2 Kings 6 Elisha, giving leave to the young prophets to enlarge their dwellings, causeth iron to swim, 2 Kings 6:1–7. He discloseth the king of Syria’s counsel, 2 Kings 6:8–12; who sendeth Syrians to apprehend him: he is preserved by angels: they are smitten with blindness; are brought into…

The sons of the prophets; either at Beth-el, or Jericho or rather, at Gilgal; as may seem from its nearness to the river of Jordan, 2 Kings 6:2. With thee, or, before thy face, i.e. under thy inspection and direction; where thou dost frequently dwell with us.

Unto Jordan, i.e. to the woods near Jordan, which were near to them. See Poole “2 Kings 6:1”. A beam, i.e. a piece of timber for the building. Hence it may be gathered, that although the sons of the prophets principally devoted themselves to religious exercises, such as prayer, and praising of God,…

The ax head fell into the water; the iron fell from the wood. Alas, master! for it was borrowed: he was the more concerned, partly because he was now forced to be idle and useless to them in the common work; and partly because it was his friend’s loss, who now was likely to suffer for his kindness;…

Thither I will send my forces, to surprise some place; or to lie in ambush where the king or his people were to pass, 2 Kings 6:9.

Sent to the place, either spies, to try whether the prophet spake truth; or rather, soldiers, to secure the place and passage designed. Saved himself; either his person when he was to pass that way; or his people, or places of importance. Not once nor twice, but much more frequently.

That I may send and fetch him; for though I cannot conceal my designs from him, yet I may possibly take him by force; his power being, I doubt not, much inferior to his knowledge. Dothan; a city near Shechem, Gen. 37:17, and not far from Samaria.

The servant having been with him but a little time, even since Gehazi’s dismission, had not yet seen any experiments of his great power; or if he had, his faith might easily be shaken upon so great and sudden a danger.

That he may see; that by some visible appearance he may see the invisible guard of angels which encompass and defend us. Chariots of fire; which is useful, both for defence to those that are surrounded by it, and offence to the enemies who shall attempt to break through it.

When they came down to him; either in the city, into which they easily got admission, when they declared that the only end of their coming was to take Elisha; or in the field without the city, whither he went to meet them.

This is not the way, neither is this the city, to wit, where you will find the man for whom you seek; which was very true, because he was now come out of the city; and if they had gone on in that way into the city, they had found that Elisha was gone thence.

Elisha had doubtless sent notice of his intentions to the king of Israel, that he might accordingly prepare himself. My father: now he gives him this title of reverence and affection, because of a great and present benefit he received from him; though otherwise he hated him, and would not hearken…

It is against the laws of humanity, and custom of war, to kill captives, though thou thyself hast taken them with thy own sword and bow, which may seem to give thee some colour of right to destroy them; but much more unworthy will it be in cold blood to kill these, whom not thy arms, but God’s…

He sent them away, refreshed, but disarmed, as is most probable. The bands of Syria came no more; either, 1. In such a manner, to wit, in small bands, or companies, which might be entrapped, as these had been; but their next attempt was by all open and solemn war, and a conjunction of all their…

He whom Ahab wickedly and foolishly spared, 1 Kings 20:42, who now comes to requite Ahab’s kindness, and to fulfil that Divine prediction. Ben-hadad was a name very frequent among the kings of Syria, 1 Kings 15:18, 2 Kings 13:3, 2 Kings 13:24, if not common to them all. See Jer. 49:27, Amos 1:4.

Pieces of silver, supposed to be shekels; and the common shekel being valued at fifteen pence of English money, this amounts to five pounds; a vast price, especially for that which had on it so little meat, and that unwholesome, and unclean by law, Lev.

Passing by upon the wall, to give necessary order for the defence of the city against assaults, and to see if the several guards were watchful and diligent, and if his directions were executed, and to observe the motions of the enemy.

If the Lord do not help thee, or, let not God help thee, as some both ancient and late interpreters render the words. So they are words of impatience, and rage, and a formal curse, wishing that God would not help her, as he could not, as Josephus, amongst others, understand it; which agrees too…

We boiled my son, and did eat him; a dreadful judgment, threatened to them in case of their apostacy, Deut. 28:56–57, in which they were now deeply plunged. Compare Ezek. 5:10.

If I do not this day take his head and life. This wretched and partial prince overlooks his own great and various sins, and, amongst others, his obstinate cleaving to the idolatry of the calves, and the whoredoms and witchcrafts of his mother Jezebel, 2 Kings 9:22, and the wickedness of his people,…

If I do not this day take his head and life. This wretched and partial prince overlooks his own great and various sins, and, amongst others, his obstinate cleaving to the idolatry of the calves, and the whoredoms and witchcrafts of his mother Jezebel, 2 Kings 9:22, and the wickedness of his people,…

In his house; in the house where he lodged; for he had no house of his own, having forsaken all when he followed Elijah, 1 Kings 19:20–21. The elders; so they might be called, either, first, from their age; or rather, secondly, from their office, which was either ecclesiastical or civil: so they…

Unto him, to wit, to the door, where also we are to understand that he was held fast, that he could not come at the prophet till the king came, as the prophet had commanded them to do. He said; either, first, The messenger, in the king’s name and words.