If the LORD do not help thee. Hebrew reads "Let not Jehovah help thee", as in Authorized Version margin The Revised Version "Nay, let Jehovah help thee", is contrary to the normal sense of this negative. Ginsburg suggests that 'al (not) is an abbreviation for 'im lo, which is the exact equivalent for the Authorized Version text. 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
(27) If the Lord do not help thee.—This is right. The marginal rendering, “Let not the Lord help thee!”—i.e., “May the Lord destroy thee!” would be possible in another context. Another rendering is, “Nay (i.e., do not supplicate me), let the Lord help thee!”Out of the barnfloor.—Comp. Hosea ix 2.: “The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.” Jehoram, in the irony of despair, reminds the woman of what she well knows—viz., that the corn and wine, the... 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
THE FAMINE AND THE SIEGE2 Kings 6:24-33; 2 Kings 7:1-20"‘Tis truly no flood plan when princes play The vulture among carrion; but when They play the carrion among vultures-that Is ten times worse."-LESSING, "Nathan the Wise, " Act I, Sc. 3IF the Benhadad, King of Syria, who reduced Samaria to the horrible straits recorded in this chapter, {; 2 Kings 6:1-33} was the same Benhadad whom Ahab had treated with such impolitic confidence, his hatred against Israel must indeed have burned hotly.... 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
6:27 And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the {o} barnfloor, or out of the winepress?(o) Meaning, any kind of food as corn and wine. 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
ELISHA AND THE SYRIAN INVASION THE STRATAGEM AT DOTHAN (2 Kings 6:8-23 ) The incident in 2 Kings 6:1-7 seems an interpolation; and some think it belongs at 2 Kings 4:38 in connection with the two miracles, having a somewhat similar occasion. “Swim” (2 Kings 6:6 ) is in the Hebrew the same as “float,” and the idea seems to be that by throwing the stick into the water the iron was caused to come to the surface where the young man could get it. It is difficult to say when the event of 2... read more
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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