2 Kings 5:24

The tower. — Heb., the ’ôphel, the mound, on which the prophet’s house may have stood. There would be no window in the exterior wall from which Gehazi and his companions might have been observed approaching. Perhaps, however, a fortified hill, forming part of the system of defences surrounding Samaria, like the Ophel at Jerusalem, is to be understood. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 27:3.) Elisha’s house lay within the city wall (2 Kings 6:30, seq.). Keil explains the hill on which Samaria was built. (Comp. Isaiah 32:14, and Cheyne’s Note; Micah 4:8 : “And thou, O tower of the flock; O mound of the daughter of Zion.”) This note of place is also a note of historical truth.

Bestowed them in the house. — Stowed them away, laid them up carefully in the (prophet’s) house. LXX., παρέθετο.

Let the men go. — Before he “bestowed” their burdens in the house.