he went out: 2 Chronicles 19:1-2, 2 Chronicles 25:15-16; 1 Kings 20:13, 1 Kings 20:22, 1 Kings 20:42; 2 Kings 20:14-15
Behold: To this beautiful speech nothing can be added by the best comment. It is simple, humane, pious, and overwhelmingly convincing; and it is no wonder that it produced the effect here described. That there was much humanity, as well as firmness, in the heads of the children of Ephraim, who joined with the prophet of Jehovah on this occasion, their subsequent conduct, as detailed in the 2 Chronicles 28:15, sufficiently proves. They did not barely dismiss these most unfortunate captives, but they took that very spoil which their victorious army had taken, and with clothed, shod, fed, and anointed these distressed people, set the feeblest of them upon asses, and escorted them safely to Jericho! We can scarcely find a parallel to this in the universal history of the wars which savage man has carried on against his fellows from the foundation of the world. The compliance also of the whole army, in leaving both the captives and spoil to the disposal of the princes, was really wonderful, and perhaps unparalleled in history. Both the princes and army are worthy to be held up to the admiration and imitation of mankind.
because the Lord God: 2 Chronicles 28:5; Judges 3:8; Psalms 69:26; Isaiah 10:5-7, Isaiah 47:6; Jeremiah 15:17-18; Ezekiel 25:12-17; Ezekiel 26:2-3; Obadiah 1:10-16; Zechariah 1:15
reacheth: Genesis 4:10, Genesis 11:4; Ezra 9:6; Revelation 18:5