2 Kings 8 The Shunammite having, by Elisha’s advice, left the land because of the famine, returneth home; and hath her whole estate restored to her for Elisha’s sake, 2 Kings 8:1–6. He cometh to Damascus. Ben-hadad is sick, and sendeth Hazael to him with presents.

Then: this particle of time may be understood either particularly and definitely of the time next following the former history, or more generally and indefinitely (as it is frequently used) of the time in which Elisha and this Shunammitish woman lived.

Either because that was near her lands and dwelling, which she thought she might have an eye to, when occasion required; or because there was more plenty than in Judah; or because she knew that her going to dwell in Judah would be very displeasing to the king of Israel, whose favour she was like to…

Which having been forsaken by her, were possessed by her kindred, or others, who had obtained them from the king, and now intended to keep the possession of them.

Quest. How could the king speak with Gehazi, who was a leper? Answ. Either the king might speak with him at a convenient distance, it being usual for others to discourse with lepers, as 2 Kings 7:8, Matt.

The woman was by God’s wonderful and gracious providence brought thither in the most advantageous season.

The king asked the woman concerning the truth of Gehazi’s relation.

To Damascus; either to the city, or rather to the kingdom, of Damascus, by comparing 2 Kings 8:9; as Samaria, which properly was the name of the city, is sometimes the name of the kingdom; of which See Poole “1 Kings 13:32”.

Take a present in thine hand; by which he thought to purchase his favour, and the healing of his disease.

Forty camels’ burden. Hazael carried the more noble present, hoping, as his master did, to get some interest in the prophet and advantage to himself by it.

Here is no contradiction; for the first words contain an answer to Ben-hadad’s question, 2 Kings 8:8, Shall I recover of this disease? To which the answer is, Thou mayest or shalt recover, i.e. notwithstanding thy disease, which is not mortal, and shall not take away thy life.

He settled his countenance stedfastly; the prophet fixed his eyes upon Hazael. Until he was ashamed; either till the prophet was ashamed to look any longer upon him; or till Hazael was ashamed, as apprehending that the prophet suspected or discerned something extraordinary and of an evil and…

So here was a double cause of his grief and tears, the evil of sin in Hazael, and the evil of suffering upon Israel.

Is thy servant a dog? either so vile and unworthy, as this expression is used, 2 Sam. 3:8, 2 Sam. 9:8; or so impudent, for which dogs are noted; or so fierce, and barbarous, and inhuman. Compare Ps. 22:16, Ps. 22:20, Ps. 59:6.

He represents the prophet’s answer by halves, that by his master’s security he might have the fitter opportunity to execute his reasonable design.

Spread it on his face; pretending, it may be, to cool his immoderate heat with it; but applying it so closely, that he choked him therewith; by which artifice his death seemed to be natural, there being no signs of a violent death upon his body.

Jehoram was first made king or viceroy by his father divers years before this time, to wit, at his expedition to Ramoth-gilead, as was noted before; which dominion of his ended at his father’s return.

Part with his father, and part by himself alone.

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, after his father’s death. The daughter of Ahab; Athaliah, 2 Kings 8:26. This unequal marriage, though Jehoshaphat possibly designed it as a mean of uniting the two kingdoms under one head, and in the true religion, is here and elsewhere noted as the…

Alway, Heb. all days, until the coming of the Messiah, as it is elsewhere limited and explained; for so long, and not longer, this succession might seem necessary for the making good of God’s promise and covenant made with David.

From under the hand of Judah; under which they had been from David’s time, 2 Sam. 8:14, 1 Kings 22:47.

i.e. The common soldiers of the Edomites, herein following the example of their captains.

Edom revolted; for though Joram had given them a defeat, yet it may seem to have been no great slaughter, but only a putting them to flight; and therefore they might easily rally again.

of which See Poole “1 Kings 14:19”.

In the twelfth year of Joram. Object. It was in the eleventh year of Joram, 2 Kings 9:29. Answ. Either, first, He began to reign in the confines of Joram’s eleventh and twelfth year, in the very end of his eleventh year, or towards the beginning of the twelfth, whence it is indifferently ascribed…

How this agrees with 2 Chron. 22:2, See Poole “2 Chron. 22:2” on that place. The daughter of Omri, i.e. his granddaughter. See above 2 Kings 8:18.

He was the proper son of Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, and the grandson-in-law of Ahab, because his father was Ahab’s son-in-law, 2 Kings 8:18.

The same place with Ramoth, or Ramoth-gilead.