2 Kings 8

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-6

The Shunammite and her lands. This narrative is the sequel to the history of the Shunammite in 2 Kings 4:1-44 . It furnishes another instance of how God cares for and rewards his people. I. ELISHA 'S WARNING . In chronological order this narrative seems to precede the cure of Naaman, while Gehazi was still the servant of the prophet. A famine of long duration was about to descend on the land, and Elisha gave timely warning to the Shunammite to take refuge somewhere else. 1. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-15

Elisha is still the protagonistes of the historical drama. The writer brings together in the present section two more occasions of a public character in which he was concerned, and in which kings also bore a part. One of the occasions is domestic, and shows the interest which Jehoram took in the miracles of the prophet, and in those who were the objects of them ( 2 Kings 8:1-6 ). The other belongs to Syrian, rather than to Israelite, history, and proves that the influence of Elisha was not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-29

THE SEQUEL OF THE STORY OF THE SHUNAMMITE . THE KILLING OF BENHADAD BY HAZAEL ; AND THE WICKED REIGNS OF JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH IN JUDAH . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:2

And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God. It is a satisfaction to find that there was yet faith in Israel. There were still those to whom the prophet was the mouthpiece of God, who waited on his words, and accepted them as Divine commands whereto they were ready to render immediate and entire obedience. It is conjectured by some that the woman had become a widow, and fallen into comparative poverty; but the narrative gives no indication of this. Even opulent persons... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:3

And it earns to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines. She stayed no longer than she could help. Her own land, where she could have the ministrations of a "man of God" ( 2 Kings 4:23 ), was dear to her; and no sooner had the famine abated than she returned to it. And she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. During her prolonged absence, some grasping neighbor had seized on the unoccupied house and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:4

And the king talked with Gehazi ; rather, now the king was talking with Gehazi , as in the Revised Version. The king, i.e; happened to be talking with Gehazi at the moment when the woman came into his presence and "cried" to him. It has been reasonably concluded from this, that chronological order is not observed in the portion of the narrative which treats of Elisha and his doings, since a king of Israel would scarcely be in familiar conversation with a leper (Keil). It may be added... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:5

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he — i.e. Elisha— had restored a dead Body to life. This was undoubtedly the greatest of all Elisha's miracles, and Gehazi naturally enlarged upon it. As an eye-witness ( 2 Kings 4:29-36 ), he could give all the details. That, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. The coincidence can scarcely have been accidental. Divine providence so ordered matters that, just when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:6

And when the king asked the woman, she told him ; rather, and the king made inquiry of the woman , and she answered him . The extent of the inquiries is not indicated. They may have included questions concerning the miracle, as well as questions concerning the woman's claim to the land and house, and the evidence which she could produce of proprietorship. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer —literally, a certain eunuch , or chamberlain— an officer of the court,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:7

And Elisha came to Damascus. It was a bold step, whatever the circumstances that led to it. Not very long previously the Syrian king had made extraordinary efforts to capture Elisha, intending either to kin him or to keep him confined as a prisoner ( 2 Kings 6:18-19 ). Elisha had subsequently helped to baffle his plans of conquest, and might be thought to have caused the disgraceful retreat of the Syrian army from the walls of Samaria, which he had certainly prophesied ( 2 Kings 7:1 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:7-9

The power of calamity to bend the spirit of the proud. Benhadad had hitherto been an enemy of Jehovah and his prophets. He had sought Elisha's life ( 2 Kings 6:13-20 ), and, when baffled in his design to seize his person, had made a bold attempt to crush and destroy the whole Israelite nation. But now God had laid his hand upon him; he was prostrated on a sick-bed; and lo! all was altered. The mighty monarch, so lately glorying in his strength, and, in his own opinion, infinitely above any... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-29

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 8:7-9

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