Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 8

Introduction

Overview

2 Kings 8:1, The Shunammite, having left her country seven years, to avoid the forewarned famine, for Elisha’s miracle’s sake has her land restored by the king; 2 Kings 8:7, Hazael, being sent with a present by Ben-hadad to Elisha at Damascus, after he had heard the prophecy, kills his master, and succeeds him; 2 Kings 8:16, Jehoram’s wicked reign in Judah; 2 Kings 8:20, Edom and Libnah revolt; 2 Kings 8:23, Ahaziah succeeds Jehoram; 2 Kings 8:25, Ahaziah’s wicked reign; 2 Kings 8:28, He visits Joram, being wounded, at Jezreel.

Verse 1

am 3113, bc 891

whose son: 2 Kings 4:18, 2 Kings 4:31-35

sojourn: Genesis 12:10, Genesis 26:1, Genesis 47:4, Ruth 1:1

the Lord: Genesis 41:25, Genesis 41:28, Genesis 41:32, Leviticus 26:19, Leviticus 26:20, Leviticus 26:26, Deuteronomy 28:22-24, Deuteronomy 28:38-40, 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:2, Psalms 105:16, Psalms 107:34, Haggai 1:11, Luke 21:11, Luke 21:22, Acts 11:28

called for a famine: Jeremiah 25:29

seven years: Genesis 41:27, 2 Samuel 21:1, 2 Samuel 24:13, Luke 4:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:30 - seven years 2 Kings 4:13 - among mine 2 Kings 4:35 - and the child opened 2 Kings 4:38 - a dearth 1 Chronicles 21:12 - three years' famine 2 Chronicles 6:28 - if there be dearth Amos 4:6 - and want

Verse 2

with: 1 Timothy 5:8

land: Judges 3:3, 1 Samuel 27:1-3

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:10 - went Ruth 1:1 - a famine Jeremiah 35:4 - a man Acts 11:28 - great

Verse 3

am 3119, bc 885, 2 Kings 8:6, 2 Kings 4:13, 2 Kings 6:26, 2 Samuel 14:4, Psalms 82:3, Psalms 82:4, Jeremiah 22:16, Luke 18:3-5

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:1 - Why do ye Ruth 1:7 - she went 2 Samuel 19:28 - to cry Psalms 107:39 - they are

Verse 4

the king: As it appears not likely that the king would hold conversation with a leprous man; or, that, knowing Gehazi had been dismissed with the highest disgrace from the prophet's service, he would talk with him concerning his late master; some have supposed that this happened before the cleansing of Naaman. But it agrees better with the chronology to consider it as having taken place after that event; the king, probably, having an insatiable curiosity to know the private history of a man who had done such astonishing things. As to the circumstances of Gehazi's disease, he might overlook that, and converse with him, keeping at a reasonable distance, as nothing but actual contact could defile.

Gehazi: 2 Kings 5:20-27, 2 Kings 7:3, 2 Kings 7:10

Tell: Matthew 2:8, Luke 9:9, Luke 23:8, John 9:27, Acts 24:24

all the great: 2 Kings 2:14, 2 Kings 2:20-22, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 3:14-16, 2 Kings 4:3-6, 2 Kings 4:16, 2 Kings 4:17, 2 Kings 5:14, 2 Kings 5:27, 2 Kings 6:6, 2 Kings 6:9-12, 2 Kings 6:17-20, 2 Kings 6:32, 2 Kings 7:1, 2 Kings 7:16-20

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:1 - Why do ye 2 Kings 4:12 - Gehazi

Verse 5

he had restored: 2 Kings 4:35

the woman: Ruth 2:3, Esther 5:14, Esther 6:11, Esther 6:12, Proverbs 16:9, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Matthew 10:29, Matthew 10:30, Acts 8:27-40, Romans 8:31

My lord: 2 Kings 6:12, 2 Kings 6:26, 1 Samuel 26:17, Psalms 145:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:12 - Gehazi

Verse 6

officer: or, eunuch, 2 Kings 9:32, Genesis 37:36, 1 Chronicles 28:1, *marg.

