Teks -- 2 Kings 7:6-20 (NET)

7:6 The Lord had caused the Syrian camp to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a large army. Then they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has paid the kings of the Hittites and Egypt to attack us!” 7:7 So they got up and fled at dusk, leaving behind their tents, horses, and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives. 7:8 When the men with a skin disease reached the edge of the camp, they entered a tent and had a meal. They also took some silver, gold, and clothes and went and hid it all. Then they went back and entered another tent. They looted it and went and hid what they had taken. 7:9 Then they said to one another, “It’s not right what we’re doing! This is a day to celebrate, but we haven’t told anyone. If we wait until dawn, we’ll be punished. So come on, let’s go and inform the royal palace.” 7:10 So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, “We entered the Syrian camp and there was no one there. We didn’t even hear a man’s voice. But the horses and donkeys are still tied up, and the tents remain up.” 7:11 The gatekeepers relayed the news to the royal palace. 7:12 The king got up in the night and said to his advisers, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know we are starving, so they left the camp and hid in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and enter the city.’” 7:13 One of his advisers replied, “Pick some men and have them take five of the horses that are left in the city. (Even if they are killed, their fate will be no different than that of all the Israelite people– we’re all going to die!) Let’s send them out so we can know for sure what’s going on.” 7:14 So they picked two horsemen and the king sent them out to track the Syrian army. He ordered them, “Go and find out what’s going on.” 7:15 So they tracked them as far as the Jordan. The road was filled with clothes and equipment that the Syrians had discarded in their haste. The scouts went back and told the king. 7:16 Then the people went out and looted the Syrian camp. A seah of finely milled flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, just as the Lord had said they would. 7:17 Now the king had placed the officer who was his right-hand man at the city gate. When the people rushed out, they trampled him to death in the gate. This fulfilled the prophet’s word which he had spoken when the king tried to arrest him. 7:18 The prophet told the king, “Two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of finely milled flour for a shekel; this will happen about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria.” 7:19 But the officer replied to the prophet, “Look, even if the Lord made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?” Elisha said, “Look, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of the food!” 7:20 This is exactly what happened to him. The people trampled him to death in the city gate.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: 2Ki 7:6 - Hittites

Under which name (as elsewhere under the name of the Amorites) he seems to understand all the people of Canaan. For though the greatest number of that people were destroyed, yet very many of them were spared, and many of them upon Joshua's coming, fled away, some to remote parts, others to the lands bordering upon Canaan, where they seated themselves, and grew numerous and powerful.

Wesley: 2Ki 7:6 - Kings

Either the king of Egypt, the plural number being put for the singular, or, the princes and governors of the several provinces in Egypt.

Wesley: 2Ki 7:7 - Fled

None of them had so much sense as to send scouts to discover the supposed enemy, much less, courage enough to face them. God can when he pleases, dispirit the boldest, and make the stoutest heart to tremble. They that will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Perhaps Gehazi was one of these lepers, which might occasion his being taken notice of by the king, 2Ki 8:4.

Wesley: 2Ki 7:13 - Behold, &c.

_The words may be rendered, Behold, they are of a truth (the Hebrew prefix, Caph, being not here a note of similitude, but an affirmation of the truth and certainty of the things, as it is taken Num 11:1; Deu 9:10,) all the multitude of the horses of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even all the multitude of the horses of the Israelites, which (which multitude) are consumed, reduced to this small number, all consumed except these five. And this was indeed worthy of a double behold, to shew what mischief the famine had done both upon men and beasts, and to what a low ebb the king of Israel was come, that all his troops of horses, to which he had trusted, were shrunk to so small a number.

Wesley: 2Ki 7:20 - And so it fell out, &c.

_See how heinously God resents our distrust of his power, providence and promise! Whenever God promises the end, he knows where to provide the means.

JFB: 2Ki 7:6-7 - the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots

This illusion of the sense of hearing, whereby the besiegers imagined the tramp of two armies from opposite quarters, was a great miracle which God wrought directly for the deliverance of His people.

