_A.M. 3110. B.C. 894._ Elisha causes iron to swim, 2 Kings 6:1. Discloses to the king of Israel the secret counsels of the king of Syria, 2 Kings 6:8. Saves himself out of the hands of those who were sent to apprehend him, 2 Kings 6:13. Samaria is besieged by the Syrians, and reduced to extremity,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of the prophet said to Elisha_ Probably those that were at Gilgal, for that is the place last mentioned where the prophet was, (chap. 2 Kings 4:38,) and was also near to Jordan. _Let us go unto Jordan_ To the woods near Jordan; _and take thence every man a beam_ A piece of timber for the b... [ Continue Reading ]
_The axe-head fell_ The iron fell from the wood. _Alas, master, for it was borrowed!_ He was the more concerned, both because he was now compelled to be idle and useless to them in the common work, and because it was his friend's loss, who was now likely to suffer for his kindness in lending him the... [ Continue Reading ]
_He cut down a stick, and cast it in thither_ This was undoubtedly done with no other design than to raise the attention of the beholders, and make it more evident that the iron was made to swim by the divine power alone; for the casting in of the stick could contribute no more to it than his castin... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king of Syria warred against Israel_ This probably happened many years after Naaman was cured, and when he was either dead, or had lost his place through his refusing to worship Rimmon: for it is not to be supposed that he would lead an army against the Israelites. _In such and such a place_ He... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king of Israel sent to the place_ Either spies, to know whether the information which the prophet had given him was true, or soldiers, to secure the place and passage designed. By this means he frequently saved himself or his people from falling into the hands of the Syrians, who lay in wait fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? _ Betrays my counsels to him: for he could not suppose that he should meet with such constant disappointments, unless it were by treachery. _One of the servants said_, &c. It is likely Naaman had spread the fame of the prophet so much in t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him_ Foolish man! Did he believe that Elisha had informed the king of Israel of his secret counsels, or not? If he did not, what quarrel had he with him? If he did, could he be so weak as to imagine that the prophet would not discover the designs laid agai... [ Continue Reading ]
_The servant said, Alas! my master_ Perhaps the Syrians had assured the inhabitants they intended no harm to them, but only came to take Elisha; which the young man hearing, was put into great fear: for, having probably not been long with the prophet, (being only taken into his service since Gehazi'... [ Continue Reading ]
_He answered, Fear not_ He was concerned to remove the fears of his servant, and impart to him the same satisfaction and peace of mind he possessed himself in this time of extraordinary danger; for good men desire not only to be easy themselves, but to make those about them easy. And all those whose... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes_ The eyes of his body were open, and with them he saw the danger; Lord, said the prophet, open the eyes of his faith, and the eyes of his mind, that with them he may see the protection we are under, may see the invisible guard of heavenly beings which encompass and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when they came down to him_ Either in the city, into which they easily got admission, when they declared that the only end of their coming was to take Elisha; or rather, in the field, without the city, whither he went to meet them. _Elisha prayed, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elisha said, This is not the way_, &c. Elisha does not speak this in answer to an inquiry made by the Syrians respecting the way to Dothan; if he had, his words would have contained a falsehood, from which they are clear, because he does not say, _This is not the way to Dothan This is not the city... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord opened their eyes, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria_ To their great astonishment and terror, no doubt, there being a standing force there sufficient to cut them all off, or make them prisoners of war. Thus when God has opened the eyes of those whom Satan had blinded, and delud... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall I smite them? shall I smite them?_ This repetition of the question shows his eager desire to fall upon them and kill them. Perhaps he remembered how God was displeased at his father for dismissing out of his hands those whom he had put it into his power to destroy, and he would not offend in... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away_ Refreshed, but disarmed, as is most probable. _So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel_ For some considerable time, _came no more_ as yet, as Dr. Waterland reads it; not until the memory and influence of these examples were gone o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass after this_, &c. How long after we are not informed; but probably some years, when they had forgotten the kindnesses they had received in Samaria, which for a time, it appears, had quite disarmed them of their hatred against Israel, and caused them to lay aside all thoughts of w... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a great famine in Samaria_ Probably the dearth, which had of late been in the land, was the cause of their stores being so empty; or the siege was so sudden, that they had no time to lay in provisions. _An ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver_ Supposed to be shekels, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king of Israel was passing on the wall_ To give necessary directions for the defence of the city against assault; to see if the several guards were watchful and diligent, and if his orders were executed, and to observe the motions of the enemy. _There cried a woman unto him, Help, my lord, O ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king said, What aileth thee?_ Is there any thing singular in thy case? Dost thou fare worse than thy neighbours? Truly, yes: she and one of her neighbours had made a barbarous agreement, that, all provisions failing, they should boil and eat her son first, and then her neighbour's: hers was eat... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the king heard the words of the woman, he rent his clothes_ Partly through grief for such a horrid fact, and partly through indignation at the prophet. _And the people looked_ Who were in great numbers upon the wall, chiefly for the defence of the city. _And behold, he had sackcloth upon his f... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the head of Elisha shall stand on him this day_ If I do not this day take his head and his life. This wretched and partial prince overlooks his own great and various sins, and, among the rest, his obstinate adherence to the worship of the calves, and his conniving at the idolatries and witchcraf... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elisha sat in his house_ In the house where he lodged; for it is probable he had no house of his own, having forsaken all to follow Elijah. _And the elders sat with him_ Either the sons of the prophets, or rather some good and godly men, such as are frequently termed elders in the prophecy of Ezeki... [ Continue Reading ]
_While he yet talked with them, the messenger came_ Namely, to the door, where we are to understand he was stopped that he could not come at the prophet till the king came. _And he said, Behold, this evil_, &c. Either the messenger said this in the king's name and words, or rather the king himself,... [ Continue Reading ]