The division between the chapters is most awkward here. Elisha, in this verse, replies to the king’s challenge in 2 Kings 6:33 - that his God, Yahweh, will give deliverance in the space of a day. On the morrow, by the same time in the day, the famine will have ceased, and food will be even cheaper t... [ Continue Reading ]
A LORD - Rather, “the captain,” as in Exodus 14:7; 1 Kings 9:22; etc. The term itself, שׁלישׁ _shâlı̂ysh_ (derived from שׁלושׁ _shâlôsh_, “three,”) may be compared with the Latin “tribunus.” WINDOWS - Rather, “sluices” (compare Genesis 7:11). The “lord” means to say “If Yahweh were to open sluic... [ Continue Reading ]
The position of the lepers is in accordance with the Law of Moses (marginal references); and shows that the Law was still observed to some extent in the kingdom of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TWILIGHT - The evening twilight (see 2 Kings 7:9). THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP - The extreme boundary of the camp toward the city, not its furthest or most distant portion. Compare 2 Kings 7:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is a matter of no importance whether we say that the miracle by which God now performed deliverance for Samaria consisted in a mere illusion of the sense of hearing (compare 2 Kings 6:19); or whether there was any objective reality in the sound (compare the marginal references). THE KING OF ISRA... [ Continue Reading ]
The lepers began to think that if they kept this important matter secret during the whole night for their own private advantage, when the morning came they would be found out, accused, and punished (see margin).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CALLED UNTO THE PORTER ... AND TOLD THEM - The word “porter” is used like our “guard” and the meaning here is, not that the lepers called to any particular individual, but that they roused the body of men who were keeping guard at one of the gates.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SERVANTS - i. e., “high officers of the household,” not mere domestics. I WILL SHEW YOU WHAT THE SYRIANS HAVE DONE - Jehoram sees in the deserted camp a stratagem like that connected with the taking of Ai Joshua 8:3. The suspicion was a very natural one, since the Israelites knew of no reason w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD ... - The Septuagint and a large number of the Hebrew MSS. omit the clause, “behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it.” But the text followed by our translators, which is that of the best maunscripts, is intelligible and needs no alteration. It is merely a prolix wa... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO CHARIOT HORSES - Translate, “two horse-chariots.” They dispatched i. e. two war-chariots, with their proper complement of horses and men, to see whether the retreat was a reality or only a feint. The “horses” sent would be four or six, since chariots were drawn by either two or three horses.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Syrians had fled probably by the great road which led from Samaria to Damascus through Geba, En-gannim, Beth-shean, and Aphek. It crosses the Jordan at the Jisr Mejamia, about thirty-five miles northeast of Samaria.... [ Continue Reading ]