JFB: 2Ki 7:8-11 - these lepers . . . did eat and drink

After they had appeased their hunger and secreted as many valuables as they could carry, their consciences smote them for concealing the discovery and they hastened to publish it in the city.

JFB: 2Ki 7:10 - horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were

The uniform arrangement of encampments in the East is to place the tents in the center, while the cattle are picketed all around, as an outer wall of defense; and hence the lepers describe the cattle as the first objects they saw.

JFB: 2Ki 7:12-15 - the king . . . said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done

Similar stratagems have been so often resorted to in the ancient and modern wars of the East that there is no wonder Jehoram's suspicions were awakened. But the scouts, whom he despatched, soon found unmistakable signs of the panic that had struck the enemy and led to a most precipitate flight.

JFB: 2Ki 7:17 - the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned,

&c. The news spread like lightning through the city, and was followed, as was natural, by a popular rush to the Syrian camp. To keep order at the gate, the king ordered his minister to keep guard; but the impetuosity of the famishing people could not be resisted. The lord was trodden to death, and Elisha's prophecy in all respects accomplished.

Clarke: 2Ki 7:6 - The Lord had made the - Syrians to hear a noise

The Lord had made the - Syrians to hear a noise - This threw them into confusion; they imagined that they were about to be attacked by powerful auxiliaries, which the king of Israel had hired against them.

Clarke: 2Ki 7:12 - The king arose in the night

The king arose in the night - This king had made a noble defense; he seems to have shared in all the sufferings of the besieged, and to have been ever at his post. Even in vile Ahab there were some good things

Clarke: 2Ki 7:12 - They know that we be hungry

They know that we be hungry - This was a very natural conclusion; the Syrians by the closest blockade could not induce them to give up the city, but knowing that they were in a starving condition, they might make use of such a stratagem as that imagined by the king, in order to get possession of the city.

Clarke: 2Ki 7:13 - And one of his servants answered

And one of his servants answered - This is a very difficult verse, and the great variety of explanations given of it cast but little light on the subject. I am inclined to believe, with Dr. Kennicott, that there is an interpolation here which puzzles, if not destroys, the sense. "Several instances,"says he, "have been given of words improperly repeated by Jewish transcribers, who have been careless enough to make such mistakes, and yet cautious not to alter or erase, for fear of discovery. This verse furnishes another instance in a careless repetition of seven Hebrew words, thus: -

הנשארים אשר נשארו בה הנם ככל ההמון ישראל אשר נשארו בה הנם ככל המון ישראל אשר תמי

The exact English of this verse is this: And the servant said, Let them take now five of the remaining horses, which remain in it; behold they are as all the multitude of Israel, which [remain in it; behold they are as all the multitude of Israel which] are consumed; and let us send and see

"Whoever considers that the second set of these seven words is neither in the Septuagint nor Syriac versions, and that those translators who suppose these words to be genuine alter them to make them look like sense, will probably allow them to have been at first an improper repetition; consequently to be now an interpolation strangely continued in the Hebrew text."They are wanting in more than forty of Kennicott’ s and De Rossi’ s MSS. In some others they are left without points; in others they have been written in, and afterwards blotted out; and in others four, in others five, of the seven words are omitted. De Rossi concludes thus: Nec verba haec legunt Lxx., Vulg., Syrus simplex, Syrus Heptaplaris Parisiensis, Targum. They stand on little authority, and the text should be read, omitting the words enclosed by brackets, as above

Clarke: 2Ki 7:13 - They are consumed

They are consumed - The words אשר תמו asher tamu should be translated, which are perfect; i.e., fit for service. The rest of the horses were either dead of the famine, killed for the subsistence of the besieged, or so weak as not to be able to perform such a journey.

Clarke: 2Ki 7:14 - They took - two chariot horses

They took - two chariot horses - They had at first intended to send five; probably they found on examination that only two were effective. But if they sent two chariots, each would have two horses, and probably a single horse for crossing the country.

