13 And he said, H559 Go H3212 and spy H7200 where H351 he is, that I may send H7971 and fetch H3947 him. And it was told H5046 him, saying, H559 Behold, he is in Dothan. H1886
Go, H3212 I pray you, prepare H3559 yet, and know H3045 and see H7200 his place H4725 where his haunt H7272 is, and who hath seen H7200 him there: for it is told H559 me that he dealeth very H6191 subtilly. H6191 See H7200 therefore, and take knowledge H3045 of all the lurking places H4224 where he hideth H2244 himself, and come ye again H7725 to me with the certainty, H3559 and I will go H1980 with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be H3426 in the land, H776 that I will search H2664 him out throughout all the thousands H505 of Judah. H3063
He sitteth H3427 in the lurking places H3993 of the villages: H2691 in the secret places H4565 doth he murder H2026 the innocent: H5355 his eyes H5869 are privily set H6845 against the poor. H2489 He lieth in wait H693 secretly H4565 as a lion H738 in his den: H5520 he lieth in wait H693 to catch H2414 the poor: H6041 he doth catch H2414 the poor, H6041 when he draweth H4900 him into his net. H7568 He croucheth, H1794 and humbleth H7817 himself, that the poor H2426 H2489 may fall H5307 by his strong ones. H6099
The wicked H7563 plotteth H2161 against the just, H6662 and gnasheth H2786 upon him with his teeth. H8127 The Lord H136 shall laugh H7832 at him: for he seeth H7200 that his day H3117 is coming. H935 The wicked H7563 have drawn out H6605 the sword, H2719 and have bent H1869 their bow, H7198 to cast down H5307 the poor H6041 and needy, H34 and to slay H2873 such as be of upright H3477 conversation. H1870
The wicked H7563 watcheth H6822 the righteous, H6662 and seeketh H1245 to slay H4191 him. The LORD H3068 will not leave H5800 him in his hand, H3027 nor condemn H7561 him when he is judged. H8199
And G2532 when he had gathered G4863 all G3956 the chief priests G749 and G2532 scribes G1122 of the people G2992 together, G4863 he demanded G4441 of G3844 them G846 where G4226 Christ G5547 should be born. G1080 And G1161 they said G2036 unto him, G846 In G1722 Bethlehem G965 of Judaea: G2449 for G1063 thus G3779 it is written G1125 by G1223 the prophet, G4396 And G2532 thou G4771 Bethlehem, G965 in the land G1093 of Juda, G2448 art G1488 not G3760 the least G1646 among G1722 the princes G2232 of Juda: G2448 for G1063 out of G1537 thee G4675 shall come G1831 a Governor, G2233 that G3748 shall rule G4165 my G3450 people G2992 Israel. G2474 Then G5119 Herod, G2264 when he had privily G2977 called G2564 the wise men, G3097 enquired G198 of G3844 them G846 diligently G198 what time G5550 the star G792 appeared. G5316 And G2532 he sent G3992 them G846 to G1519 Bethlehem, G965 and said, G2036 Go G4198 and search G1833 diligently G199 for G4012 the young child; G3813 and G1161 when G1875 ye have found G2147 him, bring G518 me G3427 word again, G518 that G3704 I may come G2064 and worship G4352 him G846 also. G2504
Then G3767 gathered G4863 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the Pharisees G5330 a council, G4892 and G2532 said, G3004 What G5101 do we? G4160 for G3754 this G3778 man G444 doeth G4160 many G4183 miracles. G4592 If G1437 we let G863 him G846 thus G3779 alone, G863 all G3956 men will believe G4100 on G1519 him: G846 and G2532 the Romans G4514 shall come G2064 and G2532 take away G142 both G2532 our G2257 place G5117 and G2532 nation. G1484 And G1161 one G1520 G5100 of G1537 them, G846 named Caiaphas, G2533 being G5607 the high priest G749 that same G1565 year, G1763 said G2036 unto them, G846 Ye G5210 know G1492 nothing at all, G3756 G3762 Nor G3761 consider G1260 that G3754 it is expedient G4851 for us, G2254 that G2443 one G1520 man G444 should die G599 for G5228 the people, G2992 and G2532 that the whole G3650 nation G1484 perish G622 not. G3361 And G1161 this G5124 spake he G2036 not G3756 of G575 himself: G1438 but G235 being G5607 high priest G749 that G1565 year, G1763 he prophesied G4395 that G3754 Jesus G2424 should G3195 die G599 for that G5228 nation; G1484 And G2532 not G3756 for that G5228 nation G1484 only, G3440 but G235 that G2443 also G2532 he should gather together G4863 in G1519 one G1520 the children G5043 of God G2316 that were scattered abroad. G1287 Then G3767 from G575 that G1565 day G2250 forth they took counsel together G4823 for to G2443 put G615 him G846 to death. G615
