The praise of Josias, of Jeremias, Ezechiel, and the twelve prophets.
Also of Zorobabel, Jesus the son of Josedech, Nehemias, Enoch, Joseph,
Seth, Sem, and Adam.
49:1. The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell
made by the art of a perfumer:
49:2. His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as
music at a banquet of wine.
49:3. He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he
took away the abominations of wickedness.
49:4. And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of
sinners he strengthened godliness.
49:5. Except David, and Ezechias and Josias, all committed sin.
49:6. For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and
despised the fear of God.
49:7. So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a
strange nation,
49:8. They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets
thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias.
49:9. For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his
mother’s womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build
again, and renew.
49:10. It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn
him upon the chariot of cherubims.
49:11. For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and
of doing good to them that shewed right ways.
49:12. And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their
place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong
faith.
49:13. How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the
right hand;
49:14. In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec who in their days built
the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for
everlasting glory.
49:15. And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us
our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who
rebuilt our houses.
49:16. No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up
from the earth.
49:17. Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the
support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the
people:
49:18. And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied.
They prophesied.... That is, by their being carried out of Egypt they
verified the prophetic prediction of Joseph. Gen. 50.
49:19. Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam
in the beginning.