King James Version
2 Kings 7
20 verses with commentary
The Siege Lifted
Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant rel...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
VII.
(1) **Then Elisha said.**—*And Elisha said.* The division of the chapters is unfortunate, there being no break in the story here. The prophet addresses *the king* and his attendants (2Kings 7:18).
**A measure.**—Heb., *a seah:* the most usual corn measure. (Comp. 1Kings 18:32; 2Kings 6:25.) The prophet’s words are more abrupt in the original: “Thus hath Jehovah said, About this time to-morrow...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**45. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel--**now Zerin, a distance of about ten miles. This race was performed in the midst of a tempest of rain. But all rejoiced at it, as diffusing a sudden refreshment over all the land of Jezreel.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 7
Chapter Outline
Elisha prophesies plenty.(1-2)
The flight of the Syrian army.(3-11)
Samaria plentifully supplied.(12-20)
**Verses 1-2**
Man's extremity is God's opportunity of making his own power to be glorious: his time to appear for his people is when their strength is gone. Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselve...
Read full commentary →Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. a lord: Heb. a lord which belonged to the king leaning upon his hand
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The divine name emphasizes Ya...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Then a lord.**—*And the adjutant *(*shâlîsh*: comp. 2Samuel 23:8; 1Kings 9:22; 1Chronicles 11:11), or *aide-de-camp or esquire* (equerry).
**On whose hand . . . leaned.**—Comp. the similar expression in reference to Naaman (2Kings 5:18).
**Leaned.**—*Was leaning.***
Behold, if the Lord . . . this thing be?**—This may be correct. Even granting the very unlikely supposition that Jehovah is abo...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**46. Elijah ... girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab--**It was anciently, and still is in some countries of the East, customary for kings and nobles to have runners before their chariots, who are tightly girt for the purpose. The prophet, like the Bedouins of his native Gilead, had been trained to run; and, as the Lord was with him, he continued with unabated agility and strength. It was, in ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 7
Chapter Outline
Elisha prophesies plenty.(1-2)
The flight of the Syrian army.(3-11)
Samaria plentifully supplied.(12-20)
**Verses 1-2**
Man's extremity is God's opportunity of making his own power to be glorious: his time to appear for his people is when their strength is gone. Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselve...
Read full commentary →And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. During this...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **And there were four leprous men.**—Literally, *And four men were lepers*.
**At the entering in of the gate.**—And so outside of the city. (Comp. Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2-3.) Rashi says they were Gehazi and his sons (!)
**Why sit we?**—Or, *Why are we abiding?* Nobody brought them food any longer, owing to the pressure of the famine.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Fall unto**—*i.e., desert, go over to.****
If they save us alive.*—And give us food, for pity’s sake.
**We shall but die.**—As we shall if we stop here, or if we go into the city. (The “but” is not in the Hebrew.)
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **In the twilight**—*i.e.*, at nightfall. (See 2Kings 7:9; 2Kings 7:12.) They waited till then, that their departure might not be noticed from the walls.
**The uttermost part**—*i.e.*, the *outskirts* or *verge* of the camp nearest to Samaria.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →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: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and hu...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **For.**—*Now*: introducing a new paragraph.
**Even the noise.**—Rather, *a noise*. The Syriac and the Arabic, as well as some Hebrew MSS., read “*and* a noise.” This is preferable. (Comp. 2Kings 6:14, where chariots and horses and a host [of infantry] are distinguished from each other.) The word *qôl* (literally, “voice”) is commonly used of thunder. (Comp. Psalms 29, *passim*.) The noise the...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 19
1Ki 19:1-3. Elijah Flees to Beer-sheba.
**3. he arose, and went for his life--**He entered Jezreel full of hope. But a message from the incensed and hard-hearted queen, vowing speedy vengeance for her slaughtered priests, dispelled all his bright visions of the future. It is probable, however, that in the present temper of the people, even she would not have dared to lay violent han...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and peopl...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **Wherefore** (and) **they arose.**—The verse gives a vivid picture of a wild flight, in which everything was forgotten except personal safety.
**As it was.**—“Camp” is feminine here and in Genesis 32:9 only.
**For their life.**—1Kings 19:3.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unb...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **And when . . . tent.**—Literally, *And* (so) *those lepers came to the edge of the camp, and they went into one tent*, taking up the thread of the narrative again at 2Kings 7:5, where it was broken by the parenthesis about the panic flight of the Syrians.
