2 Kings 8
PATthe multitude of the Israelites (hat tire consumed), and let us send and see,. Ho repeats his advice twice, that it might make the greater impression on tho king. I’he sense of which is this: that they were almost consumed with hunger, and must shortly die,- as all thfe horses and the Israelites had done, whom tho famine had killed. Therefore, if theso horses and men were taken by the Syrians, there would be no great loss of them; for they would be lost if they remained in Samaria. among them; contrary to the law of God and of the kingdom. (See 2 Chron. xxi. 10, 11.).*,…,,- •-
2 Kings 8:1
JL HEN spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he restored to life. See Iv. 35, 36. Saying, Arise, and go thou and thy household, and sojourn where thou canst sojourn.] In somo country out of the land of Israel. For the Lord, hath called for a famine.] lie had* already ordered! and decreed it. And it shall come upon the land seven years.] Continue as long again as that in the days of Ahab, which lasted three years and a half. For as their iniquities increased, so did their punishments. Some of the Jews will have this to be tho terrible famine spoken of by Joel the prophet; who they fancy lived in these days. And four years of it, they say, were caused by noxious creatures, which ate up all the fruits of the earth; and the other three by a drought, for want of rain.
2 Kings 8:2
And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God. Who by this monition hath left us an example of a grateful mind, which never thinks it can sufficiently requite benefits received;, and she was abundantly satisfied, that what he predicted would certainly come to pass. And she went with her household, and sojourned in th$ land of the Philistines seven years.] This country was so near, that she might easily remove her family thither, and likewise hear sometimes from her own country. They were idolaters, indeed, but they suffered those that were not to live quietly among them, as their forefathers had done; who entertained Abraham and Isaac with mnch friendship, and did not trouble themselves about their religion; as Jacob, in like manner, sojourned a long time among idolaters in Mesopotamia. This shews tho severity of God’s anger against Israel, that he accounted them worse than the. Philistines; who had plenty among them, when the Israelites were almost starved. Yer. 3. And it came to pass, at the seven years* end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king, for her house, and for her land.] Which some think her kindred had seized, as if she had been dead. But it is more likely that she carried her relations along with her into the land of the Philistines; and it was the custom here, as in other places, that they who left* their country had their goods confiscated. (See Grotius.)
2 Kings 8:4
And the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, alt the great things that Elisha hath done. Some of the Jews think, that the king seeing Gehazi, asked him how he came to be leprous; and thereupon he related to him the history of Naaman the Syrian; which moved the king, either to satisfy his curiosity, or pass away the time pleasantly, to desire to hear all the other miracles Elisha had wrought; but he’hafl no intention to be convinced by them, and turn to God. But then here arises a question, how Gehazi came to be admitted to speak with him; being a leper, who was not to come into any company, much less into the kings presence. This difficulty, some tliiqk, cannot be solved without affirming, that’this fell out before Gehazi left Elisha’s service; such vortpoXo-yia, as the Greeks call
2 Kings 8:14
They took therefore two chariot-horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying. Go and see. Whether they were gone or not. Some understand the horses of two chariots, which might in all be five: but it is moro probable the king would venture no more than two horsemen, which he thought enough; who took two of the horses bf his own chariots to make discovery.
2 Kings 8:15
And they went after them unto Jordan. Finding the camp empty, as the lepers had related, they pursued them as far as this river. And, h, all theway wasfutl of garments, which the Syrians Jiad cast away in their haste: and the messengers returned, and told the king J] The certainty of their flight to their own country, And it came to pass on the morrow.’] His eager desire to reign would not suffer him to expect his master’s death, but he made haste to dispatch him the very next morning after he came from Elisha. That he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in tvater.] The covering of his bed, which (as many think) was made of goats* hair; or, some other thick cloth, that would suck up a great deal of water. And spread it upon his face, so that he died.] He being feverish (as Josephus thinks) and complaining of heat, Hazael pretended to cool him by this means; but indeed choked him; by thrusting the cloth, perhaps, into his mouth: so that he could make no noise, nor did any sign of violence remain upon his body; but the murder was committed so secretly, that it was thought he died anatural’death. But nothing can be concealed from God, who took care to have the villany recorded to posterity, by revealing it to his prophet. ■ And Hazael reigned in his stead.] Being in great favour’with the people, especially with the soldiery; and Ben-hadad, it is likely, leaving no son. Ver. 1G. And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab ling of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.’] All the seeming contradictions between this verse and chap.i. 17. and chap. iii. l.arethus briefly reconciled by Huetius: — Jchoram beginning to reign with his father Jehoshaphat in his seventeenth year, and Joram king of Israel in his eighteenth, the first year of Joram king of Israel will fall out in the second year of Jehoram, king of Judah: whose father dying in the twenty-second year of his reign, Jehoram, king of Judah/ began to reign alone in the fifth year of Joram king of Israel. (See Demonstr. Evang. propos. iv. p. 204.)
