2 Kings 6

2 Kings 6:13-23

We have here, 1. Elisha’s sending iron to Jujim, ver. 1. 2. Revading the King of Syria’s convoy to Teheran, ver. 8-12. 3. Saving himself from his enemies, ver. 13-25. 4. Samaria befrayed, ver. 24-33.

1. AND the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strict for us. 2. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. 4. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5. But as one was felling a beam, the ax-head fell into the water: 6. And he cried, and said, Aias master, for it was borrowed. 7. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And ‘he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and the iron did swim. 8. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

2. 1-7. Under Elisha’s care, the school of the prophets at Gilgal flourished; and such a relict was there to attend him, that the place was too small to contain them. Note, It is a good symptom both of a true prophet and a gracious people, when diligence to preach, and attention to hear, enlarge the auditory.

3. They propose building another seminary near the banks of Jordan; and with Elisha’s consent, and under his eye, they would, without delay, begin the work. As they were poor, they must be their own builders; and though prophets sons,

5 L didain- Theobald My.

difidam not the mean employment to which their poverty reduced them. Nere, (1.) The greatest of Seaman’s kindness are usually bestowed on those who eat bread with the sweat of their brow. (2.) A minister of God must be contented, if need be to minister to his necessities by the labour of his own hands.

2. An accident happened to one of them, as they felled the timber, v. 5. which gave him the greater unceasiness, because the ax was borrowed, and perhaps he was unable to repay the loss, though small. Nere, (1.) What is kindly lent us, we should be doubly careful of. (2.) They who are affluent, conceive not how great an affliction an inconsiderable loss is to those who are indigent.

3. Elisha pitied and relieved him, at the expense of a miracle. On throwing in a piece of wood at the place where it fell, he caused the iron to swim, and restored it to the thankful owner. Nere, (1.) When we can make the poor mourner rejoice by a small relief, shall we refuse him the joy that costs us so little? (2.) The heart most irrecoverably sunk to human view in the floods of ungodines, and of earthly cares or pleasures, is not beyond the power of divine grace.

a Pryor. cal. 30. a Affa. mil. 11. 1 Hub. Troubled at this the with words. Ills. 1010. 1011. 4 Resist. 6. 110.

8. Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for neither the Syrians are come down. 10. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him, and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was a fore troubled for this thing, and he called his servants and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12. And one of his servants said, None, my lord O king: but Elisha the prophet, that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speaketh in thy bed-chamber.

9. 8—12. We have here,

10. A new invasion of Israel. On what occasion is not said. Nere, The enemies of God’s Israel will not suffer them long to rest in peace.

11. Elisha by his prophetic spirit, acquainted the king of Israel with all the ambushes and motions of the Syrians, by which they were constantly disappointed in their designs. Nere, (1.) God knows how to frustrate the wisest counsels of the crafty against his church and people. (2.) When God by his prophets gives us warning, it is our wisdom to hear and prepare for the day of evil, least if we continue secure in our sins, death should surprise us, and we persist through our folly.

12. The king of Syria suspected a traitor in his council, but one of his servants wisely appoises him of the discoverer of his secrets, Elisha’s spirit visited his most retired chamber. Nere, There is no place hid from the searching eye of God; even the secrets of all hearts to him are naked and open.

13. ¶ And he said, Go, and ‘spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14. Therefore sent he thither hores and chariots, and ‘a great host: and they came by night, and ‘compaffed the city about. 15. And when the ‘servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compaffed the city, both with hores and chariots: and his servant said unto him, Alas my master, how shall we do? 16. And he answered, ‘Fear not: for ’they that he with us, are more than they that he with them. 17. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was ‘full of horses, and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, ‘Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha. 19. ¶ And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20. And it came to pass when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, upon the eyes of these men that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the minds of Samaria. 21. And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smote them? shall I smote them? 22. And he answered, Thou shalt not smote them: wouldest thou smote those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword,

and with thy bow? ‘set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23. 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 hands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

Till Elisha was secured, the king of Syria despairs of success; and therefore to effect this,

1. He sends an armed force to Surruond: Dothan by night, where he understood the prophet was: a foolish attempt! Could he who revealed his designs against the king, be ignorant of this upon himself?

2. Elisha’s servant in the morning runs to his master in a terrible fright, to acquaint him with the danger, as if now they were all undone and lost. Nere, Weak believers are intimidated with the approach of danger, and because they feel their own impotence, are ready to despair of God’s power and grace.

