Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 8:2
And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
2. sojourned in the land of the Philistines ] As in Jacob’s time, the patriarch with his family was sent into Egypt, an idolatrous land, because of the famine, so the pious Shunammite, for her life’s support, goes forth among the Philistines, and stays there seven years.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The country of the Philistines – the rich low grain-growing plain along the seacoast of Judah – was always a land of plenty compared with the highlands of Palestine. Moreover, if food failed there, it was easily imported by sea from the neighboring Egypt.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Either because that was near her lands and dwelling, which she thought she might have an eye to, when occasion required; or because there was more plenty than in Judah; or because she knew that her going to dwell in Judah would be very displeasing to the king of Israel, whose favour she was like to need hereafter. Nor was there now that danger of idolatry from the Philistines as there had been formerly, because their power and influence was now grown inconsiderable, and probably many of the Jews and Israelites lived among them. And this land, though bordering upon Israel, was free from this famine, that it might appear that this was a special hand and judgment of God upon the Israelites for their idolatry, and for their unprofitableness under all the means of grace which now they plentifully enjoyed by Elisha and many other prophets; which the Philistines not enjoying, their sin was much less, and therefore their present condition was better.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. she . . . sojourned in the landof the Philistines seven yearsTheir territory was recommendedto her from its contiguity to her usual residence; and now that thisstate had been so greatly reduced, there was less risk than formerlyfrom the seductions of idolatry; and many of the Jews and Israeliteswere residing there. Besides, an emigration thither was lessoffensive to the king of Israel than going to sojourn in Judah.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God,…. Whose words she had reason to believe; she having a son given to her according to his word, and this restored to life, when dead, through his intercession:
and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines; which was not far from her native place, and where there was plenty of food, and she could have as free an exercise of her religion as in the idolatrous kingdom of Israel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) After the saying.According to the word.
In the land of the Philistines.The lowlands of the coast were not so subject to droughts as the limestone highlands of Israel. (Comp. Gen. 12:10; Gen. 26:1.) The Philistines, besides, dealt with foreign traders who put in to their shores. (Comp. Joe. 3:4-6.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 8:2 And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
Ver. 2. And sojourned in the land of the Philistines. ] Their fields flourish, while the soil of Israel yieldeth nothing but weeds and barrenness. Not that Israel was more sinful, but that the sin of Israel was more intolerable, saith a great divine. No pestilence is so contagious as that which hath taken the purest air.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man of God. See App-49.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
with: 1Ti 5:8
land: Jdg 3:3, 1Sa 27:1-3
Reciprocal: Gen 12:10 – went Rth 1:1 – a famine Jer 35:4 – a man Act 11:28 – great
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 8:2. The woman arose, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines Which, though bordering upon Israel, was free from the famine: by which it appeared, that the special hand of God was in that calamity, and that it was a judgment from him upon the Israelites for their idolatry, and abuse of the means of grace, which they now enjoyed in such abundance through Elisha and many other prophets.