Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 7:15
And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way [was] full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
15. unto Jordan ] When the heaven-sent noise caused the Syrians to imagine that the Hittites from the north and the Egyptians from the south were upon them, the only safe road would be to make for the Jordan eastward and, after crossing it, to conceal themselves in the mountains on the other side.
the messengers returned ] After the Jordan had been reached there could be no more doubt, there was now no fear of an enemy in ambush.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Syrians had fled probably by the great road which led from Samaria to Damascus through Geba, En-gannim, Beth-shean, and Aphek. It crosses the Jordan at the Jisr Mejamia, about thirty-five miles northeast of Samaria.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. All the way was full of garments and vessels] A manifest proof of the hurry and precipitancy with which they fled.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In their haste, or, in their fear, or consternation, wherewith God struck them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they went after them unto Jordan,…. Not finding them in the camp, and knowing the rout they would take to their own land, they went as far as Jordan, over which they must pass:
and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels which the Syrians had cast away in their haste; in their fright and flight, such of their clothes as hindered them in running; and their armour, as Josephus c seems rightly to understand the word used, these they threw away for quicker dispatch:
and the messengers returned and told the king: that it was as the lepers said, and what they themselves had seen.
c Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 9. c. 4. sect. 5.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) In their haste.Comp. 1Sa. 23:6; Psa. 48:6; Psa. 104:7passages which prove that the Hebrew text is right here, and the Hebrew margin wrong.
Unto Jordan.Not all the way to the river, which would be at least twenty miles, but in the direction of it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 7:15. And, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, &c. Saladine’s army, which was defeated by Baldwin IV. near Gaza, being in like manner vigorously pursued till night came on, and as far as a certain standing water surrounded with reeds twelve miles off, were continually cut off in great numbers. To fly therefore with greater expedition, they threw away their arms and clothes, and abandoned their baggage, and by this means some of those who were strongest, and had swift horses, escaped; the rest were killed or taken. Those who had escaped as far as the above-mentioned fenny place, if they had any thing of weight still remaining, such as coats of mail, or greaves of iron, threw them among the reeds, or still farther into the water itself, that they might move quicker, and that the armour, being concealed in the water, might neither be of any after-service to the Christians, nor be kept by them as trophies of their victory. But in vain; for those who closely pursued them, diligently searched the place that night and the following day, and with proper instruments quickly found what they had concealed in it; and we have been informed, says the author of the Gesta Dei, by people of credit who were eye-witnesses, that a hundred coats of mail were drawn out of that place in one day, besides iron boots, and things which, though of less weight, were both useful and valuable. The historian then mentions how miserable these naked fugitives were harassed with incessant rains and unusually cold weather, which began the next day and continued ten days together. The Syrians, struck with a panic, left in like manner, in the road to Jordan, many of their garments, and of their vessels or arms, as I suppose that word means, just as Saladine’s army did; for the original word here kelim is known to signify arms as well as vessels; and the rest, perhaps, were thrown into the river. The horses and asses which were left in the camp, according to the seventh verse, were doubtless the beasts of burden used by them for the carriage of their tents and provisions, which their terror made them leave behind; and as the troops of the Syrians seem to have been horsemen, (see chap. 2Ki 6:15.) it is no wonder that they made no use of these heavier moving animals in their flight, but left them. Observations, p. 353.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 7:15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way [was] full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
Ver. 15. Full of garments and vessels. ] Impedimenta domestica vel bellica, whatsoever might encumber or dog them in their flight. Oh that in the race of religion we could cast away every weight! Heb 12:1
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
vessels: Est 1:7, Isa 22:24
had cast away: Job 2:4, Isa 2:20, Isa 10:3, Isa 31:7, Eze 18:31, Mat 16:26, Mat 24:16-18, Phi 3:7, Phi 3:8, Heb 12:1
Reciprocal: Pro 28:1 – wicked Ecc 3:6 – and a time to cast Ecc 8:8 – discharge Isa 33:4 – your spoil Eze 7:19 – shall cast Amo 4:3 – them into the palace