INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 7 This chapter begins with a prophecy of great plenty in Samaria on the morrow, and of the death of an unbelieving lord, 2 Kings 7:1, relates the case of four lepers, who that night went into the Syrian camp, which was deserted, occasioned by the noise of chariots, horses, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ELISHA SAID, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD,.... This he said to the king and those that were with him: THUS SAITH THE LORD, TOMORROW, ABOUT THIS TIME; which very probably was the forenoon: SHALL A MEASURE OF FINE FLOUR [BE SOLD] FOR A SHEKEL; "a seah", the measure here spoken of, or "saturn", acc... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN A LORD, ON WHOSE HAND THE KING LEANED,.... Not figuratively, in whom the king confided, but literally, on whose hand he rested, and by whom he was supported, being a form and matter of state, while he and Elisha were talking together, or on whom he leaned as he came to him; this was a principal... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WERE FOUR LEPROUS MEN AT THE ENTERING IN OF THE GATE,.... Of the city of Samaria; lepers, according to the law, being obliged to be without the city and camp, Leviticus 13:46 these might have a dwelling assigned them near the gate; or they might get as near to it as they could, partly to o... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SAY WE WILL ENTER INTO THE CITY,.... Contrary to the law which forbid them: THEN THE FAMINE IS IN THE CITY, AND WE SHALL DIE THERE; not being able to obtain food to preserve life: AND IF WE SIT HERE, WE DIE ALSO; having nothing to eat to support nature: NOW THEREFORE LET US COME, AND FALL U... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ROSE UP IN THE TWILIGHT, TO GO UNTO THE CAMP OF THE SYRIANS,...., The dusk of the evening, or the evening twilight, as appears from 2 Kings 7:9, AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP OF SYRIA; not the further part of it, but the edge or border of it nearest to them: BE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD HAD MADE THE HOST OF THE SYRIANS TO HEAR A NOISE OF CHARIOTS, AND A NOISE OF HORSES, EVEN THE NOISE OF A GREAT HOST,.... Or of many armies, as the Targum; either in the air by the ministry of angels; or the Lord so wrought upon their imagination, that they fancied they heard such noises... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THEY AROSE AND FLED IN THE TWILIGHT,.... Or in the dark, as the Targum; when the twilight was going off; so that the lepers came very quickly after they were gone, 2 Kings 7:5 AND LEFT THEIR TENTS, AND THEIR HORSES, AND THEIR ASSES; such was their fright, that they could not stay to loose... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THESE LEPERS CAME TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP, THEY WENT INTO ONE TENT,.... The first they came to: AND DID EAT AND DRINK; which was the first thing they did, being hungry, and almost starved: AND CARRIED THENCE SILVER, AND GOLD, AND RAIMENT, AND WENT AND HID IT; in a place without... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY SAID ONE TO ANOTHER, WE DO NOT WELL,.... This is not right, to take this booty to ourselves; it is not doing justice to our brethren, and it may not prove well to ourselves in the issue: THIS DAY IS A DAY OF GOOD TIDINGS; to be delivered from the enemy, and have such plenty of provisions... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY CAME AND CALLED TO THE PORTER OF THE CITY,.... The chief of those that had the care of the gate of it; for there were more than one, as follows: AND THEY TOLD THEM; the porter, and the watchmen with him: WE CAME TO THE CAMP OF THE SYRIANS, AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS NO MAN THERE, NEITHER VOICE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CALLED THE PORTERS,.... The porter of the city called to the porters of the king's palace: AND THEY TOLD IT TO THE KING'S HOUSE WITHIN; to some of his domestic servants within the palace, and they reported it to the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING AROSE IN THE NIGHT,.... Upon the report made to him: AND HE SAID UNTO HIS SERVANTS, I WILL NOW SHOW YOU WHAT THE SYRIANS HAVE DONE TO US; taking it to be a stratagem of theirs to decoy them: THEY KNOW THAT WE BE HUNGRY; and would be glad to come out of the city to get some food: THER... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF HIS SERVANTS ANSWERED AND SAID, LET SOME TAKE, I PRAY THEE, FIVE OF THE HORSES THAT REMAIN, WHICH ARE LEFT IN THE CITY,.... Not having died through the famine as the rest: BEHOLD, THEY ARE AS ALL THE MULTITUDE OF ISRAEL THAT ARE LEFT IN IT; BEHOLD, I SAY, THEY ARE EVEN AS THE MULTITUDE O... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TOOK THEREFORE TWO CHARIOT HORSES,.... Not five, but two only, and those the best, that drew in the king's chariot perhaps, and so were better fed, and fitter for this expedition: AND THE KING SENT AFTER THE HOST OF THE SYRIANS, SAYING, GO AND SEE; whether they are fled or not.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT AFTER THEM UNTO JORDAN,.... Not finding them in the camp, and knowing the rout they would take to their own land, they went as far as Jordan, over which they must pass: AND, LO, ALL THE WAY WAS FULL OF GARMENTS AND VESSELS WHICH THE SYRIANS HAD CAST AWAY IN THEIR HASTE; in their frigh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE WENT OUT AND SPOILED THE TENTS OF THE SYRIANS,.... Of their riches, and of their provisions; of which there was such a plenty, not only for present use, but for sale, SO THAT A MEASURE OF FINE FLOUR WAS SOLD FOR A SHEKEL, c. ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD by Elisha, 2 Kings 7:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING APPOINTED THE LORD, ON WHOSE HAND HE LEANED, TO HAVE THE CHARGE OF THE GATE,.... Not to keep out the enemy, of which there was no danger; but to prevent disorders and tumults among the people, and that they might go out in an orderly and regular manner: AND THE PEOPLE TROD UPON HIM IN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THE MAN OF GOD HAD SPOKEN TO THE KING, SAYING,.... As in 2 Kings 7:1, and what he said to the king there, and to the lord, in 2 Kings 7:2, are repeated in this and the next verse, that it might be observed how exactly the prophecies were fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT LORD ANSWERED THE MAN OF GOD, AND SAID,.... As in 2 Kings 7:2 AND HE SAID; that is, Elisha, as in the same place.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO IT FELL OUT UNTO HIM,.... As the prophet predicted: FOR THE PEOPLE TROD UPON HIM IN THE GATE, AND HE DIED; 2 Kings 7:17.... [ Continue Reading ]