Clarke: 2Ki 7:15 - All the way was full of garments and vessels

All the way was full of garments and vessels - A manifest proof of the hurry and precipitancy with which they fled.

Clarke: 2Ki 7:17 - And the people trode upon him

And the people trode upon him - This officer being appointed by the king to have the command of the gate, the people rushing out to get spoil, and in to carry it to their houses, he was borne down by the multitude and trodden to death. This also was foreseen by the spirit of prophecy. The literal and exact fulfillment of such predictions must have acquired the prophet a great deal of credit in Israel

Dr. Lightfoot remarks that, between the first and last year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, there are very many occurrences mentioned which are not referred nor fixed to their proper year; and, therefore, they must be calculated in a gross sum, as coming to pass in one of these years. These are the stories contained in chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7, of this book; and in 2Ch 21:6-19. They may be calculated thus: In the first year of Jehoram, Elisha, returning out of Moab into the land of Israel, multiplies the widow’ s oil; he is lodged in Shunem, and assures his hostess of a child. The seven years’ famine was then begun, and he gives the Shunammite warning of its continuance

The second year she bears her child in the land of the Philistines, 2Ki 8:2. And Elisha resides among the disciples of the prophets at Gilgal, heals the poisoned pottage, and feeds one hundred men with twenty barley loaves and some ears of corn. That summer he cures Naaman of his leprosy, the only cure of this kind done till Christ came

The third year he makes iron to swim, prevents the Syrians’ ambushments, strikes those with blindness who were sent to seize him, and sends them back to their master

The fourth year Jehoshaphat dies, and Edom rebels and shakes off the yoke laid upon them by David: Libnah also rebels

The fifth year Samaria is besieged by Ben-hadad, the city is most grievously afflicted; and, after being nearly destroyed by famine, it is suddenly relieved by a miraculous interference of God, which had been distinctly foretold by Elisha

The sixth year the Philistines and Arabians oppress Jehoram, king of Judah, and take captive his wives and children, leaving only one son behind

The seventh year Jehoram falls into a grievous sickness, so that his bowels fall out, 2Ch 21:19. And in the same year the seven years’ famine ends about the time of harvest; and at that harvest, the Shunammite’ s son dies, and is restored to life by Elisha, though the story of his birth and death is related together; and yet some years must have passed between them. Not long after this the Shunammite goes to the king to petition to be restored to her own land, which she had left in the time of the famine, and had sojourned in the land of the Philistines

This year Elisha is at Damascus, Ben-hadad falls sick; Hazael stifles him with a wet cloth, and reigns in his stead. All these things Dr. Lightfoot supposes happened between A.M. 3110 and 3117. - See Lightfoot’ s Works, vol. i., p. 88. In examining the facts recorded in these books, we shall always find it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to ascertain the exact chronology. The difficulty is increased by a custom common among these annalists, the giving the whole of a story at once, though several incidents took place at the distance of some years from the commencement of the story: as they seem unwilling to have to recur to the same history in the chronological order of its facts.

Defender: 2Ki 7:20 - And so fell t out

This Samaritan official scoffed at God's word through Elisha (2Ki 7:1, 2Ki 7:2), and Elisha's prophetic warning was quickly fulfilled (2Ki 7:16-19). It is dangerous to scoff at the inspired word of God (1Th 5:3; 2Pe 3:3-7, 2Pe 3:10)."

