Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 4:1
1. there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets—They were allowed to marry as well as the priests and Levites. Her husband, not enjoying the lucrative profits of business, had nothing but a professional income, which, in that irreligious age, would be precarious and very scanty, so that he was not in a condition to provide for his family. the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen—By the enactment of the law, a creditor was entitled to claim the... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 4:1
2 Kings 4:1. The creditor is come to take unto him my two sons— The Jewish law looked upon children as the proper goods of their parents, who had power to sell them for seven years, as their creditors had to compel them to do it, in order to pay their debts. From the Jews this custom was adopted by the Athenians, and from them by the Romans: the Romans, indeed, had the most absolute controul over their children. By the decree of Romulus they could imprison, beat, kill, or sell them for slaves:... read more