Restore all: Deuteronomy 22:2, Judges 11:13, 2 Samuel 9:7, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 21:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 8:3 - General

Verse 7

Deuteronomy 33:1, 1 Kings 13:1

Damascus: Genesis 14:15, 1 Kings 11:24, Isaiah 7:8

Benhadad: 2 Kings 6:24, 1 Kings 15:18, 1 Kings 20:1, 1 Kings 20:34

The man of God: 2 Kings 1:9, 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 2:15, 2 Kings 6:12

is come: Judges 16:2, Acts 17:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 14:6 - the man 1 Kings 14:3 - And take 1 Kings 19:15 - wilderness of Damascus 2 Kings 1:2 - whether Jeremiah 40:5 - gave him Amos 1:4 - Hazael

Verse 8

Hazael: 1 Kings 19:15

Take: 2 Kings 5:5, 1 Samuel 9:7, 1 Kings 14:3

inquire: 2 Kings 1:2, 2 Kings 1:6, 2 Kings 3:11-13, 1 Kings 14:1-4, Luke 13:23, Acts 16:30

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:11 - carry down Judges 17:10 - a father Judges 18:19 - a father Ezekiel 14:7 - and cometh

Verse 9

Hazael: 1 Kings 19:15

with him: Heb. in his hand, 2 Kings 5:5

Thy son Benhadad: 2 Kings 6:21, 2 Kings 13:14, 2 Kings 16:7, 1 Samuel 25:8, Philemon 1:14

Reciprocal: Judges 17:10 - a father Judges 18:19 - a father Ecclesiastes 3:6 - time to get Isaiah 60:6 - multitude Acts 8:18 - he offered Acts 28:10 - laded Revelation 12:16 - General

Verse 10

Thou mayest: 1 Kings 22:15

the Lord: 2 Kings 8:13, Genesis 41:39, Jeremiah 38:21, Ezekiel 11:25, Amos 3:7, Amos 7:1, Amos 7:4, Amos 7:7, Amos 8:1, Zechariah 1:20, Revelation 22:1

he shall surely die: 2 Kings 8:15, 2 Kings 1:4, 2 Kings 1:16, Genesis 2:17, Ezekiel 18:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:4 - Ye 2 Kings 8:14 - He told me Romans 3:7 - if the truth

Verse 11

stedfastly: Heb. and set it

wept: Genesis 45:2, Psalms 119:136, Jeremiah 4:19, Jeremiah 9:1, Jeremiah 9:18, Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 14:17, Luke 19:41, John 11:35, Acts 20:19, Acts 20:31, Romans 9:2, Philippians 3:18

Reciprocal: Joshua 14:6 - the man

Verse 12

my Lord: 2 Kings 4:28, 1 Kings 18:13

the evil: 2 Kings 10:32, 2 Kings 10:33, 2 Kings 12:17, 2 Kings 13:3, 2 Kings 13:7, Amos 1:3, Amos 1:4

dash: 2 Kings 15:16, Psalms 137:8, Psalms 137:9, Isaiah 13:16, Isaiah 13:18, Hosea 10:14, Hosea 13:16, Amos 1:3-5, Amos 1:13, Nahum 3:10

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 1:8 - why weepest 1 Kings 19:17 - the sword of Hazael 1 Kings 20:42 - thy life shall go 2 Kings 8:28 - Hazael 2 Kings 9:14 - conspired 2 Kings 13:22 - Hazael Amos 4:10 - your young Matthew 2:16 - and slew Mark 14:71 - General Luke 22:33 - I am

Verse 13

a dog: 1 Samuel 17:43, 2 Samuel 9:8, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 22:20, Isaiah 56:10, Isaiah 56:11, Matthew 7:6, Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15

he should do: Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 26:33-35

The Lord: 2 Kings 8:10, 1 Kings 19:15, Micah 2:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 44:7 - General 2 Samuel 3:8 - Amos I a dog's head 2 Kings 8:15 - And it came 2 Kings 8:28 - Hazael 2 Kings 9:3 - I have anointed 2 Kings 13:3 - Hazael Proverbs 28:26 - that Joel 2:20 - because Mark 14:31 - he spake Luke 22:33 - I am

