4 And the king H4428 talked H1696 with Gehazi H1522 the servant H5288 of the man H376 of God, H430 saying, H559 Tell H5608 me, I pray thee, all the great things H1419 that Elisha H477 hath done. H6213
But Gehazi, H1522 the servant H5288 of Elisha H477 the man H376 of God, H430 said, H559 Behold, my master H113 hath spared H2820 Naaman H5283 this Syrian, H761 in not receiving H3947 at his hands H3027 that which he brought: H935 but, as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 I will run H7323 after H310 him, and take H3947 somewhat H3972 of him. So Gehazi H1522 followed H7291 after H310 Naaman. H5283 And when Naaman H5283 saw H7200 him running H7323 after H310 him, he lighted down H5307 from the chariot H4818 to meet H7125 him, and said, H559 Is all well? H7965 And he said, H559 All is well. H7965 My master H113 hath sent H7971 me, saying, H559 Behold, even now there be come H935 to me from mount H2022 Ephraim H669 two H8147 young men H5288 of the sons H1121 of the prophets: H5030 give H5414 them, I pray thee, a talent H3603 of silver, H3701 and two H8147 changes H2487 of garments. H899 And Naaman H5283 said, H559 Be content, H2974 take H3947 two talents. H3603 And he urged H6555 him, and bound H6696 two H8147 talents H3603 of silver H3701 in two H8147 bags, H2754 with two H8147 changes H2487 of garments, H899 and laid H5414 them upon two H8147 of his servants; H5288 and they bare H5375 them before H6440 him. And when he came H935 to the tower, H6076 he took H3947 them from their hand, H3027 and bestowed H6485 them in the house: H1004 and he let the men H582 go, H7971 and they departed. H3212 But he went in, H935 and stood H5975 before his master. H113 And Elisha H477 said H559 unto him, Whence H370 comest thou, Gehazi? H1522 And he said, H559 Thy servant H5650 went H1980 no whither. H575 And he said H559 unto him, Went H1980 not mine heart H3820 with thee, when the man H376 turned H2015 again from his chariot H4818 to meet H7125 thee? Is it a time H6256 to receive H3947 money, H3701 and to receive H3947 garments, H899 and oliveyards, H2132 and vineyards, H3754 and sheep, H6629 and oxen, H1241 and menservants, H5650 and maidservants? H8198 The leprosy H6883 therefore of Naaman H5283 shall cleave H1692 unto thee, and unto thy seed H2233 for ever. H5769 And he went out H3318 from his presence H6440 a leper H6879 as white as snow. H7950
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 And the king H4428 appointed H6485 the lord H7991 on whose hand H3027 he leaned H8172 to have the charge of the gate: H8179 and the people H5971 trode H7429 upon him in the gate, H8179 and he died, H4191 as the man H376 of God H430 had said, H1696 who spake H1696 when the king H4428 came down H3381 to him. And it came to pass as the man H376 of God H430 had spoken H1696 to the king, H4428 saying, H559 Two measures H5429 of barley H8184 for a shekel, H8255 and a measure H5429 of fine flour H5560 for a shekel, H8255 shall be to morrow H4279 about this time H6256 in the gate H8179 of Samaria: H8111 And that lord H7991 answered H6030 the man H376 of God, H430 and said, H559 Now, behold, if the LORD H3068 should make H6213 windows H699 in heaven, H8064 might such a thing H1697 be? And he said, H559 Behold, thou shalt see H7200 it with thine eyes, H5869 but shalt not eat H398 thereof. And so it fell out unto him: for the people H5971 trode H7429 upon him in the gate, H8179 and he died. H4191
And Elisha H477 prayed, H6419 and said, H559 LORD, H3068 I pray thee, open H6491 his eyes, H5869 that he may see. H7200 And the LORD H3068 opened H6491 the eyes H5869 of the young man; H5288 and he saw: H7200 and, behold, the mountain H2022 was full H4390 of horses H5483 and chariots H7393 of fire H784 round about H5439 Elisha. H477 And when they came down H3381 to him, Elisha H477 prayed H6419 unto the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 Smite H5221 this people, H1471 I pray thee, with blindness. H5575 And he smote H5221 them with blindness H5575 according to the word H1697 of Elisha. H477 And Elisha H477 said H559 unto them, This is not the way, H1870 neither is this H2090 the city: H5892 follow H3212 H310 me, and I will bring H3212 you to the man H376 whom ye seek. H1245 But he led H3212 them to Samaria. H8111 And it came to pass, when they were come H935 into Samaria, H8111 that Elisha H477 said, H559 LORD, H3068 open H6491 the eyes H5869 of these men, that they may see. H7200 And the LORD H3068 opened H6491 their eyes, H5869 and they saw; H7200 and, behold, they were in the midst H8432 of Samaria. H8111