3. Elisha verily blames his fears. One comfortable word of encouragement points him to a safe protector, and that his weak faith might be helped by sight, at Elisha’s prayer, the servants eyes are opened, and he beheld the angelic lust, appearing like chariots and hores of fire round the city. Nere, (1.) Whoever are our foes, if God be for us, we have strength and numbers on our side. To encourage the fearful, to support the weak, and comfort the feeble-minded, is the office of every faithful minister. (2.) They who have the eye of faith opened, behold cherubic legions as their guard, and the King of Glory at their head, saying, none shall plead them out of my hand. (3.) We have need pray continually for ourselves and others, that the eyes of our minds may be daily more enlightened.

4. He that prayed for the opening the eyes of his servants, succeeds as effectually for the closing the eyes of his enemies. Bewilder’d in their apprehensions, they no longer knew either the place or the prophet, but gave themselves up to him as their guide; promising to conduct them to the man they fought; and when he had brought them into Samaria, as men awakened from a dream, they beheld their danger when there was no possibility of their escape. Nere, (1.) It is just in God to give those up to the blindness of their own hearts, who chuse not the knowledge of the truth, that they might be saved. (2.) How terrible will be the sinner’s disappointment, when led captive by the devil at his will; hanged up with foolish hopes of heaven, he marches confidently on, till death awakens him from his lethargy, and he is astonished to find himself in hell.

5. Elisha merciful as mighty, dismisses them in peace, after the most hospitable entertainment. The king of Israel is eager to improve the advantage by destroying his enemies, but Elisha restrains him. Had they been prisoners of war, they were entitled to mercy; how much more when not his arm, but God’s providence had brought them into his power? rather let him conquer them again by his clemency and generosity; and as they were now laid at his feet for mercy, entertain them nobly, and dismiss them peaceably. The king readily complies, and they return as much astonished at their generous treatment, as convinced of the impossibility of crushing those whom God so protected. Returning, they made no more attempts to seize the prophet, or perhaps these hands, when a new attack was meditated, refuse to serve any more against the people of Israel. Nere, (1.) To forgive our enemies is not only enjoined us, but to do good to those who hate us. Hard the talk, but what cannot Almighty Grace effect? (2.) They who will not be overcome with kindness and love, are desperately hardened indeed.

6. ¶ And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 25. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and behold, they besieged it, until an affes head was said for a fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of doves dung for five pieces of silver. 26. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. 27. And he said, ‘If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barn-floor, or out of the wine-press? 28. And the king said unto her, What silent thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. 29. 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. 30. ¶ 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. 31. Then he said, ‘God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphae shall stand

on

on him this day. 32. But Elisha’s fat in his house (and the elders fat 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 door, and hold him fall at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him? 33. And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD, what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

2 Kings 6:24-33

Soon was the grateful remembrance of the late kindreds worn out of the memory of the king of Syria. For,

1. We find him have befriying Samaria; and either through the unexpected attack, or the death which was in the land, the famine quickly rages in the city, so that an affes head sold for nine or ten pounds; and half a pint of vetches (so in general annoyances understand what is translated done’s dung) for twelve shillings. Not, (1.) War is a dreadful scourge. (2.) By the midview we hear of famine, we should learn to value the plenty we enjoy.

2. A most melancholy case is brought to the king. As he went round the walls, a woman cried to him, as he supposed for relief, which he with bitterness declares is not in his power to give, v. 27, but willing to know her case, he added; and she relates a story, v. 28, 29, which we shudder but to read, and fulfilled the threatening, Deut. xviii. 55—57. Struck with horror and grief, the king rent his clothes, and under them appeared the backcloth, that he wore in token of their deep distress and humiliation. Not, (1.) In our feud-differences, if God be not our friend, vain is the help of man. (2.) None know the sedaries that await them before they die, we need pray that God would prepare us, for what he hath prepared for us. (3.) Raging hunger may overcome the thronged natural affections.

3. Jaboram yours his rage at their distress on the innocent Elisha, and impiously and profanely threatens to murder him, as if by advising them to hold out, by forestalling the famine, or not obtaining deliverance from it, he had been the author of their calamities. Not, (1.) An unhumbled heart kicks against the pirates, and turns that revenge on the innocent, which should be employed against his sinful self. (2.) They who are the only suspenders of Divine judgments, have often been accused as the cause of them.

4. Elisha knew in his house the wicked purposes of the king, and justly complains of this son of a murderer to those who are around him: but these they the messenger at the door, till his master, who was close at his heels, should enter, who abandoned so despair, foreno determined to surrender at discretion, no prospect of relief appearing. Not, (1.) They who work wick-others, must thank themselves for the brand God puts upon them. (2.) God is the primary author of all our sufferings; and it is by looking above the instruments to him, that we ought to learn submission. (3.) The greatest sin, and the greatest misery we can be given up to, is despair.