**Went and hid it.**—A common practice of Orientals, with whom holes in the ground or in the house wall supply the place of banks.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. some: Heb. we shall find punishment
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The reference to kin...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **Some mischief will come upon us.**—Literally, *guilt will find us:* we shall incur blame. Vulg., “we shall be accused of wrong-doing.”
**Now therefore.**—*And now:* the inferential use of “now.” (Comp. Psalm 2:10.)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The prophetic ministry ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **The porter.**—The Oriental versions may be right in reading “porters,” *i.e.*, warders. The plural is implied by “they told *them*,” which immediately follows, and actually occurs in 2Kings 7:11. But the reading of the LXX. and Vulg., “gate,” implies the same consonants differently pointed, as those of the word “porter.” This attests the antiquity of the reading. Probably, therefore, the wo...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The reference to kingship reminds readers that all human authority is subordinate to God's ultimate kingship. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **And he called the porters.**—Rather, *And the porters called.* The verb in the Hebrew is singular,and may be used impersonally: “And one called, viz., the warders.” But the LXX., Targum, Arabic, and some Hebrew MSS., read the plural. The Syriac has, “And the porters drew near, and told the house of the king.”
**And they told it.**—The king’s palace may have been near to the ramparts. If not...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 3-11**
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerfu...
Read full commentary →And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's super...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12) **I will now shew you.**—“Suspicax est miseria” (*Grotius*). Such stratagems as Jehoram suspected are, however, common enough in warfare.
**To hide themselves in the field.**—Both expressions in the Hebrew follow the later modes of inflection. Such forms may be due to transcribers rather than to the original writer.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →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, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see. in the city: Heb. in it
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God'...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **Let some take.**—Literally, *And *(*i.e.*, then) *let them take*. (Comp. 2Kings 2:9; 2Kings 4:41.)
**Five.**—Used as an indefinite *small* number, like our “half a dozen.” (Comp. Leviticus 26:8; Isaiah 30:17.) The *actual* number taken was two pairs (2Kings 7:14).
**The horses that remain, which are left in the city.**—Literally, *the remaining horses that remain in it*. The repetition dwel...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The reference to kingship reminds readers that all human authority is subordinate to God's ultimate kingship. The prophetic ministry served as God's pr...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **Two chariot horses.**—Literally, *two chariots *(*of*)* horses, i.e.*, teams for two chariots, or two pairs of horses. The chariots and their drivers are implied, not mentioned. Two chariots were sent, so that if attacked they might make a better resistance; or perhaps in order that, if one were captured by the enemy, the other might escape with the news.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The reference to kingship reminds readers that all human authority is s...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) **In their haste.**—Comp. 1Samuel 23:6; Psalm 48:6; Psalm 104:7—passages which prove that the Hebrew text is right here, and the Hebrew margin wrong.
**Unto Jordan.**—Not all the way to the river, which would be at least twenty miles, but *in the direction* of it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant relationship with Israel a...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(16) **The tents.**—Rather, *the camp*.
**So**—And it came to pass.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant r...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17*)* **And the king appointed.**—Rather, *Now the king had appointed.*
**The lord.**—*The adjutant* (2Kings 7:2).
**To have the charge of the gate.**—To maintain order as the famished crowd poured out of the city.
**Trode upon him.**—*Trampled him down*, as he was trying to discharge his duty. This probably happened, as Thenius suggests, when the crowd was *returning* from the Syrian camp, wild ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant relatio...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(18) **To the king.**—The LXX. and Syriac have, “to the messenger.” (See Note on 2Kings 6:23.)
In this and the following verse the author repeats the prediction and its fulfilment with obvious satisfaction. The moral is a warning against unbelief.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant rela...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(19) **That lord.**—*The adjutant.*
**Now.**—*And.*
**Might such a thing be?**—Literally, *Might it happen according to this word?* But the LXX., Syriac, and Vulg.,with many Hebrew MSS., read, as in 2Kings 7:2, “Might this thing (or word) be?”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 7: God's supernatural deliverance and human unbelief judged. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. During this period, Israel and Judah struggled wit...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(20) **For the people trode upon him.**—*And the people trampled him down, or under foot.*
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--**on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 12-20**
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his ...
Read full commentary →