Verse 14

He told me: 2 Kings 8:10, 2 Kings 5:25, Matthew 26:16

Reciprocal: Daniel 11:26 - that feed

Verse 15

And it came: 2 Kings 8:13, 1 Samuel 16:12, 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 24:4-7, 1 Samuel 24:13, 1 Samuel 26:9-11, 1 Kings 11:26-37

on the morrow: Psalms 36:4, Micah 2:1

that he took a thick cloth: There is a considerable degree of ambiguity in this passage. The pronoun he is generally referred to Hazael; but Dr. Geddes and others are decidedly of the opinion, that we should understand by it Ben-hadad; who, encouraged by the favourable answer of Elisha, as reported by Hazael, adopted a violent remedy to allay the heat of his fever, and put over his face the keever, or fly-net. (See note on 1 Samuel 19:13), dipped in water, which suddenly checked the perspiration, and occasioned his death.

so that he died: 2 Kings 9:24, 2 Kings 15:10-14, 2 Kings 15:25, 2 Kings 15:30, 1 Kings 15:28, 1 Kings 16:10, 1 Kings 16:18, Isaiah 33:1

Hazael: 2 Kings 8:13, 1 Kings 19:15

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 8:10 - he shall surely die

Verse 16

am 3112, bc 892

Jehoram: 2 Kings 1:17, 1 Kings 22:50, 2 Chronicles 21:1-20

began to reign: Heb. reigned, "Began to reign in concert with his father.

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:42 - thirty and five 2 Kings 3:1 - Jehoram 2 Kings 8:25 - General 2 Kings 9:29 - in the eleventh 2 Kings 11:2 - Joram Matthew 1:8 - Joram

Verse 17

am 3112-3119, bc 892-885, 2 Kings 8:17

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 1:17 - in the second 2 Kings 8:25 - General 2 Kings 8:26 - Two and twenty 2 Chronicles 21:1 - Jehoram 2 Chronicles 21:5 - Jehoram

Verse 18

in the way: 2 Kings 3:2, 2 Kings 3:3, 1 Kings 22:52, 1 Kings 22:53

the house: 2 Kings 9:7, 2 Kings 9:8, 2 Kings 21:3, 2 Kings 21:13, 2 Chronicles 21:13, Micah 6:16

the daughter: 2 Kings 8:26, 1 Kings 21:25, 2 Chronicles 18:1, 2 Chronicles 19:2, 2 Chronicles 21:6, 2 Chronicles 22:1-4

his wife: Genesis 6:1-5, Deuteronomy 7:3, Deuteronomy 7:4, 1 Kings 11:1-5, Nehemiah 13:25, Nehemiah 13:26

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:2 - Jehoshaphat 1 Kings 22:44 - made peace 2 Kings 8:27 - he walked 2 Kings 10:14 - neither left 2 Kings 16:3 - he walked 2 Kings 17:19 - walked 2 Kings 23:19 - the kings 2 Chronicles 17:4 - not after Job 30:8 - children Micah 1:13 - for

Verse 19

for David: 2 Kings 19:34, 2 Samuel 7:12, 2 Samuel 7:13, 2 Samuel 7:15, 1 Kings 11:36, 1 Kings 15:4, 1 Kings 15:5, 2 Chronicles 21:7, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 37:35, Jeremiah 33:25, Jeremiah 33:26, Hosea 11:9, Luke 1:32, Luke 1:33

light: Heb. candle, or lamp, 1 Kings 11:36

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:2 - they hid him

Verse 20

Edom: 2 Kings 8:22, 2 Kings 3:9, 2 Kings 3:27, Genesis 27:40, 2 Chronicles 21:8-10

made a king: 2 Samuel 8:14, 1 Kings 22:47

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:30 - Edom 2 Kings 1:1 - after the 2 Kings 3:5 - General 2 Kings 14:7 - slew

