4 If we say, H559 We will enter H935 into the city, H5892 then the famine H7458 is in the city, H5892 and we shall die H4191 there: and if we sit still H3427 here, we die H4191 also. Now therefore come, H3212 and let us fall H5307 unto the host H4264 of the Syrians: H758 if they save us alive, H2421 we shall live; H2421 and if they kill H4191 us, we shall but die. H4191
For we must needs H4191 die, H4191 and are as water H4325 spilt H5064 on the ground, H776 which cannot be gathered up again; H622 neither doth God H430 respect H5375 any person: H5315 yet doth he devise H2803 means, H4284 that his banished H5080 be not expelled H5080 from him.
And there fell H5307 some of Manasseh H4519 to David, H1732 when he came H935 with the Philistines H6430 against Saul H7586 to battle: H4421 but they helped H5826 them not: for the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 upon advisement H6098 sent H7971 him away, saying, H559 He will fall H5307 to his master H113 Saul H7586 to the jeopardy of our heads. H7218
Go, H3212 gather together H3664 all the Jews H3064 that are present H4672 in Shushan, H7800 and fast H6684 ye for me, and neither eat H398 nor drink H8354 three H7969 days, H3117 night H3915 or day: H3117 I also and my maidens H5291 will fast H6684 likewise; and so H3651 will I go H935 in unto the king, H4428 which is not according to the law: H1881 and if I perish, H6 I perish. H6
Why do we sit still? H3427 assemble H622 yourselves, and let us enter H935 into the defenced H4013 cities, H5892 and let us be silent H1826 there: for the LORD H3068 our God H430 hath put us to silence, H1826 and given us water H4325 of gall H7219 to drink, H8248 because we have sinned H2398 against the LORD. H3068
If I go forth H3318 into the field, H7704 then behold the slain H2491 with the sword! H2719 and if I enter H935 into the city, H5892 then behold them that are sick H8463 with famine! H7458 yea, both the prophet H5030 and the priest H3548 go about H5503 into a land H776 that they know H3045 not.
And when he was in the gate H8179 of Benjamin, H1144 a captain H1167 of the ward H6488 was there, whose name H8034 was Irijah, H3376 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 the son H1121 of Hananiah; H2608 and he took H8610 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet, H5030 saying, H559 Thou fallest away H5307 to the Chaldeans. H3778 Then said H559 Jeremiah, H3414 It is false; H8267 I fall not away H5307 to the Chaldeans. H3778 But he hearkened H8085 not to him: so Irijah H3376 took H8610 Jeremiah, H3414 and brought H935 him to the princes. H8269
Who can tell H3045 if God H430 will turn H7725 and repent, H5162 and turn away H7725 from his fierce H2740 anger, H639 that we perish H6 not?
And G1161 when he came G2064 to G1519 himself, G1438 he said, G2036 How many G4214 hired servants G3407 of my G3450 father's G3962 have bread G740 enough and to spare, G4052 and G1161 I G1473 perish G622 with hunger! G3042 I will arise G450 and go G4198 to G4314 my G3450 father, G3962 and G2532 will say G2046 unto him, G846 Father, G3962 I have sinned G264 against G1519 heaven, G3772 and G2532 before G1799 thee, G4675 And G2532 am G1510 no more G3765 worthy G514 to be called G2564 thy G4675 son: G5207 make G4160 me G3165 as G5613 one G1520 of thy G4675 hired servants. G3407
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.