2 Kings 7:1. _Hear ye the word of the Lord_ Having seen the change in the king's disposition, even though it were a change to despondency, rather than trust, Elisha in the name of the Lord gives a solemn assurance that help is nigh. This he does in the presence of the elders who had been sitting wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then a lord_ R.V. THE CAPTAIN. This is the usual rendering except in this narrative. The same change is made by R.V. in verses 17 and 19. The word is originally the title of some military officer. Hence the greater fitness of -captain". _on whose hand the king leaned_ For the expression cf. 2 King... [ Continue Reading ]
Four lepers discover that the Syrian camp is deserted, and bring word unto the city (Not in Chronicles) 3. at _the entering in of the gate_ Lepers were not allowed to come into the city even in the time of war. On this regulation concerning them see Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2-3. _until we die_ A... [ Continue Reading ]
_let us fall unto the host of the Syrians_ These wrecks of humanity use the language which would be used by hale men who were _deserting_one side for another. Cf. 1 Samuel 29:3; 2 Kings 25:11. The expression -fall away" for -desert" is common in English also. Cf. Shaks. _Antony and Cleopatra_, iv. 6... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the twilight_ This must be evening twilight. For in verse 9 they blame themselves for tarrying until morning light, and it was in the night (verse 12) that Jehoram was roused by the news that the Syrian camp was vacated. _to the uttermost_[R.V. OUTERMOST] _part of the camp of Syria_ R.V. THE SY... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise_ As the eyes of the Syrians who came to seize Elisha were deluded, and deceived, so here the other sense is made to err. We need not enquire how it was brought about, for we are not told, nor intended to know. The report of what had alar... [ Continue Reading ]
_they went into one tent, and did eat and drink_ Hunger asserted the first claim; that satisfied, they began to think how they might make most gain for themselves, by hiding a store of the deserted wealth; and this they did till their consciences smote them for their selfishness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_We do not well_ Although by the law of Moses these lepers were excluded from the city, they yet had in their degree the duties of citizens to perform, and in neglecting to give tidings of the Syrian flight, they were not acting the citizen's part. some _mischief will come upon us_ R.V. PUNISHMENT... [ Continue Reading ]
_called unto the porter_ i.e. from the outside of the wall, whither alone they were allowed to come. The singular noun is clearly taken in a collective sense, and some of the versions give -porters". The plural pronoun immediately following shews that this is intended. Hence R.V. gives the plural on... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he called_ i.e. the one who was nearest and received the news did so. The singular corresponds to the singular -porter" in verse 10. But there is a various reading here in the Hebrew, which the R.V. places on the margin, -the porters called". _and they told_it to _the king's house_[R.V. HOUSEH... [ Continue Reading ]
The report of the Syrian flight found to be true. The consequent plenty in Samaria (Not in Chronicles) 12. _the king arose in the night_ The news was so important that though it was night-time, the messengers went with it to the king's bedchamber, and he, though probably thinking the report much to... [ Continue Reading ]
_five of the horses_ -Five" is probably used indefinitely to mean some small number. That -five" may be thus used seems likely from Genesis 43:34; Numbers 11:19. _behold, they_are _as all the multitude_ The sense of the speaker seems to be: the men sent out as spies, if they be taken and slain, wil... [ Continue Reading ]
_two chariot horses_ R.V. TWO CHARIOTS WITH HORSES. Each chariot had its pair of horses, so that there were four horses, and probably two or three people in each chariot. If anything happened to one chariot, the other might come to the rescue, or, at all events, have a chance of escaping to the city... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto Jordan_ When the heaven-sent noise caused the Syrians to imagine that the Hittites from the north and the Egyptians from the south were upon them, the only safe road would be to make for the Jordan eastward and, after crossing it, to conceal themselves in the mountains on the other side. _the... [ Continue Reading ]
_the people went out_ When the camp had been found empty, word was at once sent back into Samaria, while a portion of the exploring party advanced on the road to the Jordan. The whole population were encouraged by the news, and went out, as they were likely to do after being so long pent up, in full... [ Continue Reading ]
The unbelieving captain is trodden to death in the gate (Not in Chronicles) 17. _the king appointed the lord_ R.V. CAPTAIN. For the change cf. verse 2. The captain was told off to restrain the impetuosity of the crowd, where crowding would be most dangerous. _as the man of God had said, who spake... [ Continue Reading ]
_the people trode upon him_ The excitement was no doubt intense. The crowd had been in the camp, had eaten and drunk abundantly, and were carrying home spoils, and probably thinking how soon they could return for another load. There would be but little consideration given to the captain at the gate.... [ Continue Reading ]