2 Kings 6:6 ASV

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Kings 6:6

6:6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast [it] in thither; and the iron did {b} swim.(b) God wrought this miraculously to confirm the authority of Elisha, to whom he had given such abundance of his Spirit. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:1-33

"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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:1-33

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

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Kings 6:1-23

2Ki 6:1-23 1. And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell [where we sit before thee] with thee is too strait for us [their numbers had increased (comp. 2Ki 4:43 )]. 2. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam [the Jordan valley was well-wooded], and let us make a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants [to superintend; to help in case of... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Kings 6:4-7

Observe how very poor the sons of the prophets were. In all ages it hath been so. Hence James calls upon the church to attend to this, as a mark of God's choice; poor of this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. James 2:5 . It is refreshing to behold the Lord's presence with his sent servants, in working miracles for the confirmation of their faith. read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:6

Swam. So; Demersam fluvio relevavit virga securim. (Tertullian, contra Marc.) The Fathers here remark a figure of the cross of Jesus Christ; the virtue of which, in baptism, reclaims the hardened sinner from the ways of vanity. (Tertullian, contra Jud'e6os xiii.) (Calmet) --- Those who would explain the reason of every miracle, may here inform the infidel why recourse was had to a supernatural interference, in a matter apparently of such a trifling nature. They ask why God should cause the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:1-7

1-7 There is that pleasantness in the converse of servants of God, which can make those who listen to them forget the pain and the weariness of labour. Even the sons of the prophets must not be unwilling to labour. Let no man think an honest employment a burden or a disgrace. And labour of the head, is as hard, and very often harder, than labour with the hands. We ought to be careful of that which is borrowed, as of our own, because we must do as we would be done by. This man was so respecting... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 2 Kings 6:1-7

The Swimming of the Ax-Head. v. 1. And the sons of the prophets, probably those living at Jericho, said unto Elisha, Behold, now, the place where we dwell with thee, literally, "before thy face," under his supervision, is too strait for us, the present buildings no longer offered sufficient room for their increasing number. v. 2. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan and take thence every man a beam, by cutting down some of the large trees near the river and preparing them for the walls of... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 2 Kings 6:1-7

B.—The healing of Naaman, punishment of Gehazi, and recovery of a lost axe2 Kings 5:1 to 2 Kings 6:71Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable [honored], because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper. 2And the Syrians had gone out by companies [in marauding bands], and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3And... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 2 Kings 6:1-13

the Servant of the Lord of Battles 2 Kings 6:1-13 To us, the first of these miracles may appear somewhat trivial, but we must remember the value of an iron axe-head at that time, the inconvenience and delay caused to the builders, and the slur accruing to religion if it were irreparably lost. The story shows how keen was the sympathy of the great prophet for a poor man overtaken by an ordinary trouble, and how ready Elisha was to seek the help of God to redress the mischief. See John 2:1-14... read more