E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 6:23
bands = marauding bands. read more
bands = marauding bands. read more
God’s ability to defend and deliver His people from her enemies 6:8-23The king of Aram was probably Ben-Hadad II, though the writer did not mention him by name (2 Kings 6:8). Perhaps since he only identified Elisha and Yahweh by name, he wished to focus attention on them as the main characters in this drama. Dothan stood about 12 miles north of Samaria (2 Kings 6:13). Compare Genesis 37:17-28 where another hostile foreign foe, the Ishmaelites, surrounded another prophet, Joseph, at Dothan. Here... read more
Elisha and the Siege of Samaria1. The place where we dwell] The mention of the Jordan (2 Kings 6:2) suggests that these sons of the prophets dwelt near Jericho: cp. 2 Kings 2:5. Probably Elisha did not permanently abide with them, but visited them occasionally for supervision and instruction. 6. The iron did swim] The prophet’s powers were exerted to help one who was honest enough to be the more concerned for his loss because the axe was not his own.8. The king of Syria] perhaps the Benhadad of... read more
(23) He.—The king of Israel.Prepared great provision.—Or, a great feast. The Hebrew verb (kârâh) occurs nowhere else in this sense. The noun (kçrâh) is cognate with it, and the root meaning seems to be union: such as takes place at a common meal. Thenius renders kçrâh by “das Gastrund”—i.e., the circle of guests.So the bands of Syria came no more.—The stress lies on the word “bands.” The Syrians, dreading Elisha, did not make any further clandestine attempts to injure Israel, like those above... read more
The Invisible Realities of the Eternal World 2 Kings 6:16 The invisible realities at times are very real to some and very unreal to others. This incident is an excellent example of it. Danger menaces two men. Death itself seems in the cup for both. But one is a citizen only of the seen and temporal, while the other's spirit soars up to God and believes in God, and is as certain of the existence of God as that he is alive. Consider the fruits of this belief in the existence of the eternal... read more
ELISHA AND THE SYRIANS2 Kings 6:1-23"Now there was found in the city a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city."- Ecclesiastes 9:15ELISHA, unlike his master Elijah, was, during a great part of his long career, intimately mixed up with the political and military fortunes of his country. The king of Israel who occurs in the following narratives is left nameless-always the sign of later and more vague tradition; but he has usually been identified with Jehoram ben-Ahab, and, though... read more
5. Elisha and the Syrians CHAPTER 6 1. The lost axe-head recovered (2 Kings 6:1-7 ) 2. Elisha makes known Ben-hadad’s plans (2 Kings 6:8-12 ) 3. Elisha’s arrest planned (2 Kings 6:13-17 ) 4. The blinded Syrians led to Samaria (2 Kings 6:18-23 ) 5. Samaria besieged (2 Kings 6:24-30 ) 6. The king’s wrath against Elisha (2 Kings 6:31-33 ) It has been truly said that the miracle of the swimming axe-head reveals the condescension of divine power and the grace of benevolence. We see the... read more
6:23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no {m} more into the land of Israel.(m) For this gentle intreaty and the miracle wrought by the prophet, did more for peace than if they had been overcome in battle for they did not return at that time to fight against Israel, or in that king’s days. read more
"TOO SMALL FOR US" (vv.1-7) The sons of the prophets are often spoken of in connection with Elisha's history, but when banded together, they did nothing (so far as the record goes) that indicated they were led by God. Once do we read of one of the sons of the prophets carrying a message from God. Elisha told him to take a flask of oil and anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, giving him a message from God at the same time. The son of the prophet did so alone (2 Kings 9:1-10). This was work... read more
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8-33
Miracles of warning to Israel (6:8-8:15)The remaining stories of Elisha concentrate on his dealings with the rulers of Israel and Syria. God was going to use Syria to punish Israel for its sin during the period of the Omri dynasty, but first he had various lessons to teach the two nations.On one occasion when Israel and Syria were fighting each other, Elisha repeatedly warned the Israelite king of Syrian ambushes (8-10). The Syrian king was furious when he learnt why his ambushes failed, and... read more