And the man H376 of God H430 sent H7971 unto the king H4428 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Beware H8104 that thou pass H5674 not such H2088 a place; H4725 for thither the Syrians H758 are come down. H5185 And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 to the place H4725 which the man H376 of God H430 told H559 him and warned H2094 him of, and saved H8104 himself there, not once H259 nor twice. H8147 Therefore the heart H3820 of the king H4428 of Syria H758 was sore troubled H5590 for this thing; H1697 and he called H7121 his servants, H5650 and said H559 unto them, Will ye not shew H5046 me which of us is for the king H4428 of Israel? H3478 And one H259 of his servants H5650 said, H559 None, my lord, H113 O king: H4428 but Elisha, H477 the prophet H5030 that is in Israel, H3478 telleth H5046 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 the words H1697 that thou speakest H1696 in thy bedchamber. H2315 H4904
And he said, H559 About this season, H4150 according to the time H6256 of life, H2416 thou shalt embrace H2263 a son. H1121 And she said, H559 Nay, my lord, H113 thou man H376 of God, H430 do not lie H3576 unto thine handmaid. H8198 And the woman H802 conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 a son H1121 at that season H4150 that Elisha H477 had said H1696 unto her, according to the time H6256 of life. H2416
Then he said, H559 Go, H3212 borrow H7592 thee vessels H3627 abroad H2351 of all thy neighbours, H7934 even empty H7386 vessels; H3627 borrow not a few. H4591 And when thou art come in, H935 thou shalt shut H5462 the door H1817 upon thee and upon thy sons, H1121 and shalt pour out H3332 into all those vessels, H3627 and thou shalt set aside H5265 that which is full. H4392 So she went H3212 from him, and shut H5462 the door H1817 upon her and upon H1157 her sons, H1121 who H1992 brought H5066 the vessels to her; and she poured out. H3332 And it came to pass, when the vessels H3627 were full, H4390 that she said H559 unto her son, H1121 Bring H5066 me yet a vessel. H3627 And he said H559 unto her, There is not a vessel H3627 more. And the oil H8081 stayed. H5975
And Elisha H477 said, H559 As the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 liveth, H2416 before H6440 whom I stand, H5975 surely, were it not that H3884 I regard H5375 the presence H6440 of Jehoshaphat H3092 the king H4428 of Judah, H3063 I would not look H5027 toward thee, nor see H7200 thee. But now bring H3947 me a minstrel. H5059 And it came to pass, when the minstrel H5059 played, H5059 that the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 came upon him. And he said, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Make H6213 this valley H5158 full of ditches. H1356
And he said, H559 Bring H3947 me a new H2319 cruse, H6746 and put H7760 salt H4417 therein. And they brought H3947 it to him. And he went forth H3318 unto the spring H4161 of the waters, H4325 and cast H7993 the salt H4417 in there, and said, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 I have healed H7495 these waters; H4325 there shall not be from thence any more death H4194 or barren H7921 land. So the waters H4325 were healed H7495 unto this day, H3117 according to the saying H1697 of Elisha H477 which he spake. H1696
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 8
Commentary on 2 Kings 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
2Ki 8:1-6. The Shunammite's Land Restored.
1. Then spake Elisha unto the woman—rather "had spoken." The repetition of Elisha's direction to the Shunammite is merely given as an introduction to the following narrative; and it probably took place before the events recorded in chapters 5 and 6.
the Lord hath called for a famine—All such calamities are chastisements inflicted by the hand of God; and this famine was to be of double duration to that one which happened in the time of Elijah (Jas 5:17)—a just increase of severity, since the Israelites still continued obdurate and incorrigible under the ministry and miracles of Elisha (Le 26:21, 24, 28).
