9 Then they said H559 one H376 to another, H7453 We do H6213 not well: this day H3117 is a day H3117 of good tidings, H1309 and we hold our peace: H2814 if we tarry H2442 till the morning H1242 light, H216 some mischief H5771 will come H4672 upon us: now therefore come, H3212 that we may go H935 and tell H5046 the king's H4428 household. H1004
10 So they came H935 and called H7121 unto the porter H7778 of the city: H5892 and they told H5046 them, saying, H559 We came H935 to the camp H4264 of the Syrians, H758 and, behold, there was no man H376 there, neither voice H6963 of man, H120 but horses H5483 tied, H631 and asses H2543 tied, H631 and the tents H168 as they were.
11 And he called H7121 the porters; H7778 and they told H5046 it to the king's H4428 house H1004 within. H6441
12 And the king H4428 arose H6965 in the night, H3915 and said H559 unto his servants, H5650 I will now shew H5046 you what the Syrians H758 have done H6213 to us. They know H3045 that we be hungry; H7457 therefore are they gone out H3318 of the camp H4264 to hide H2247 themselves in the field, H7704 saying, H559 When they come out H3318 of the city, H5892 we shall catch H8610 them alive, H2416 and get H935 into the city. H5892
13 And one H259 of his servants H5650 answered H6030 and said, H559 Let some take, H3947 I pray thee, five H2568 of the horses H5483 that remain, H7604 which are left H7604 in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude H1995 of Israel H3478 that are left H7604 in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude H1995 of the Israelites H3478 that are consumed:) H8552 and let us send H7971 and see. H7200
14 They took H3947 therefore two H8147 chariot H7393 horses; H5483 and the king H4428 sent H7971 after H310 the host H4264 of the Syrians, H758 saying, H559 Go H3212 and see. H7200
15 And they went H3212 after H310 them unto Jordan: H3383 and, lo, all the way H1870 was full H4392 of garments H899 and vessels, H3627 which the Syrians H758 had cast away H7993 in their haste. H2648 And the messengers H4397 returned, H7725 and told H5046 the king. H4428
16 And the people H5971 went out, H3318 and spoiled H962 the tents H4264 of the Syrians. H758 So a measure H5429 of fine flour H5560 was sold for a shekel, H8255 and two measures H5429 of barley H8184 for a shekel, H8255 according to the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 7
Commentary on 2 Kings 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
2Ki 7:1-16. Elisha Prophesies Incredible Plenty in Samaria.
1. Hear ye the word of the Lord—This prediction, though uttered first to the assembled elders, was intimated to the king's messengers, who reported it to Jehoram (2Ki 7:18).
To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, &c.—This may be estimated at a peck of fine flour for 2s. 6d., and two pecks of barley at the same price.
in the gate of Samaria—Vegetables, cattle, all sorts of country produce, are still sold every morning at the gates of towns in the East.
2. a lord on whose hand the king leaned—When an Eastern king walks or stands abroad in the open air, he always supports himself on the arm of the highest courtier present.
if the Lord would make windows in heaven—The scoffing infidelity of this remark, which was a sneer against not the prophet only, but the God he served, was justly and signally punished (see 2Ki 7:20).
3. there were four leprous men—The account of the sudden raising of the siege and the unexpected supply given to the famishing inhabitants of Samaria, is introduced by a narrative of the visit and discovery, by these poor creatures, of the extraordinary flight of the Syrians.
leprous men at the entering in of the gate—living, perhaps, in some lazar house there (Le 13:4-6; Nu 5:3).
5. they rose up in the twilight—that is, the evening twilight (2Ki 7:12).
the uttermost part of the camp of Syria—that is, the extremity nearest the city.
6, 7. the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots—This illusion of the sense of hearing, whereby the besiegers imagined the tramp of two armies from opposite quarters, was a great miracle which God wrought directly for the deliverance of His people.
8-11. these lepers … did eat and drink—After they had appeased their hunger and secreted as many valuables as they could carry, their consciences smote them for concealing the discovery and they hastened to publish it in the city.
10. horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were—The uniform arrangement of encampments in the East is to place the tents in the center, while the cattle are picketed all around, as an outer wall of defense; and hence the lepers describe the cattle as the first objects they saw.
12-15. the king … said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done—Similar stratagems have been so often resorted to in the ancient and modern wars of the East that there is no wonder Jehoram's suspicions were awakened. But the scouts, whom he despatched, soon found unmistakable signs of the panic that had struck the enemy and led to a most precipitate flight.
2Ki 7:17-20. The Unbelieving Lord Trodden to Death.
17. the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned,—&c. The news spread like lightning through the city, and was followed, as was natural, by a popular rush to the Syrian camp. To keep order at the gate, the king ordered his minister to keep guard; but the impetuosity of the famishing people could not be resisted. The lord was trodden to death, and Elisha's prophecy in all respects accomplished.