And G1161 when it was G1096 day, G2250 certain G5100 of the Jews G2453 banded together, G4160 G4963 and bound G332 themselves G1438 under a curse, G332 saying G3004 that they would G5315 neither G3383 eat G5315 nor G3383 drink G4095 till G2193 G3757 they had killed G615 Paul. G3972 And G1161 they were G2258 more than G4119 forty G5062 which G3588 had made G4160 this G5026 conspiracy. G4945 And they G3748 came to G4334 the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders, G4245 and said, G2036 We have bound G332 ourselves G1438 under a great curse, G331 that we will eat G1089 nothing G3367 until G2193 G3739 we have slain G615 Paul. G3972 Now G3568 therefore G3767 ye G5210 with G4862 the council G4892 signify G1718 to the chief captain G5506 that G3704 he bring G2609 him G846 down G2609 unto G4314 you G5209 to morrow, G839 as G5613 though ye would G3195 enquire G1231 something more perfectly G197 concerning G4012 him: G846 and G1161 we, G2249 or ever G4253 he G846 come near, G1448 are G2070 ready G2092 to kill G337 him. G846 And G1161 when Paul's G3972 sister's G79 son G5207 heard G191 of their lying in wait, G1749 he went G3854 and G2532 entered G1525 into G1519 the castle, G3925 and told G518 Paul. G3972 Then G1161 Paul G3972 called G4341 one G1520 of the centurions G1543 unto him, and said, G5346 Bring G520 this G5126 young man G3494 unto G4314 the chief captain: G5506 for G1063 he hath G2192 a certain thing G5100 to tell G518 him. G846 So G3767 G3303 he took G3880 him, G846 and brought G71 him to G4314 the chief captain, G5506 and G2532 said, G5346 Paul G3972 the prisoner G1198 called G4341 me G3165 unto him, and prayed me G2065 to bring G71 this G5126 young man G3494 unto G4314 thee, G4571 who hath G2192 something G5100 to say G2980 unto thee. G4671 Then G1161 the chief captain G5506 took G1949 him G846 by the hand, G5495 and G2532 went with him aside G402 privately, G2596 G2398 and asked G4441 him, What G5101 is G2076 that G3739 thou hast G2192 to tell G518 me? G3427 And G1161 he said, G2036 G3754 The Jews G2453 have agreed G4934 to desire G2065 thee G4571 that G3704 thou wouldest bring down G2609 Paul G3972 to morrow G839 into G1519 the council, G4892 as G5613 though they would G3195 enquire G4441 somewhat G5100 of G4012 him G846 more perfectly. G197 But G3767 do G3982 not G3361 thou G4771 yield G3982 unto them: G846 for G1063 there lie in wait for G1748 him G846 of G1537 them G846 more than G4119 forty G5062 men, G435 which G3748 have bound G332 themselves G1438 with an oath, G332 that they will G5315 neither G3383 eat G5315 nor G3383 drink G4095 till G2193 G3739 they have killed G337 him: G846 and G2532 now G3568 are they G1526 ready, G2092 looking for G4327 a promise G1860 from G575 thee. G4675 So G3303 G3767 the chief captain G5506 then let G630 the young man G3494 depart, G630 and charged G3853 him, See thou tell G1583 no man G3367 that G3754 thou hast shewed G1718 these things G5023 to G4314 me. G3165 And G2532 he called unto G4341 him G5100 two G1417 centurions, G1543 saying, G2036 Make ready G2090 two hundred G1250 soldiers G4757 to G3704 go G4198 to G2193 Caesarea, G2542 and G2532 horsemen G2460 threescore and ten, G1440 and G2532 spearmen G1187 two hundred, G1250 at G575 the third G5154 hour G5610 of the night; G3571 And G5037 provide G3936 them beasts, G2934 that G2443 they may set G1913 Paul G3972 on, G1913 and bring him safe G1295 unto G4314 Felix G5344 the governor. G2232 And he wrote G1125 a letter G1992 after G4023 this G5126 manner: G5179 Claudius G2804 Lysias G3079 unto the most excellent G2903 governor G2232 Felix G5344 sendeth greeting. G5463 This G5126 man G435 was taken G4815 of G5259 the Jews, G2453 and G2532 should G3195 have been killed G337 of G5259 them: G846 then came I G2186 with G4862 an army, G4753 and rescued G1807 him, G846 having understood G3129 that G3754 he was G2076 a Roman. G4514
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 6
Commentary on 2 Kings 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
2Ki 6:1-7. Elisha Causes Iron to Swim.
1. the place where we dwell with thee—Margin, "sit before thee." The one points to a common residence—the other to a common place of meeting. The tenor of the narrative shows the humble condition of Elisha's pupils. The place was either Beth-el or Jericho, probably the latter. The ministry and miracles of Elisha brought great accessions to his schools.
2. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan—whose wooded banks would furnish plenty of timber.
5. it was borrowed—literally, "begged." The scholar's distress arose from the consideration that it had been presented to him; and that, owing to his poverty, he could not procure another.
6. cut down a stick, and cast it in thither—Although this means was used, it had no natural adaptation to make the iron swim. Besides, the Jordan is at Jericho so deep and rapid that there were one thousand chances to one against the stick falling into the hole of the axe-head. All attempts to account for the recovery of the lost implement on such a theory must be rejected.
the iron did swim—only by the miraculous exertion of Elisha's power.
2Ki 6:8-17. Discloses the King of Syria's Counsel.
