Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 6

Introduction

Overview

2 Kings 6:1, Elisha, giving leave to the young prophets to enlarge their dwellings, causes iron to swim; 2 Kings 6:8, He discloses the king of Syria’s counsel; 2 Kings 6:13, The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is smitten with blindness; 2 Kings 6:19, Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace; 2 Kings 6:24, The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children; 2 Kings 6:30, The king sends to slay Elisha.

Verse 1

the sons: 2 Kings 2:3, 2 Kings 4:1, 1 Kings 20:35

the place: 2 Kings 4:38, 1 Samuel 19:20

too strait for us: Joshua 17:14, Joshua 19:47, Job 36:16, Isaiah 49:19, Isaiah 49:20, Isaiah 54:2, Isaiah 54:3

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 10:5 - a company 2 Kings 2:15 - bowed 2 Kings 9:1 - the children Amos 2:11 - I raised Amos 7:14 - neither John 21:3 - I go

Verse 2

and take thence: John 21:3, Acts 18:3, Acts 20:34, Acts 20:35, 1 Corinthians 9:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 1 Timothy 6:6

Verse 3

Be content: 2 Kings 5:23, Judges 19:6, Job 6:28

go with thy: Judges 4:8

Verse 4

they cut down wood: Deuteronomy 19:5, Deuteronomy 29:11

Verse 5

ax head: Heb. iron, Ecclesiastes 10:10, Isaiah 10:34

master: 2 Kings 6:15, 2 Kings 3:10, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19

for it was borrowed: 2 Kings 4:7, Exodus 22:14, Exodus 22:15, Psalms 37:21

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 19:5 - head

Verse 6

he cut down: This could have no natural tendency to raise the iron and cause it to swim: it was only a sign, or ceremony, which the prophet chose to employ on the occasion. 2 Kings 2:21, 2 Kings 4:41, Exodus 15:25, Mark 7:33, Mark 7:34, Mark 8:23-25, John 9:6, John 9:7

the iron: This was the real miracle; for the gravity of the metal must otherwise still have kept it at the bottom of the river.

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 9:6 - city 2 Kings 8:4 - all the great

Verse 7

Take it up: 2 Kings 4:7, 2 Kings 4:36, Luke 7:15, Acts 9:41

put out: Exodus 4:4

Verse 8

the king: 2 Kings 6:24, 1 Kings 20:1, 1 Kings 20:34, 1 Kings 22:31

took: 1 Kings 20:23, Job 5:12, Job 5:13, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 7:5-7, Isaiah 8:10

camp: or, encamping

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 14:5 - the Lord 1 Kings 20:13 - Hast thou 2 Kings 6:23 - So the bands Daniel 2:19 - was John 15:15 - all Acts 13:11 - thou Acts 14:6 - were

Verse 9

Beware: 2 Kings 3:17-19, 1 Kings 20:13, 1 Kings 20:28

thither the Syrians: 2 Kings 4:27, Amos 3:7, Revelation 1:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:12 - telleth 2 Kings 6:23 - So the bands 2 Kings 8:4 - all the great 2 Kings 13:19 - the man of God Jeremiah 11:18 - the Lord Acts 27:10 - I perceive

Verse 10

sent to the place: To see if it were so. But the Vulgate renders, misit rex Israel ad locum, et preoccupavit eum; "the king of Israel sent to the place, and pre-occupied it;" which is very likely, though not expressed in the Hebrew Text. 2 Kings 5:14, Exodus 9:20, Exodus 9:21, 1 Kings 20:15, Proverbs 27:12, Matthew 24:15-17

warned him: Ezekiel 3:18-21, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 3:7, Hebrews 11:7

saved: 2 Kings 2:12, 2 Kings 13:14, 2 Chronicles 20:20, Amos 7:1-6, Acts 27:24

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:12 - telleth Job 33:29 - oftentimes Job 40:5 - twice Jeremiah 11:18 - the Lord Jeremiah 35:4 - a man Ezekiel 33:5 - But Acts 27:10 - I perceive Acts 27:11 - believed 2 Peter 1:21 - in old time

Verse 11

Therefore: 1 Samuel 28:21, Job 18:7-11, Psalms 48:4, Psalms 48:5, Isaiah 57:20, Isaiah 57:21, Matthew 2:3-12