TSK: 2Ki 7:6 - the Lord // the kingss of the Hittites // the kings of the Egyptians

the Lord : 2Ki 3:22, 2Ki 3:23-27, 2Ki 19:7; 2Sa 5:24; Job 15:21; Psa 14:5; Jer 20:3, Jer 20:4; Eze 10:5; Rev 6:15, Rev 6:16, Rev 9:9

the kingss of the Hittites : 1Ki 10:29

the kings of the Egyptians : 2Ch 12:2, 2Ch 12:3; Isa 31:1, Isa 36:9

TSK: 2Ki 7:7 - they arose // their horses // and fled for their life

they arose : Job 18:11; Psa 48:4-6, Psa 68:12; Pro 21:1, Pro 28:1; Jer 48:8, Jer 48:9

their horses : Psa 20:7, Psa 20:8, Psa 33:17; Amo 2:14-16

and fled for their life : Num 35:11, Num 35:12; Pro 6:5; Isa 2:20; Mat 24:16-18; Heb 6:18

TSK: 2Ki 7:8 - hid it

hid it : 2Ki 5:24; Jos 7:21; Jer 41:8; Mat 13:44, Mat 25:18

TSK: 2Ki 7:9 - they said one // this day // some mischief will come upon us

they said one : 2Ki 7:3; Hag 1:4, Hag 1:5

this day : 2Ki 7:6; Isa 41:27, Isa 52:7; Nah 1:15; Luk 2:10; Phi 2:4

some mischief will come upon us : Heb. we shall find punishment, 2Ki 5:26, 2Ki 5:27; Num 32:23; Pro 24:16

TSK: 2Ki 7:10 - the porter // no man there

the porter : 2Ki 7:11; 2Sa 18:26; Psa 127:1; Mar 13:34, Mar 13:35

no man there : 2Ki 7:6, 2Ki 7:7

TSK: 2Ki 7:13 - one // in the city // they are even

one : 2Ki 5:13

in the city : Heb. in it

they are even : 2Ki 7:4, 2Ki 6:33; Jer 14:18; Lam 4:9

TSK: 2Ki 7:15 - vessels // had cast away

vessels : Est 1:7; Isa 22:24

had cast away : Job 2:4; Isa 2:20, Isa 10:3, Isa 31:7; Eze 18:31; Mat 16:26, Mat 24:16-18; Phi 3:7, Phi 3:8; Heb 12:1

TSK: 2Ki 7:16 - spoiled the tents // according to

spoiled the tents : 1Sa 17:53; 2Ch 14:12-15, 2Ch 20:25; Job 27:16, Job 27:17; Psa 68:12; Isa 33:1, Isa 33:4, Isa 33:23

according to : 2Ki 7:1; Num 23:19; Isa 44:26; Mat 24:35

TSK: 2Ki 7:17 - the lord // the people trode upon him

the lord : 2Ki 7:2

the people trode upon him : 2Ki 9:33; Jdg 20:43; Isa 25:10; Mic 7:10; Heb 10:29

TSK: 2Ki 7:18 - as the man

as the man : 2Ki 7:1, 2Ki 7:2, 2Ki 6:32; Gen 18:14

TSK: 2Ki 7:20

Num 20:12; 2Ch 20:20; Job 20:23; Isa 7:9; Jer 17:5, Jer 17:6; Heb 3:18, Heb 3:19

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Ki 7:6 - To hear a noise // The Hittites // The kings of the Egyptians

To hear a noise either in the air; or rather, in their ears; otherwise the Samaritans had heard it.

The Hittites under which name (as elsewhere under the name of the Amorites) he seems to understand all or any of the people of Canaan. For though the greatest number of that people were destroyed, yet very many of them were spared, and many of them upon Joshua’ s coming fled away, some to more remote parts, (which that famous and ancient inscription upon a pillar in Africa testifies,) and others to the lands bordering upon Canaan, where by reason of the scarcity of inhabitants there was in that age room enough for them; and there they seated themselves, and grew numerous and powerful and had (after their ancient and constant manner) kings over them. The kings also of Tyrus or Sidon may be here included.

The kings of the Egyptians by which they may understand either the king of Egypt, the plural number being put for the singular, as it is elsewhere; of the princes and governors of the several nomi or provinces in Egypt, such being oft called kings in Scripture.

Poole: 2Ki 7:7

To save their lives; which they fancied to be in such present and extreme danger, that they durst not stay to take away any of their goods, but every man fled the next way before him.

