Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 8

Verse 1

whose son. Compare 2 Kings 4:35 .

famine = the famine, which had already begun. Probably the same as 2 Kings 4:38 . Occasion is not determined by the text, but, 2 Kings 8:3 takes up the history at the end of the seven years.

it shall also come = it is come.

seven years: i.e. "[to last] seven years".

Verse 2

man of God. See App-49 .

Verse 4

all the great things. See note on 2 Kings 2:15 .

Verse 5

restored a dead body. Compare 2 Kings 4:35 .

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos .

for . . . for. Hebrew. 'al = for [to call attention to].

Verse 6

fruits = produce.

Verse 8

Hazael. One of Ben-hadad's servants.

present. It does not say that Elisha accepted it.

Verse 9

every good = every kind of. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus). App-6 .

Verse 10

mayest certainly recover, &c. = "so far as re-covering goes, thou wilt recover. And [yet] Jehovah hath made me plainly see that he will surely die. "

surely die. Figure of speech Polyptoton . See notes on Genesis 2:17 with Genesis 26:28 .

Verse 11

he: i.e. Hazael.

ashamed. The thought of murder came into his mind.

Verse 12

the evil. Described in 2 Kings 10:32 ; 2Ki 12:17 ; 2 Kings 13:3 , 2 Kings 13:22 .Hosea 10:14 .Amos 1:3 , Amos 1:4 . Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

children = sons.

their children = little ones. Hebrew. 'ul .

with child. Hebrew. harah .

Verse 13

a dog. Compare 1 Samuel 17:43 ; 1 Samuel 24:14 . 2 Samuel 9:8 .

Verse 14

surely recover. See note on 2 Kings 8:10 . A false report.

Verse 15

it came to pass. The inscriptions of Shal-manezer II agree with this. The name of Jehu appears on them with Hazael's.

Verse 16

Jehoshaphat being then king. Jehoram associated with him in Joram's filth year, and reigned solely in Joram's sixth year. Compare 2 Kings 9:29 . Joram (of Ahab) began in Jehoshaphat's eighteenth year (2 Kings 3:1 ). His fifth year is therefore Jehoshaphat's twenty-third year, when Jehoram is associated with him as king, in the third year before his death. See App-50 .

began to reign: i.e. in consort with his father.

Verse 18

as = according as.

daughter of Ahab. Compare 2 Kings 8:26 . See App-55 .

did evil. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:2-4 .

Verse 19

as He promised. Compare 1 Samuel 7:13 .

light. Compare 1 Kings 11:36 . See note on Genesis 15:17 . Hebrew. ner . Found only four times, and always of David (2 Samuel 21:17 . 1 Kings 11:36 . 1 Kings 8:19 . 2 Chronicles 21:7 ).

and to his children. Many codices, and five early printed editions, read "for his children": i.e. sons.

Verse 20

Edom revolted. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:8 with 1 Kings 22:47 , and see above (2 Kings 3:9 ).

Verse 21

the people: i.e. of Judah.

Verse 22

Yet Edom, &c. The success of Edom accounted for from the end of 2 Kings 8:21 , and Genesis 27:40 .

this day. Written therefore before the captivity of Judah.

Then Libnah revolted. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:10 . Lib-nah was a city of the priests (Joshua 21:13 ), and Jehoram with his wife and sons had "broken up" the Temple worship (2 Chronicles 24:7 ). The priests therefore, headed by Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 23:1 ), led this revolt, and were afterwards active in repairing the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:1-14 ).

Verse 23

the rest. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:0 .

Joram = Jehoram.

are they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 24

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .

Ahaziah his son: i.e. his youngest son; all the rest being slain. See 2 Chronicles 21:17 ; 2 Chronicles 22:1 ; and App-55 .

Verse 26

Two and twenty years. See note on 2 Chronicles 22:2 .

Ahaziah. Note that Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, omitted in Matthew 1:8 , all died violent deaths ( 2Ki 9:27 ; 2 Kings 12:20 ; 2 Kings 14:19 ).

daughter. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), for grand-daughter; and even for successors not in descent by blood.

Verse 28

he went with Joram. His uncle.

Ramoth-gilead. It was then in the hands of Israel, but threatened by Syria. Compare 2 Kings 9:14 .

Verse 29

Ramah = Ramoth-gilead.