8-12. the king of Syria warred against Israel—This seems to have been a sort of guerrilla warfare, carried on by predatory inroads on different parts of the country. Elisha apprised King Jehoram of the secret purpose of the enemy; so, by adopting precautionary measures, he was always enabled to anticipate and defeat their attacks. The frequency of his disappointments having led the Syrian king to suspect some of his servants of carrying on a treacherous correspondence with the enemy, he was informed about Elisha, whose apprehension he forthwith determined to effect. This resolution was, of course, grounded on the belief that however great the knowledge of Elisha might be, if seized and kept a prisoner, he could no longer give information to the king of Israel.
13. Dothan—or, "Dothaim," a little north of Samaria (see on Ge 37:17).
15. his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?—When the Syrian detachment surrounded the place by night, for the apprehension of the prophet, his servant was paralyzed with fear. This was a new servant, who had only been with him since Gehazi's dismissal and consequently had little or no experience of his master's powers. His faith was easily shaken by so unexpected an alarm.
17. Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see—The invisible guard of angels that encompass and defend us (Ps 34:7). The opening of the eyes, which Elisha prayed for, were those of the Spirit, not of the body—the eye of faith sees the reality of the divine presence and protection where all is vacancy or darkness to the ordinary eye. The horses and chariots were symbols of the divine power (see on 2Ki 2:12); and their fiery nature denoted their supernatural origin; for fire, the most ethereal of earthly elements, is the most appropriate symbol of the Godhead [Keil].
2Ki 6:18-23. His Army Smitten with Blindness.
18. Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness—not a total and material blindness, for then they could not have followed him, but a mental hallucination (see Ge 19:11) so that they did not perceive or recognize him to be the object of their search.
19-23. This is not the way, neither is this the city—This statement is so far true that, as he had now left the place of his residence, they would not have got him by that road. But the ambiguity of his language was purposely framed to deceive them; and yet the deception must be viewed in the light of a stratagem, which has always been deemed lawful in war.
he led them to Samaria—When they were arrived in the midst of the capital, their eyes, at Elisha's request, were opened, and they then became aware of their defenseless condition, for Jehoram had received private premonition of their arrival. The king, so far from being allowed to slay the enemies who were thus unconsciously put in his power, was recommended to entertain them with liberal hospitality and then dismiss them to their own country. This was humane advice; it was contrary to the usage of war to put war captives to death in cold blood, even when taken by the point of the sword, much more those whom the miraculous power and providence of God had unexpectedly placed at his disposal. In such circumstances, kind and hospitable treatment was every way more becoming in itself, and would be productive of the best effects. It would redound to the credit of the true religion, which inspired such an excellent spirit into its professors; and it would not only prevent the future opposition of the Syrians but make them stand in awe of a people who, they had seen, were so remarkably protected by a prophet of the Lord. The latter clause of 2Ki 6:23 shows that these salutary effects were fully realized. A moral conquest had been gained over the Syrians.
2Ki 6:24-33. Ben-hadad Besieges Samaria.
24. Ben-hadad … besieged Samaria—This was the predicted accomplishment of the result of Ahab's foolish and misplaced kindness (1Ki 20:42).
25. an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver—Though the ass was deemed unclean food, necessity might warrant their violation of a positive law when mothers, in their extremity, were found violating the law of nature. The head was the worst part of the animal. Eighty pieces of silver, equal to £5 5s.
the fourth part of a cab—A cab was the smallest dry measure. The proportion here stated was nearly half a pint for 12s. 6d.
dove's dung—is thought by Bochart to be a kind of pulse or pea, common in Judea, and still kept in the storehouses of Cairo and Damascus, and other places, for the use of it by pilgrim-caravans; by Linnæus, and other botanists, it is said to be the root or white bulb of the plant Ornithogalum umbellatum, Star of Beth-lehem. The sacred historian does not say that the articles here named were regularly sold at the rates described, but only that instances were known of such high prices being given.
26. as the king was passing—to look at the defenses, or to give some necessary orders for manning the walls.
29. we boiled my son, and did eat him—(See on De 28:53).
30. had sackcloth within upon his flesh—The horrid recital of this domestic tragedy led the king soon after to rend his garment, in consequence of which it was discovered that he wore a penitential shirt of haircloth. It is more than doubtful, however, if he was truly humbled on account of his own and the nation's sins; otherwise he would not have vowed vengeance on the prophet's life. The true explanation seems to be, that Elisha having counselled him not to surrender, with the promise, on condition of deep humiliation, of being delivered, and he having assumed the signs of contrition without receiving the expected relief, regarded Elisha who had proved false and faithless as the cause of all the protracted distress.
32. But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him—The latter clause of 2Ki 6:33, which contains the king's impatient exclamation, enables us to account for the impetuous order he issued for the beheading of Elisha. Though Jehoram was a wicked king and most of his courtiers would resemble their master, many had been won over, through the prophet's influence, to the true religion. A meeting, probably a prayer-meeting, of those was held in the house where he lodged, for he had none of his own (1Ki 19:20, 21); and them he not only apprised of the king's design against himself, but disclosed to them the proof of a premeditated deliverance.