Poole: 2Ki 7:9 - We do not well

We do not well not well for our brethren, whom we should pity, and help; nor well for ourselves; for we may suffer for this neglect; either from the Syrians, who may lie lurking hereabouts; or from our king and people; or from God’ s immediate hand.

Poole: 2Ki 7:10 - They told them

They told them to wit, the porter and his companies.

Poole: 2Ki 7:11 - The porters

The porters either his fellow porters of the city; or rather, the porters or guards of the gate of the king’ s house.

Poole: 2Ki 7:13 - all the multitude // behold

So the sense is, We may well venture these horses, though we have no more, because both they and we are ready to perish through hunger; and therefore let us use them whilst we may for our common good, or to make the discovery. But the repetition of the phrase seems to imply something more emphatical and significant than the saving of four or five horses, for which it is not probable they would be so much concerned in their circumstances. The words therefore may be reordered otherwise, Behold, they are of a truth (the Hebrew prefix caph being not here a note of similitude, as the other translations make it, and as it is commonly used; but an affirmation of the truth and certainty of the things, as it is taken Num 11:1 Deu 9:10 Hos 4:4 5:10 Joh 1:14 )

all the multitude of the horses of Israel that are left in it (to wit, in the city); behold , I say, they are even all the multitude of the horses of the Israelites which (i.e. which multitude) are consumed , i.e. reduced to this small number, all consumed except these five. And thus the vulgar Latin, and some others, understand it. And this was indeed a memorable passage, and worthy of a double

behold , to show what mischief the famine had done both upon men and beasts, and to what a low ebb the king of Israel was come, that all his troops of horses, to which he had trusted, were shrunk to so small a number.

Poole: 2Ki 7:14 - Two chariot horses

Two chariot horses or, two chariots of horses ; or rather, two chariot horses , as divers render the words, i.e. horses which belonged to the king’ s chariots. For single horses seem much more proper for this service than chariots and horses. And whereas it was moved by the king’ s servant, that all the five horses should be sent, it seems it was thought by the king and others that two were sufficient for that purpose.

Poole: 2Ki 7:15 - In their haste

In their haste or, in their fear , or consternation, wherewith God struck them.

Poole: 2Ki 7:17 - To have the charge of the gate

To have the charge of the gate partly to prevent tumults and disorders and mischiefs amongst the people; and partly to take order about the shutting of the gates, if need were, and if the Syrians should happen to return upon them.

Haydock: 2Ki 7:6 - Hethites

Hethites. Septuagint, "Chetteans." Josephus, "the islands" of Cyprus, &c. He seems to have read Cethim in the text, as they peopled Cyprus. (Calmet) ---

See Jeremias ii. 10. (Menochius) ---

These Hethites seem to have dwelt in the stony Arabia, (Judges i. 26.) or in Syria. (Haydock) ---

Solomon had connexions with them, 3 Kings x. 29. (Calmet) ---

Angels made the noise of a mighty army, and probably appeared, as they had done to Giezi, chap. vi. 17. (Tirinus)

Haydock: 2Ki 7:9 - Crime // Court

Crime, and punished. Hebrew, "iniquity shall find us." Citizens are bound to give notice of what may tend to the common good. (Calmet) ---

Court. Not in person, but by means of others. (Menochius)

Haydock: 2Ki 7:10 - Tied

Tied to the mangers, or rather by the hind-legs, as it is still the custom in the East. (Xenophon. Anab. iii. Martyr legat. Babyl.)

Haydock: 2Ki 7:13 - Consumed

Consumed, for food. (Menochius) ---

Septuagint, "Let them take five of the horses left. Those which are left here, behold they are to all the remaining multitude of Israel, and let us send them." They have read in a different manner from the present Hebrew, which has, "Let them take five of the horses there remaining; behold they are like all the multitude of Israel who are lost; let us send them." Arabic, "Let us send thither five horsemen who remain; if they escape, we shall look upon them as those Israelites who continue alive; if they perish, they well be numbered with the other Israelites who are dead." Both horses and horsemen were dreadfully lean, and they could not expect a better fate than those already consumed by famine. (Calmet) ---

The truth of the report ought at least to be fully ascertained. By following the timid advice of the king no prospect of redress appeared. At last the king consented to send two horsemen. (Haydock) (Septuagint, ver. 14.) (Junius, &c.)

