Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:31
Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
31. if the head of Elisha shall stand on him this day ] We must suppose that Elisha had not been wanting in admonitions to both king and people during this terrible siege, and the anger of Jehoram was great because the prophet, who had wrought so mightily in the war with Moab, and on many another occasion which the king would know of, had done nothing to save the nation in this great calamity. This is the explanation of Josephus ( Ant. IX. 4. 4) and the feeling is what was to be expected in a son of Jezebel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
God do so … – Jehoram uses almost the very words of his wicked mother, when she sought the life of Elijah (marginal reference).
The head of Elisha – Beheading was not an ordinary Jewish punishment. The Law did not sanction it. But in Assyria, Babylonia, and generally through the East, it was the most conmon form of capital punishment. It is not quite clear why Elisha was to be punished. Perhaps Jehoram argued from his other miracles that he could give deliverance from the present peril, if he liked.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. If the head of Elisha – shall stand on him] Either he attributed these calamities to the prophet, or else he thought he could remove them, and yet would not. The miserable king was driven to desperation.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
If I do not this day take his head and life. This wretched and partial prince overlooks his own great and various sins, and, amongst others, his obstinate cleaving to the idolatry of the calves, and the whoredoms and witchcrafts of his mother Jezebel, 2Ki 9:22, and the wickedness of his people, which was the true and proper cause of this and all their calamities; and lays the blame of all upon Elisha; either supposing that he who had the spirit of Elijah resting upon him, had brought this famine by his prayers, as Elijah had formerly done, 1Ki 17:1; or because he had encouraged them to withstand tim Syrians, by promising them help from God in due time; or because he would not, by his intercession to God and the working of a miracle, deliver them from these calamities, as he easily could have done. But he did not consider that the prophets could not work what miracles and when they pleased, but only as far as God saw fit, whose time was not yet come; otherwise it was Elishas interest as well as theirs to be freed from this distress.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then he said, God do so and more also to me,…. He swore and made dreadful imprecations:
if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day; imputing the sore famine to him, because he had foretold it, and did not pray for the removal of it, as he might; and perhaps had advised and encouraged the king to hold out the siege, which had brought them to this extremity, and therefore was enraged at him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31) Then he said.And he (i.e., the king), said.
God do so . . . to me.Literally, So may God do to me, and so may he add: a common form of oath. (Comp. Rth. 1:17; 1Sa. 3:17; 1Ki. 2:23.)
If the head of Elisha . . . this day.The kings horror at the womans dreadful story is succeeded by indignation against Elisha, who had probably counselled an unyielding resistance to the foe, in the steadfast faith that Jehovah would help His own; and who, prophet though he was, and endued with miraculous powers, had yet brought no help in this hour of urgent need. (Comp. with the oath that of Jezebel against Elijah, 1Ki. 19:2.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. If the head of Elisha In his desperation he imagines that the prophet is the cause of the nation’s woe, or, at least, that he has power to remove the woe, and will not. “Jehoram,” says Wordsworth, “had sackcloth on his loins, but not on his heart. He mourned for the famine, but not for its cause, namely, his own sins and the sins of the people; and instead of being penitent towards God, he is furious against God’s prophet.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Let the Reader mark the blessed properties of distinguishing grace. Oh! how hardened was the king of Israel’s heart, to have so soon, forgotten the ministry of Elisha, in bringing the Syrians by blindness into his power. And, yet further: He confesses that he sees God’s hand in it, and yet dares to rebel. Reader! pray do not overlook and forget, that by the fall all men are the same. If preventing, and restraining grace hath happily kept you from such presumptuous sins, learn to behold the cause, and give God the glory.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 6:31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
Ver. 31. If the head of Elisha. ] Who had only threatened these evils, not caused them, and perhaps refused to pray for a removal. The false prophets also might now stir up the king to slay the Lord’s prophet.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
God do so: Rth 1:17, 1Sa 3:17, 1Sa 14:44, 1Sa 25:22, 2Sa 3:9, 2Sa 3:35, 2Sa 19:13, 1Ki 2:23
if the head: 1Ki 18:17, 1Ki 19:2, 1Ki 22:8, Jer 37:15, Jer 37:16, Jer 38:4, Joh 11:50, Act 23:12, Act 23:13
Reciprocal: Lev 5:4 – to do evil 2Ki 3:2 – wrought 2Ki 5:20 – as the Lord liveth Pro 16:14 – messengers Ecc 10:13 – beginning Jer 32:3 – Zedekiah Mat 14:9 – the oath’s Mar 6:23 – he Luk 6:23 – for in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 6:31. If the head of Elisha shall stand on him this day If I do not this day take his head and his life. This wretched and partial prince overlooks his own great and various sins, and, among the rest, his obstinate adherence to the worship of the calves, and his conniving at the idolatries and witchcrafts of his mother Jezebel, (2Ki 9:22,) and the wickedness of the people, which were the true and proper causes of this and all their calamities; and he lays the blame of all upon Elisha, either supposing that he who had the spirit of Elijah resting upon him had brought this famine on the land by his prayers, as Elijah had formerly done, or because he had encouraged them to withstand the Syrians by promising them help from God.