Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 8:6
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that [was] hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
6. she told him ] i.e. confirmed the narrative which Gehazi had given, and at the same time took advantage of the king’s interest in Elisha, to press her plea for the restitution of her land.
Restore all that was hers ] It would seem from this as if the king himself had been put in possession of the land. Hence he could order all the seven years, produce to be given back to her either in kind or in money from the royal stores.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A certain officer – literally, a certain eunuch (margin). Eunuchs were now in common use at the Samaritan court (compare 2Ki 9:32). They are ascribed to the court of David in Chronicles 1Ch 28:1; and we may conjecture that they were maintained by Solomon. But otherwise we do not find them in the kingdom of Judah until the time of Hezekiah Isa 56:3-4.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The king asked the woman concerning the truth of Gehazis relation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when the king asked the woman, she told him,…. The whole affair; how that she had a son according to the word of Elisha, when she had been barren, and her husband old; that this child was struck with sickness, and died; and that the prophet, through his prayers, restored it to life:
so the king appointed unto her a certain officer; the word signifies an “eunuch”: him he ordered to attend upon her, and assist her, and see to it that she was put into the possession of her house and land:
saying, restore all that was her’s, and all the fruits of the field, since the day that she left the land, even till now; not only her house and land, but all the rent, profits, and dues arising from thence during the time of her absence: the Jews except the rent of her house.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) Told.Related to him, i.e., the story. So in 2Ki. 8:4-5.
Officer.Literally, eunuch (srs). (Comp. Note on Gen. 37:36; 1Ch. 28:1.)
Fruits.Literally, revenues, produce in kind, which must have been paid out of the royal stores. This seems to imply that her land had been annexed to the royal domains.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Restore all that was hers Her estate was of no small value, for, according to 2Ki 4:8. she was a great, that is, a wealthy and influential person at Shunem.
All the fruits of the field All the produce that her land had yielded for the seven years, whether it were more or less. She was thus reimbursed according to the yield of the land.
On the above narrative Dr. Thomson has the following: “It is still common for even petty sheiks to confiscate the property of any person who is exiled for a time, or who moves away temporarily from his district. Especially is this true of widows and orphans, and the Shunammite was now a widow. And small is the chance to such of having their property restored, unless they can secure the mediation of some one more influential than themselves. The conversation between the king and Gehazi about his master is also in perfect keeping with the habits of Eastern princes; and the appearance of the widow and her son so opportunely, would have precisely the same effect now that it had then. The thing happened just as recorded.
It is too natural to be an invention or fabrication.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 8:6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that [was] hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
Ver. 6. Restore all that was hers. ] Now the Shunammite thinks her table and stool, her bed and her candlestick, well bestowed. He is a niggard to himself that scants his beneficence to a prophet, whose very “cold water” shall not go unrewarded.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fruits = produce.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
officer: or, eunuch, 2Ki 9:32, Gen 37:36, 1Ch 28:1, *marg.
Restore all: Deu 22:2, Jdg 11:13, 2Sa 9:7, Pro 16:7, Pro 21:1
Reciprocal: 2Ki 8:3 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8:6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that [was] hers, and all the {d} fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
(d) The king caused that to be justly restored which was wrongfully withheld from her.