5 And it came to pass, as he was telling H5608 the king H4428 how he had restored H2421 a dead body H4191 to life, H2421 that, behold, the woman, H802 whose son H1121 he had restored to life, H2421 cried H6817 to the king H4428 for her house H1004 and for her land. H7704 And Gehazi H1522 said, H559 My lord, H113 O king, H4428 this is the woman, H802 and this is her son, H1121 whom Elisha H477 restored to life. H2421
Then took H3947 Haman H2001 the apparel H3830 and the horse, H5483 and arrayed H3847 Mordecai, H4782 and brought him on horseback H7392 through the street H7339 of the city, H5892 and proclaimed H7121 before H6440 him, Thus shall it be done H6213 unto the man H376 whom the king H4428 delighteth H2654 to honour. H3366 And Mordecai H4782 came again H7725 to the king's H4428 gate. H8179 But Haman H2001 hasted H1765 to his house H1004 mourning, H57 and having his head H7218 covered. H2645
Are G4453 not G3780 two G1417 sparrows G4765 sold G4453 for a farthing? G787 and G2532 one G1520 of G1537 them G846 shall G4098 not G3756 fall G4098 on G1909 the ground G1093 without G427 your G5216 Father. G3962 But G1161 the very G2532 hairs G2359 of your G5216 head G2776 are G1526 all G3956 numbered. G705
And G2532 he arose G450 and went: G4198 and, G2532 behold, G2400 a man G435 of Ethiopia, G128 an eunuch G2135 of great authority G1413 under Candace G2582 queen G938 of the Ethiopians, G128 who G3739 had G2258 the charge of G1909 all G3956 her G846 treasure, G1047 and G3739 had come G2064 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 for to worship, G4352 G5037 Was G2258 returning, G5290 and G2532 sitting G2521 in G1909 his G846 chariot G716 G2532 read G314 Esaias G2268 the prophet. G4396 Then G1161 the Spirit G4151 said G2036 unto Philip, G5376 Go near, G4334 and G2532 join thyself to G2853 this G5129 chariot. G716 And G1161 Philip G5376 ran G4370 thither to him, and heard G191 him G846 read G314 the prophet G4396 Esaias, G2268 and G2532 said, G2036 Understandest thou G687 G1065 G1097 what G3739 thou readest? G314 And G1161 he said, G2036 How G1063 G4459 can I, G302 G1410 except G3362 some man G5100 should guide G3594 me? G3165 And G5037 he desired G3870 Philip G5376 that he would come up G305 and sit G2523 with G4862 him. G846 G1161 The place G4042 of the scripture G1124 which G3739 he read G314 was G2258 this, G3778 He was led G71 as G5613 a sheep G4263 to G1909 the slaughter; G4967 and G2532 like G5613 a lamb G286 dumb G880 before G1726 his G846 shearer, G2751 so G3779 opened he G455 not G3756 his G846 mouth: G4750 In G1722 his G846 humiliation G5014 his G846 judgment G2920 was taken away: G142 and G1161 who G5101 shall declare G1334 his G846 generation? G1074 for G3754 his G846 life G2222 is taken G142 from G575 the earth. G1093 And G1161 the eunuch G2135 answered G611 Philip, G5376 and said, G2036 I pray G1189 thee, G4675 of G4012 whom G5101 speaketh G3004 the prophet G4396 this? G5124 of G4012 himself, G1438 or G2228 of G4012 some G5100 other man? G2087 Then G1161 Philip G5376 opened G455 his G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 began G756 at G575 the same G5026 scripture, G1124 and preached G2097 unto him G846 Jesus. G2424 And G1161 as G5613 they went G4198 on G2596 their way, G3598 they came G2064 unto G1909 a certain G5100 water: G5204 and G2532 the eunuch G2135 said, G5346 See, G2400 here is water; G5204 what G5101 doth hinder G2967 me G3165 to be baptized? G907 And G1161 Philip G5376 said, G2036 If G1487 thou believest G4100 with G1537 all thine G3650 heart, G2588 thou mayest. G1832 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I believe G4100 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is G1511 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the chariot G716 to stand still: G2476 and G2532 they went down G2597 both G297 into G1519 the water, G5204 both G5037 Philip G5376 and G2532 the eunuch; G2135 and G2532 he baptized G907 him. G846 And G1161 when G3753 they were come up G305 out of G1537 the water, G5204 the Spirit G4151 of the Lord G2962 caught away G726 Philip, G5376 G2532 that the eunuch G2135 saw G1492 G3756 him G846 no more: G3765 and G1063 he went G4198 on his G846 way G3598 rejoicing. G5463 But G1161 Philip G5376 was found G2147 at G1519 Azotus: G108 and G2532 passing G1330 through he preached G2097 in all G3956 the cities, G4172 till G2193 he G846 came G2064 to G1519 Caesarea. G2542
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).