Verse 21

Zair: Zair is supposed by Calmet and others to be the same as Seir, the country of Seir the Horite, inhabited by the Edomites or Idumeans. Probably the former was a dialectical pronunciation of the latter. 2 Kings 8:21

Verse 22

Yet: "And so fulfilled. Genesis 27:40." 2 Kings 8:20

Libnah: 2 Kings 19:8, Joshua 21:13, 2 Chronicles 21:10

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:29 - Libnah Joshua 15:42 - Libnah 2 Kings 1:1 - after the Isaiah 37:8 - Libnah

Verse 23

2 Kings 15:6, 2 Kings 15:36, 1 Kings 11:41, 1 Kings 14:29, 1 Kings 15:23, 2 Chronicles 21:11-20

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 12:19 - the rest 2 Kings 20:20 - the book

Verse 24

slept: 1 Kings 2:10, 1 Kings 11:43, 1 Kings 14:20, 1 Kings 14:31

Ahaziah: 1 Chronicles 3:11, 2 Chronicles 21:1, 2 Chronicles 21:17, 2 Chronicles 25:23, Jehoahaz, 2 Chronicles 22:1, 2 Chronicles 22:6, Azariah

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 9:29 - in the eleventh 2 Kings 10:13 - the brethren 2 Kings 14:20 - he was buried

Verse 25

am 3119-3120, bc 885-884, 2 Kings 8:16, 2 Kings 8:17, 2 Kings 9:29, 2 Chronicles 21:20

Reciprocal: Daniel 5:2 - father

Verse 26

Two and twenty: In the parallel passage of Chronicles, it is said, "forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign;" but this is evidently a mistake, as it makes the son two years older than his own father! For his father began to reign when he was thirty-two years old, and reigned eight years, and so died, being forty years old. See note on 2 Kings 8:17, and see note on 2 Chronicles 22:2.

one year: 2 Kings 9:21-27, 2 Chronicles 22:5-8

Athaliah: 2 Kings 11:1, 2 Kings 11:13-16

daughter: or, grand-daughter, 2 Kings 8:18

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 16:16 - Omri 2 Kings 13:1 - three and twentieth year 2 Chronicles 18:1 - joined affinity

Verse 27

he walked: 2 Kings 8:18

the son in law: 2 Kings 8:18, 2 Chronicles 22:3, 2 Chronicles 22:4, Ecclesiastes 7:26, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:52 - in the way 2 Kings 17:19 - walked 2 Kings 21:3 - Ahab 2 Chronicles 18:1 - joined affinity Job 30:8 - children Psalms 109:14 - let not

Verse 28

am 3120, bc 884

he went: 2 Kings 3:7, 2 Kings 9:15, 1 Kings 22:4, 2 Chronicles 18:2, 2 Chronicles 18:3, 2 Chronicles 18:31, 2 Chronicles 19:2, 2 Chronicles 22:5

Hazael: 2 Kings 8:12, 2 Kings 8:13, 1 Kings 19:17

Ramothgilead: Joshua 21:38, 1 Kings 4:13, 1 Kings 22:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:7 - If thou doest well 1 Kings 19:15 - Hazael 2 Kings 9:14 - kept Ramothgilead 2 Kings 9:16 - And Ahaziah

Verse 29

Joram: 2 Kings 9:15

which the Syrians had given: Heb. wherewith the Syrians had wounded

Ramah: Called "Ramoth," 2 Kings 9:28.

Ahaziah: 2 Kings 9:16, 2 Chronicles 22:6, 2 Chronicles 22:7

sick: Heb. wounded, 1 Kings 22:34

Reciprocal: Joshua 19:18 - Jezreel 2 Kings 9:27 - Ahaziah 2 Kings 10:13 - the brethren 2 Chronicles 35:23 - wounded