Will ye not: 1 Samuel 22:8

Verse 12

None: Heb. No

Elisha: 2 Kings 5:3, 2 Kings 5:8, 2 Kings 5:13-15, Amos 3:7

telleth: 2 Kings 6:9, 2 Kings 6:10, Isaiah 29:15, Jeremiah 23:23, Jeremiah 23:24, Daniel 2:22, Daniel 2:23, Daniel 2:28-30, Daniel 2:47, Daniel 4:9-18, thy bed chamber, Psalms 139:1-4, Ecclesiastes 10:20

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 20:22 - the prophet 2 Kings 4:27 - hid it from me 2 Kings 5:26 - Went 2 Kings 6:32 - ere the messenger 2 Kings 8:5 - My lord 2 Kings 8:7 - The man of God Job 12:22 - discovereth Psalms 139:2 - knowest John 4:19 - I perceive

Verse 13

spy where: 1 Samuel 23:22, 1 Samuel 23:23, Psalms 10:8-10, Psalms 37:12-14, Psalms 37:32, Psalms 37:33, Jeremiah 36:26, Matthew 2:4-8, John 11:47-53, Acts 23:12-27

Dothan: This is supposed to be the same place where Joseph was sold by his brethren; and it is placed by Eusebius 12 miles north of Samaria. Genesis 37:17

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 1:9 - sent unto

Verse 14

sent he thither horses: It is strange the Syrian monarch did not think, that he who could penetrate his secrets with respect to the Israelitish army, could inform himself of all the machinations against his own life. 2 Kings 1:9-13, 1 Samuel 23:26, 1 Samuel 24:2, Matthew 26:47, Matthew 26:55, John 18:3-6

great: Heb. heavy, 2 Kings 18:17, *marg.

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 11:18 - the Lord Zechariah 12:4 - I will smite

Verse 15

servant: or, minister, 2 Kings 3:11, 2 Kings 5:20, 2 Kings 5:27, Exodus 24:13, 1 Kings 19:21, Matthew 20:26-28, Acts 13:5

Alas: 2 Kings 6:5, 2 Chronicles 20:12, Psalms 53:5, Matthew 8:26

Reciprocal: Leviticus 25:20 - General 2 Samuel 24:14 - I am in 1 Chronicles 21:13 - I am in Psalms 3:6 - I will Psalms 27:3 - host Matthew 14:30 - when Luke 11:34 - but 2 Peter 1:21 - in old time Revelation 20:9 - and compassed

Verse 16

Fear not: Exodus 14:13, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 11:1, Psalms 27:3, Psalms 118:11, Psalms 118:12, Isaiah 8:12, Isaiah 8:13, Isaiah 41:10-14, Mark 16:6, Acts 18:9, Acts 18:10, Philippians 1:28

they that be: 2 Chronicles 16:9, 2 Chronicles 32:7, 2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalms 46:7, Psalms 46:11, Psalms 55:18, Isaiah 8:10, Matthew 26:53, Romans 8:31, 1 John 4:4

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 17:13 - Fear not 2 Kings 19:6 - Be not afraid Psalms 68:17 - chariots Psalms 91:11 - For Matthew 18:10 - their Acts 27:24 - Fear not Hebrews 11:34 - escaped Revelation 5:11 - many

Verse 17

prayed: Psalms 91:15, James 5:16-18

open his eyes: 2 Kings 6:18-20, Psalms 119:18, Isaiah 42:7, Acts 26:18, Ephesians 1:18, Revelation 3:7

full of horses: 2 Kings 2:11, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 68:17, Psalms 91:11, Psalms 104:3, Ezekiel 1:13-16, Zechariah 1:8, Zechariah 6:1-7, Matthew 26:53, Hebrews 1:14, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 19:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:19 - General Genesis 32:2 - God's Numbers 22:23 - the ass saw Numbers 22:31 - opened 2 Kings 4:33 - prayed 2 Kings 6:20 - open the eyes 2 Kings 8:4 - all the great 1 Chronicles 21:16 - saw the angel 2 Chronicles 20:22 - to sing and to Psalms 104:4 - ministers Song of Solomon 3:7 - threescore Daniel 10:7 - alone Hosea 9:8 - with Matthew 18:10 - their Acts 9:8 - he saw Hebrews 1:7 - Who

Verse 18

Smite this people: Confound their sight, so that they may not know what they see; and so mistake one place for another. The word sanverim, rendered blindness, occurs only here and in Genesis 19:11 - see note. Deuteronomy 28:28, Job 5:14, Zechariah 12:4, John 9:39, John 12:40, Acts 13:11, Romans 11:7