2 Kings 8:16
And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour xvas sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.] They found such store of provision in the tents of the Syrians, that it made this sudden change in the price of corn, according to filisha’s prediction.
2 Kings 8:17
And the king appointed’the lord, on tvlioni his hand leaned, to have the charge of the gate.* To take care the people didnot fun out tumultiiously, and leave the city empty; nor commit any disorder in the gate, being very eager to get’ victuals. And the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died.] They came out in such crowds, and pressed upon him so hard, that they threw him down, and trod him to death. As the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.]’ See ver. 2. Thirty and ttvo years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.] Part of which was with his father, as I now observed, and the rest’ by himself. Dr. Lightfoot observing three dates of the beginning of his reign, gives this account of it: — The first was when he -was made viceroy with his father, at the time he w r ent out of the land for the recovery of Ramoth- Gilead. The second was when his father went upon his’expedition with Jehoram, king of Israel, against Moab (chap. iii. of this book), from which time, he thinks, the beginning of his reign is fixed here, and in 2 Chron. xxi. 20.’ For after this time, Jehoshaphat was little at Jerusalem, but abroad either in his own land (which he perambulated that he might reduce the people to the true religion), or in Moab, to bring them into subjection, (2 Chron. xix. 20.) And lastly, at his father’s death he was completely king of Judah, 2 Chron. xxi. 1. (See Harm, of the Evang. Prolegom. sect. 6.) So that the clearest solution of the difficulty mentioned in the foregoing verse is this (as Dr. Alix, a great man in this learning, and all others, hath observed to me), that Joram had three beginnings of his reign. One in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, when his father designed him to be king; the second in the twenty-third year’ of his father, when he was crowned; and the last when his father (after he* had reigned five-and-twenty years) died; and he reigned alone a little more than four years. Thus Solomon was made king before his father died, and again after his death, as Abarbinel observes. (See r Kings ii. 12.) Ver; 18. And he walked in th« way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.] viz. Athaliah, ver. 2G. And he did evil in the sight of the Jsord.] Being seduced by his wife to forsake the religion of his pious father and grandfather. Thus Ahab himself was led to the worship of Baal by his wife Jezebel. So dangerous it is to marry with idolaters; for this wife of Jehoram, in all likelihood, was the author of that cruel policy of murdering all his brethren, for fear they should disturb him in his kingdom. (2 Chron. xxi. 2—4.)
2 Kings 8:18
And it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a sJtekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow at’ this time in the gate of Samaria*] By this it should seem there was a market kept in the gate of Samaria, where provisions were sold: and this lord was set to see good’ order kept, that they might neither take them by force, nor malce any disturbance.
2 Kings 8:19
And the lord answered tlte man of Godi saying, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might siich a thing be? And lie said, Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt hot eat thereof] This part of the history isrepeated, because it is a most remarkable fulfilling of a Divine prediction, whereby their belief of God’s providence, ordering all tilings in a wonderful manner, was confirmed. Yet the Lord tvould not destroy Judah for David Ids servant’s sake.] Though he punished them severely, (see 2 Chron. xxi. 14 — 17, &c.) yet he would not cut them all off, but had patience with them a long time, upon the account of that excellent servant of his/ king David; unto whom he had made a promise, as it here follows, and to his seed after him, of a perpetual kingdom. Ashe promised him, to give him always a light, and to his children.] A succession in this dignity (as I have expounded it before), w T hich was completed in the Messiah, whose kingdom shall have no end. •
2 Kings 8:20
In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. After they had been subject to Judah a hundred and fifty years, ever since the time of David, who subdued that country. This was’a great dishonour to him; but by this means the prophecy of Isaac was fulfilled. (Gen. xxvii. 40.)
2 Kings 8:21
So Joram went over to Zair. This word Zair is written differently from Seir; and therefore doth not signify any part of the country of Edom; but some city near to it. - And all the chariots with him.] With as great a force as he could raise, to reduce them to obedience. And he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about.] The Edomites were not wanting in their own defence, but had surrounded him with an army; •through which he broke in the night, and routed them. And the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.] To their own camp; where, it is likely, they were intrenched.
2 Kings 8:22
4 Yet Edom revolted from tinder the hand of Judah^. Notwithstanding this victory, they could not recover their dominion over this country; but Edom continued a kingdom under its own king. - Unto this day.]‘When this book was written, which was not long after this revolt. And they were not brought again under the pow T er of the Jews till after the captivity of Babylon: when Hyrcanus the son of Simon conquered them, and they received circumcision; and came to have a free commerce with the Jews. Insomuch that Herod the son of Antipater, who was an Edomite, obtained the kingdom of Judea; and endeavoured to pass for a Jew, because they had received circumcision under Hyrcanus. ThenXibnah revolted at the same time.] Which was the reason, perhaps, why he could not pursue his victory over the.Edomites, and regain their country; because he had enough to do at home, there being a defection of his own subjects from him. For this was a considerable city in the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 42.) and belonged to the priests, (Josh. xxi. 13.) Which example, it is likely, other neighbouring cities followed. For the reason why they revolted, w T as because he attempted to set up his idolatrous worship
2 Kings 8:23
And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of.the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?. See 1 Kings xi. 41.-. Vcr. 24. And.Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David.] But not in the sepulchre of the kings, as we read 2 Chron. xxi.20. And Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 8:25
In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king ofJudah begin to reign. In the conclusion of the eleventh and beginning of the twelfth: as appears from ix. 29.
