This bordered on Dan (Joshua 15:10). Gimzo. Not elsewhere mentioned, but well known in the modern village Jimzu, its site on what would have been the border of Dan. They dwelt there. This expression is, of course, designed to indicate that the Philistines obtained successfully some foothold.

28:1-27 The wicked reign of Ahaz in Judah. - Israel gained this victory because God was wroth with Judah, and made them the rod of his indignation. He reminds them of their own sins. It ill becomes sinners to be cruel. Could they hope for the mercy of God, if they neither showed mercy nor justice to their brethren? Let it be remembered, that every man is our neighbour, our brother, our fellow man, if not our fellow Christian. And no man who is acquainted with the word of God, need fear to maintain that slavery is against the law of love and the gospel of grace. Who can hold his brother in bondage, without breaking the rule of doing to others as he would they should do unto him? But when sinners are left to their own heart's lusts, they grow more desperate in wickedness. God commands them to release the prisoners, and they obeyed. The Lord brought Judah low. Those who will not humble themselves under the word of God, will justly be humbled by his judgments. It is often found, that wicked men themselves have no real affection for those that revolt to them, nor do they care to do them a kindness. This is that king Ahaz! that wretched man! Those are wicked and vile indeed, that are made worse by their afflictions, instead of being made better by them; who, in their distress, trespass yet more, and have their hearts more fully set in them to do evil. But no marvel that men's affections and devotions are misplaced, when they mistake the author of their trouble and of their help. The progress of wickedness and misery is often rapid; and it is awful to reflect upon a sinner's being driven away in his wickedness into the eternal world.The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country,.... Which lay nearest to them, as Sharon, Lydda, Joppa, &c. in revenge of what Uzziah had done to them, 2 Chronicles 26:6, and of the south of Judah; they penetrated as far as that, from the west to the south of the land:

and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho, with the villages thereof and Timnah with the villages thereof; of which see Joshua 15:10.

and Gimzo also, and the villages thereof; which though nowhere else mentioned in Scripture, yet we frequently read in Jewish writings (l) of Nahum, a man of Ganizu, which perhaps is the same place with this:

and they dwelt there; kept them in their hands, and inhabited them.

(l) T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 21. 1. Sanhedrin, fol. 108. 2, &c.