Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 8:3
And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.
3. she went forth to cry unto the king ] She had reached Shunem, and found her land in other hands. It may be that some encroaching neighbour had entered on the untenanted property, or it may have been seized for the king as being deserted of its owner. In either case the king is the person to be appealed to, and to the court she makes her way.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
During the Shunammites absence in Philistia, her dwelling and her grain-fields had been appropriated by some one who refused to restore them. She therefore determined to appeal to the king. Such direct appeals are common in Oriental countries. Compare 2Ki 6:26; 2Sa 14:4; 1Ki 3:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Which having been forsaken by her, were possessed by her kindred, or others, who had obtained them from the king, and now intended to keep the possession of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. she went forth to cry unto theking for her house and for her landIn consequence of herlong-continued absence from the country, her possessions wereoccupied by her kindred, or had been confiscated by the crown. Nostatute in the law of Moses ordained that alienation. But theinnovation seems to have been adopted in Israel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, at the seven years end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines,…. Either hearing that the famine was over, or believing that it was, the time being expired the prophet fixed for it:
and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house, and for her land; which her nearest relations in her absence had seized upon, as heirs to them; or those in whose hands she had intrusted them refused, upon her return, to deliver them to her; or the king’s officers had seized upon them for him, as forfeited to the crown by her going out of the land without leave; and now she needed a friend to speak for her to the king, which, in time past, she had no occasion for, and thought she never should, see 2Ki 4:13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When the woman returned to her home at the end of the seven years, she went to the king to cry, i.e., to invoke his help, with regard to her house and her field, of which, as is evident from the context, another had taken possession during her absence.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(3) At the seven years end.Omit the.
She went forth.From Shunem to Samaria.
For her house and for her land.Literally, with regard to her house, &c. She found them in the possession of strangers. The State may have occupied the property as abandoned by its owner; or, as is more likely, some neighbouring landowner may have encroached upon her rights. She therefore appealed to the king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. To cry unto the king for her house During her long absence others had taken possession of her house and land, but whether it had been seized by public authority or otherwise does not appear. See Thomson’s note below. From 2Ki 8:5 we learn that this woman’s son, whom Elisha had restored to life, accompanied her on this occasion.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The history of this Shunammite, in having her land restored to her, is very interesting. But the spiritual improvement to be made of the passage is much more so. You and I, Reader, have left our settlement, lands, and property, for there is truly nothing valuable in the whole of them, when a leanness of soul is induced, and a famine of all spiritual blessings comes upon us by reason of the fall. But when Jesus our Goel, our kinsman-Redeemer, hath raised up the tabernacle of David which was fallen down, and made our dwelling place a Bethlehem, an house of bread for his people, then like this woman we may cry to our king for the restoration of our inheritance in and by Jesus. There is somewhat very striking in this passage respecting Gehazi, and his conference with the king at the moment the Shunammite came to claim her land. So, Reader, we may discover in numberless instances in common life, how the Lord, in his providence, overrules times and events to the promotion of his own glory and his people’s comfort. But is there not another sweet thought arising from it also? Was the king of Israel so intent to listen to Gehazi’s account of the deeds of Elisha; and shall we not be earnest to enquire after the wonders of Jesus?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 8:3 And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.
Ver. 3. To cry unto the king for her house and for her land. ] Which in her so long absence was seized on, either by the king’s officers, or by some of her kindred.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
am 3119, bc 885, 2Ki 8:6, 2Ki 4:13, 2Ki 6:26, 2Sa 14:4, Psa 82:3, Psa 82:4, Jer 22:16, Luk 18:3-5
Reciprocal: Gen 42:1 – Why do ye Rth 1:7 – she went 2Sa 19:28 – to cry Psa 107:39 – they are
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 8:3. She went to cry unto the king for her house and land Which, having been forsaken by her, were possessed by her kindred or others, who probably had obtained a grant of them from the king, and now intended to keep possession of them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:3 And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth {b} to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.
(b) That is, to complain of them who had taken her possessions while she was absent.