2 Chronicles 24:26 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. — 2 Kings 12:21 : “Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer.”Probably “Jozachar” is right, “Zabad” being an easy corruption of “Zachar,” a normal contraction of Jozachar. Yet many MSS. of Kings read “Joza-bad.” “Shomer” in Kings should probably be Shemer (1 Chronicles 7:32; 1 Chronicles 7:34), of which Shimri (1 Chronicles 4:37) and Shimrith might be by-forms. Reuss is incorrect in asserting that the names of the mothers are substituted by the chronicler for the names of the fathers. Thenius even knows the reason why the chronicler has added the epithets “Ammonitess,” “Moabitess.” The writer wished to show that the idolatry into which he makes Joash lapse (?), was avenged by two sons of idolatrous wives (!). This is fancy determined by prejudice. The additions “Ammonitess,” “Moabitess,” indicate the use of another source than the canonical book of Kings; and the same may be said of the strikingly original account of the death of Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:17-22). What that source was the next verse declares, viz., “The Midrash of the book of the Kings.”