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 13:4 - his hand 2 Kings 3:23 - This is blood 2 Kings 4:33 - prayed 2 Kings 6:17 - open his eyes Job 38:15 - from Jeremiah 36:26 - but Hosea 9:8 - with Luke 24:16 - General John 8:59 - but

Verse 19

follow me: Heb. come ye after me, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23

I will bring: 2 Samuel 16:18, 2 Samuel 16:19, Luke 24:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:15 - What Joshua 2:4 - General Judges 4:18 - Jael Jeremiah 38:27 - and he told

Verse 20

open the eyes: 2 Kings 6:17, Luke 24:31

opened: Judges 20:40-42, Luke 16:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:7 - And the 2 Kings 4:33 - prayed

Verse 21

My father: This was dastardly: the utmost he ought to have done with these men, when thus brought into his hand, was to make them prisoners of war. 2 Kings 2:12, 2 Kings 5:13, 2 Kings 8:9, 2 Kings 13:14

shall: 1 Samuel 24:4, 1 Samuel 24:19, 1 Samuel 26:8, Luke 9:54-56, Luke 22:49

Reciprocal: Judges 17:10 - a father Judges 18:19 - a father Matthew 23:9 - call Mark 6:20 - feared

Verse 22

wouldest: Deuteronomy 20:11-16, 2 Chronicles 28:8-13

thy sword: Genesis 48:22, Joshua 24:12, Psalms 44:6, Hosea 1:7, Hosea 2:18

set bread: Proverbs 25:21, Proverbs 25:22, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:20, Romans 12:21

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:9 - I neither 1 Kings 18:4 - fed them 2 Chronicles 28:15 - gave them

Verse 23

he prepared: 1 Samuel 24:17, 1 Samuel 24:18, 2 Chronicles 28:15, Proverbs 25:21, Proverbs 25:22, Matthew 5:47, Luke 6:35, Luke 10:29-37

So the bands: That is, for a considerable time. What is mentioned in the next verse was more than a year afterwards. See note on 2 Kings 6:8, 2 Kings 6:9, 2 Kings 5:2, 2 Kings 24:2

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 4:2 - captains 1 Kings 18:4 - fed them 2 Kings 13:20 - the bands

Verse 24

gathered: 2 Kings 17:5, 2 Kings 18:9, 2 Kings 25:1, Deuteronomy 28:52, 1 Kings 20:1, 1 Kings 22:31, Ecclesiastes 9:14

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 16:17 - besieged Tirzah 1 Kings 20:42 - thy life shall go 2 Kings 6:8 - the king 2 Kings 8:7 - Benhadad Amos 1:4 - Benhadad

Verse 25

a great famine: 2 Kings 6:28, 2 Kings 6:29, 2 Kings 7:4, 2 Kings 25:3, 1 Kings 18:2, Jeremiah 14:13-15, Jeremiah 14:18, Jeremiah 32:24, Jeremiah 52:6

an ass's head: If the pieces of silver were drachms, the whole would amount to about 2£ 9s; which was a great price for so mean a part of this unclean animal. Ezekiel 4:13-16

dove's dung: This probably denotes, as Bochart, Scheuchzer, and others suppose, a kind of pulse, or vetches, which the Arabs still call pigeon's dung. "They never," says Dr. Shaw (Travels, p. 140), "constitute a dish by themselves, but are strewed singly as a garnish over cuscasowe, pillowe, and other dishes. They are besides in the greatest repute after they are parched in pans and ovens; then assuming the name leblebby;" and he thinks they were so called from being pointed at one end, and acquiring an ash colour in parching.