Haydock: 2Ki 7:14 - Horses

Horses. Hebrew, "chariot horses," or two chariots with (each) two horses, as it was customary to go to war, and to travel on chariots. (Calmet)

Haydock: 2Ki 7:17 - Gate

Gate, to prevent confusion and accidents, (Josephus) or to guard against any return of the enemy. (Menochius)

Gill: 2Ki 7:6 - For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host // and they said one to another, lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites // and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us

For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host,.... Or of many armies, as the Targum; either in the air by the ministry of angels; or the Lord so wrought upon their imagination, that they fancied they heard such noises; or he caused such noises in their ears:

and they said one to another, lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites; one of the nations of the Canaanites, and may be here put for the whole of those that remained, and who lived upon the borders of the land of Israel; though Josephus ^y has it, the kings of the isles; that is, of Chittim, see Jer 2:10.

and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us; Egypt being now divided into petty kingdoms; or else the governors of the several nomes or districts of it are here meant: for the king of Israel to hire these kings was very unlikely in his present circumstances; but those unreasonable things, in their panic, their imaginations suggested to them.

Gill: 2Ki 7:7 - Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight // and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses // even the camp as it was // and fled for their life

Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight,.... Or in the dark, as the Targum; when the twilight was going off; so that the lepers came very quickly after they were gone, 2Ki 7:5.

and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses; such was their fright, that they could not stay to loose their cattle, with which they might have made greater speed, but ran away on foot: and they left

even the camp as it was; took nothing away with them, either money or provisions:

and fled for their life; which they imagined to be in great danger.

Gill: 2Ki 7:8 - And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent // and did eat and drink // and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it // and came again and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it

And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent,.... The first they came to:

and did eat and drink; which was the first thing they did, being hungry, and almost starved:

and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; in a place without the camp, where they thought it would be safe, and where they could come at it again:

and came again and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it; this, Josephus says ^z, they did four times.

Gill: 2Ki 7:9 - Then they said one to another, we do not well // this day is a day of good tidings // and we hold our peace // if we tarry till the morning light // some mischief will come upon us // now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household

Then they said one to another, we do not well,.... This is not right, to take this booty to ourselves; it is not doing justice to our brethren, and it may not prove well to ourselves in the issue:

this day is a day of good tidings; to be delivered from the enemy, and have such plenty of provisions thrown into their hands; it would be joyful tidings to the inhabitants of the city, did they know it:

and we hold our peace; and do not publish this good tidings, that others may share the benefit of it:

if we tarry till the morning light; when it will in course be discovered:

some mischief will come upon us; either from the Syrians, who they might fear would return by that time, or some of them lurking about would fall upon them and destroy them; or the king of Israel, when he came to know it, would be so incensed as to inflict some punishment on them; or they might expect some evil from the immediate hand of God:

now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household; acquaint some of his servants with what had happened.

Gill: 2Ki 7:10 - So they came and called to the porter of the city // and they told them // we came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man // but horses tied, and asses tied // and the tents as they were

So they came and called to the porter of the city,.... The chief of those that had the care of the gate of it; for there were more than one, as follows:

and they told them; the porter, and the watchmen with him:

we came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man; not one to be seen or heard:

but horses tied, and asses tied; to their mangers; the latter, as well as the former, were used for war, not only to carry burdens, but to fight upon, as Aelianus ^a relates of some people; and especially when there was a want of horses, as Strabo ^b; and both observe that this creature was sacrificed to Mars:

and the tents as they were; none of them struck, nor anything taken out of them.

