Bible Commentary

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and [the king] sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:32”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:31”

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, [he had] sackcloth within upon his flesh. 30. and he passed by upon the wall ] The R.V. places these words in a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:30”

So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. 29. she hath hid her son ] So hath famine changed the nature of those whom Jeremiah calls ‘the pitiful women’. The king … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:29”

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. 28. What aileth thee? ] The woman’s cry is not stopped by his answer. She has more to speak about than to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:28”

And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 27. If the Lord do not help thee ] There is some difficulty here. The word rendered ‘if not’ is that which in Hebrew is generally put with an imperative = … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:27”

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. 26. the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall ] Making the necessary rounds to see that the watch was kept up, and everything done that could be done … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:26”

And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was [sold] for fourscore [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five [pieces] of silver. 25. a great famine in Samaria ] The walls were protection enough, but the enemy lay … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:25”

And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 24 31. Benhadad besieges Samaria. The city suffers terribly from famine, and the king threatens to put Elisha to death (Not in Chronicles) 24. Ben-hadad ] Probably the same king who was defeated … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:24”

And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. 23. he prepared great provision for them ] We can see from the use of the phrase ‘bread … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 6:23”