2 Kings 8:26
And so it fell out unto him: for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died. Before he could enjoy the benefit of that plenty which God had bestowed upon them. Which did not at all alter their hearts;- but they continued so obstinately deaf to all the’ prophet’s admonitions and miraculous works, that in the next chapter we read of another long famine co’riiihg upon them Twenty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem.] But in 2 Chron. xxii. 2. it is said, he was forty-two years old when he began to reign: which seeming contradiction was anciently solved in this manner (by the author, of Seder Olam Rabba, whom a great many Jewish and Christian writers follow): that the forty-two years mentioned in the. book of Chronicles are not to be computed from the birth of Ahaziah, but from the time of the decree of cutting off the house of Omri: which was in the thirty-first year of Asa, when Omri began to reign, who reigned six years, and after him Ahab twenty and two; and Ahaziah his son two years, and Joram twelve: all which put together make forty-two years. This Dr. Lightfoot hath expressed more plainly thus: " The forty-two years have not relation to the age of Ahaziah, but to the kingdom of the house of Omri. And therefore the words of the original are not to be translated, Ahaziah was forty-two years old; but Ahaziah was the son of forty-two years, as Seder Olam translates it And the reason why his reign “is thus differently set down from all other kings of Judah is, because he was a branch of the house of Omri by his mother’s side, (ver. 18.) and therefore was fit to be reckoned not by the line of the kings of Judah, but by the house of Omri and Ahab.” But there is an easier and more likely reconciliation of these two places, by Kimchi,- Abarbinel, and others, which is, that Joram being invaded by the Arabians, and also diseased, made his son, Ahaziah king, together with himself; wben he was forty-two years old. In this condition things remained twenty years; and then his father dying, they made him king alone, when he was fortytwo years old: thus a great number of Christian interpreters also underr stand it. But then they suppose that Jehoram being thirtytwo years old when he began to reign, reigned eight years (as it is said ver. 17.) after his father’s death, that is, happily and prosperously; but after that, falling into the hands of the Arabians, and growing sickly, he reigned ingloriously twenty years, till he was sixty years old, his son administering affairs all this time for him: but since the LXX. in the book of Chronicles read not forty-two, but twenty, many learned and good men think (the ancient Hebrew copies agreed thereunto: but by the carelessness of transcribers, forty camc’in instead of twenty. Which it is better they think tp acknowledge plainly, than to use forced and constrained interpretations, as the preceding seem to them to be. Perizonius hath lately censured them all, in these words, " Si quid ego video aut intclligo, multo rcctius divinitati ct auctoritati Scripturee S. consulant, qui vitium istic librariorum in re per se levi agnoscunt, quam qui difficultatem yolunt tollere, contortis, Yiolentis, et absonis interpretationibus: quae ab ipsa Scripturee locutione, ct clarissima Syntaxi lbngissime* recedunt," &c. And then instances in this very place, and the foregoing expressions of it.. (Prefat. in Lilian.. Var. Histor. * * * * 2.) And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.] So she is called also in 2 Chron. xxii. 2. that is, Omri’s grand-daughter; who. are often called daughters, as I have before observed. -For it is certain Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab; but perhaps, educated by Omri his father, and upon that account may be called his daughter. He was the youngest son of Jehoram, all whose other children and his wives were carried’ away by the Philistines and Arabians, when they made ah inroad upon Judah, 2 Chron. xxi. 16, 17. where he is. called Jehoahaz.?’.: *,.!.. Ver. -27. And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did the house of Ahab.] Not only worshipped thQ calves, but also Baal. For he teas the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.] And so corrupted in his religion, by the affinity he made with that wicked family. Into which Jehoshaphat married his son,- hoping, perhaps, to unite thereby the two. kingdoms again: but it proved the ruin of his family;.as appears by the book of Chronicles..
2 Kings 8:28
And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against. Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-Gilead. . Just as Jehoshaphat went with Ahab to the same placo: which Joram, it seems, endeavoured to recover to. Israel,- as his father had done.: -»’. -. And the Syrians wounded Joram.] Not mortally, as they’ did Ahab: but so, that he was fain to leave the field. to > be cured of his wounds in Jezreel.’… /<’,. /
2 Kings 8:29
And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the. wounds the Syrians had given him in Ramah,: when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Leaving his army at Ramoth-Gilead. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.] By this means the secret providence of God so ordered it, that they were both killed by Jehu, as a pujiish-, mejit of their idolatry,. ■ \ *….., f.