2. she … sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years—Their territory was recommended to her from its contiguity to her usual residence; and now that this state had been so greatly reduced, there was less risk than formerly from the seductions of idolatry; and many of the Jews and Israelites were residing there. Besides, an emigration thither was less offensive to the king of Israel than going to sojourn in Judah.
3. she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land—In consequence of her long-continued absence from the country, her possessions were occupied by her kindred, or had been confiscated by the crown. No statute in the law of Moses ordained that alienation. But the innovation seems to have been adopted in Israel.
4-6. the king talked with Gehazi—Ceremonial pollution being conveyed by contact alone, there was nothing to prevent a conference being held with this leper at a distance; and although he was excluded from the town of Samaria, this reported conversation may have taken place at the gate or in one of the royal gardens. The providence of God so ordained that King Jehoram had been led to inquire, with great interest, into the miraculous deeds of Elisha, and that the prophet's servant was in the act of relating the marvellous incident of the restoration of the Shunammite's son when she made her appearance to prefer her request. The king was pleased to grant it; and a state officer was charged to afford her every facility in the recovery of her family possession out of the hands of the occupier.
2Ki 8:7-15. Hazael Kills His Master, and Succeeds Him.
7, 8. Elisha came to Damascus—He was directed thither by the Spirit of God, in pursuance of the mission formerly given to his master in Horeb (1Ki 19:15), to anoint Hazael king of Syria. On the arrival of the prophet being known, Ben-hadad, who was sick, sent to inquire the issue of his disease, and, according to the practice of the heathens in consulting their soothsayers, ordered a liberal present in remuneration for the service.
9. forty camels' burden—The present, consisting of the rarest and most valuable produce of the land, would be liberal and magnificent. But it must not be supposed it was actually so large as to require forty camels to carry it. The Orientals are fond of display, and would, ostentatiously, lay upon forty beasts what might very easily have been borne by four.
Thy son Ben-hadad—so called from the established usage of designating the prophet "father." This was the same Syrian monarch who had formerly persecuted him (see 2Ki 6:13, 14).
10. Go, say … Thou mayest certainly recover—There was no contradiction in this message. This part was properly the answer to Ben-hadad's inquiry [2Ki 8:9]. The second part was intended for Hazael, who, like an artful and ambitious courtier, reported only as much of the prophet's statement as suited his own views (compare 2Ki 8:14).
11. he settled his countenance stedfastly until he was ashamed—that is, Hazael. The steadfast, penetrating look of the prophet seemed to have convinced Hazael that his secret designs were known. The deep emotions of Elisha were justified by the horrible atrocities which, too common in ancient warfare, that successful usurper committed in Israel (2Ki 10:32; 13:3, 4, 22).
15. took a thick cloth, &c.—a coverlet. In the East, this article of bedding is generally a thick quilt of wool or cotton, so that, with its great weight, when steeped in water, it would be a fit instrument for accomplishing the murderous purpose, without leaving any marks of violence. It has been supposed by many doubtful that Hazael purposely murdered the king. But it is common for Eastern people to sleep with their faces covered with a mosquito net; and, in some cases of fever, they dampen the bedclothes. Hazael, aware of those chilling remedies being usually resorted to, might have, with an honest intention, spread a refreshing cover over him. The rapid occurrence of the king's death and immediate burial were favorable to his instant elevation to the throne.
2Ki 8:16-23. Jehoram's Wicked Reign.
16. Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat … began to reign—(See on 2Ki 3:1). His father resigned the throne to him two years before his death.
18. daughter of Ahab—Athaliah, through whose influence Jehoram introduced the worship of Baal and many other evils into the kingdom of Judah (see 2Ch 21:2-20). This apostasy would have led to the total extinction of the royal family in that kingdom, had it not been for the divine promise to David (2Sa 7:16). A national chastisement, however, was inflicted on Judah by the revolt of Edom, which, being hitherto governed by a tributary ruler (2Ki 3:9; 1Ki 22:47), erected the standard of independence (2Ch 21:9).
2Ki 8:24. Ahaziah Succeeds Him.
24. Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead—(See on 2Ch 22:1).