Gill: 2Ki 7:11 - And he called the porters // and they told it to the king's house within

And he called the porters,.... The porter of the city called to the porters of the king's palace:

and they told it to the king's house within; to some of his domestic servants within the palace, and they reported it to the king.

Gill: 2Ki 7:12 - And the king arose in the night // and he said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us // they know that we be hungry // therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field // saying, when they come out of the city // we shall catch them alive // and get into the city

And the king arose in the night,.... Upon the report made to him:

and he said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us; taking it to be a stratagem of theirs to decoy them:

they know that we be hungry; and would be glad to come out of the city to get some food:

therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field; to make us believe that they have broke up the siege, and have deserted the camp, and are gone, when they only lie in ambush:

saying, when they come out of the city; which they supposed they would do through hunger:

we shall catch them alive; take them captive at once:

and get into the city; being open to let them out, and receive them on their return.

Gill: 2Ki 7:13 - And one of his servants answered and said, let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city // behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, I say, they are even as the multitude of Israel that are consumed // and let us send and see

And one of his servants answered and said, let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city,.... Not having died through the famine as the rest:

behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, I say, they are even as the multitude of Israel that are consumed; signifying, there was a like consumption among the horses as among the people, and they that remained were starving as they were; so that should those horses, and the men, fall into the hands of the Syrians, and perish, it would be no great matter; the loss would not be much, since they must perish if they continue in the city: according to the Vulgate Latin version, these five horses were all that were left:

and let us send and see; whether the report of the lepers is true or not.

Gill: 2Ki 7:14 - They took therefore two chariot horses // and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, go and see

They took therefore two chariot horses,.... Not five, but two only, and those the best, that drew in the king's chariot perhaps, and so were better fed, and fitter for this expedition:

and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, go and see; whether they are fled or not.

Gill: 2Ki 7:15 - And they went after them unto Jordan // and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels which the Syrians had cast away in their haste // and the messengers returned and told the king

And they went after them unto Jordan,.... Not finding them in the camp, and knowing the rout they would take to their own land, they went as far as Jordan, over which they must pass:

and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels which the Syrians had cast away in their haste; in their fright and flight, such of their clothes as hindered them in running; and their armour, as Josephus ^c seems rightly to understand the word used, these they threw away for quicker dispatch:

and the messengers returned and told the king: that it was as the lepers said, and what they themselves had seen.

Gill: 2Ki 7:16 - And the people went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians // so that a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel // according to the word of the Lord

And the people went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians,.... Of their riches, and of their provisions; of which there was such a plenty, not only for present use, but for sale:

so that a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, &c.

according to the word of the Lord; by Elisha, 2Ki 7:1.

Gill: 2Ki 7:17 - And the king appointed the lord, on whose hand he leaned, to have the charge of the gate // and the people trod upon him in the gate // and died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him

And the king appointed the lord, on whose hand he leaned, to have the charge of the gate,.... Not to keep out the enemy, of which there was no danger; but to prevent disorders and tumults among the people, and that they might go out in an orderly and regular manner:

and the people trod upon him in the gate; being eager to get out for food; and he endeavouring to keep order among them, they pressed upon him, and threw him down, and trampled him under foot; or he was placed here to regulate the market, that everyone might be supplied in course, but through the people's pressing to get provisions, he was overborne, and trod upon:

and died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him; so that he saw the plenty, but partook not of it, as he said, see 2Ki 7:2.

Gill: 2Ki 7:18 - And it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying

And it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying,.... As in 2Ki 7:1, and what he said to the king there, and to the lord, in 2Ki 7:2, are repeated in this and the next verse, that it might be observed how exactly the prophecies were fulfilled.

Gill: 2Ki 7:19 - And that lord answered the man of God, and said // and he said

And that lord answered the man of God, and said,.... As in 2Ki 7:2.

and he said; that is, Elisha, as in the same place.

Gill: 2Ki 7:20 - And so it fell out unto him // for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died

And so it fell out unto him,.... As the prophet predicted:

for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died; See Gill on 2Ki 7:17.