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:10 - was a Genesis 41:55 - famished 2 Samuel 21:1 - a famine 1 Kings 8:37 - in the land famine 1 Kings 16:17 - besieged Tirzah 2 Kings 7:1 - a measure of fine flour 2 Kings 18:27 - eat 2 Chronicles 6:28 - if there be dearth Psalms 59:15 - for meat Isaiah 36:12 - that they may Lamentations 1:11 - seek Ezekiel 5:16 - and will Amos 4:6 - and want

Verse 26

my lord: 2 Samuel 14:4, Isaiah 10:3, Luke 18:3, Acts 21:28

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:18 - General 2 Kings 4:2 - What shall I 2 Kings 8:3 - General 2 Kings 8:5 - My lord Job 21:4 - if it were Psalms 107:12 - and there Jeremiah 19:9 - eat the Lamentations 4:3 - the daughter Lamentations 4:10 - hands

Verse 27

If the Lord: etc. or, Let not the Lord save thee

whence: Psalms 60:11, Psalms 62:8, Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9, Psalms 124:1-3, Psalms 127:1, Psalms 146:3, Isaiah 2:2, Jeremiah 17:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:16 - It is not Numbers 18:27 - the corn Deuteronomy 28:8 - storehouses 1 Samuel 28:16 - Wherefore 2 Kings 4:2 - What shall I Job 21:4 - if it were Psalms 107:12 - and there Ecclesiastes 10:13 - beginning

Verse 28

What aileth thee: Genesis 21:17, Judges 18:23, 1 Samuel 1:8, 2 Samuel 14:5, Psalms 114:5, Isaiah 22:1

Give thy son: Leviticus 26:29, Deuteronomy 28:53-57, Isaiah 9:20, Isaiah 9:21, Isaiah 49:15, Lamentations 4:10, Ezekiel 5:10, Matthew 24:18-21, Luke 23:29

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:25 - a great famine Job 39:16 - as Lamentations 2:20 - Shall the women

Verse 29

next: Heb. other

she hath hid: 1 Kings 3:26, Isaiah 49:15, Isaiah 66:13

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:29 - General Deuteronomy 28:53 - the fruit 2 Kings 6:25 - a great famine Job 39:16 - as Lamentations 2:20 - Shall the women Lamentations 4:10 - in Ezekiel 5:10 - the fathers

Verse 30

he rent his clothes: 2 Kings 5:7, 2 Kings 19:1, 1 Kings 21:27, Isaiah 58:5-7

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 3:7 - time to rend Isaiah 15:3 - their streets Jeremiah 48:37 - upon the loins Joel 2:13 - your garments

Verse 31

God do so: Ruth 1:17, 1 Samuel 3:17, 1 Samuel 14:44, 1 Samuel 25:22, 2 Samuel 3:9, 2 Samuel 3:35, 2 Samuel 19:13, 1 Kings 2:23

if the head: 1 Kings 18:17, 1 Kings 19:2, 1 Kings 22:8, Jeremiah 37:15, Jeremiah 37:16, Jeremiah 38:4, John 11:50, Acts 23:12, Acts 23:13

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:4 - to do evil 2 Kings 3:2 - wrought 2 Kings 5:20 - as the Lord liveth Proverbs 16:14 - messengers Ecclesiastes 10:13 - beginning Jeremiah 32:3 - Zedekiah Matthew 14:9 - the oath's Mark 6:23 - he Luke 6:23 - for in

Verse 32

the elders: Ezekiel 8:1, Ezekiel 14:1, Ezekiel 20:1, Ezekiel 33:31

ere the messenger: 2 Kings 6:12, 2 Kings 5:26

See ye how: Luke 13:32

son of a murderer: 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:13, 1 Kings 18:14, 1 Kings 21:10

the sound: 1 Kings 14:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:1 - See 2 Kings 3:2 - wrought 2 Kings 5:9 - General 2 Kings 7:18 - as the man 2 Kings 8:4 - all the great Jeremiah 32:3 - Zedekiah Lamentations 3:39 - a man Acts 5:9 - the feet Hebrews 11:34 - escaped

Verse 33

this evil is of the Lord: Genesis 4:13, Exodus 16:6-8, 1 Samuel 28:6-8, 1 Samuel 31:4, Job 1:11, Job 1:21, Job 2:5, Job 2:9, Proverbs 19:3, Isaiah 8:21, Jeremiah 2:25, Ezekiel 33:10, Matthew 27:4, Matthew 27:5, 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:11, Revelation 16:9-11

wait for the: Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:7, Psalms 37:9, Psalms 62:5, Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 50:10, Lamentations 3:25, Lamentations 3:26, Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 18:1

Reciprocal: Judges 14:4 - it was of the Lord 1 Samuel 28:7 - Seek me 2 Kings 3:10 - the Lord 2 Kings 7:1 - Elisha said 2 Kings 7:13 - they are even Job 15:22 - He believeth not Psalms 107:12 - and there Jeremiah 18:12 - There Amos 6:10 - Hold