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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 8:7-15

Here, I. We may enquire what brought Elisha to Damascus, the chief city of Syria. Was he sent to any but the lost sheep of the house of Israel? It seems he was. Perhaps he went to pay a visit to Naaman his convert, and to confirm him in his choice of the true religion, which was the more needful now because, it should seem, he was not out of his place (for Hazael is supposed to be captain of that host); either he resigned it or was turned out of it, because he would not bow, or not bow... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:11

And he settled his countenance steadfastly ,.... Refrained himself as much as possible, that he might not weep, as some Jewish writers interpret it; or, as others, he turned his face on one side, and covered it with his hands, that Hazael might not see him weep; or rather he set his face on Hazael, and looked at him so wistly: until he was ashamed ; that is, Hazael; the prophet looked him out of countenance: and the man of God wept ; at the thought of what calamities the man before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:12

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord ?.... Imagining it was for the death of Benhadad he had predicted, for which he could see no reason; of the title, "my lord", see 1 Kings 18:7 . and he answered, because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel ; which he foresaw by a spirit of prophecy; and Israel being his own people, he sympathized in their calamities before they came: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire ; which should be taken by him, see 2 Kings... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:13

And Hazael said, but what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing ?.... What dost thou take me to be, a vile, impudent, fierce, and cruel creature, as a dog, to be guilty of so great inhumanity and barbarity as this? or what is thy servant? a dog, a mean abject creature, of no power and authority, incapable of doing such great things spoken of? to which sense not only what is predicted of him, said to be great, inclines, but what follows: and Elisha answered, the Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:14

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master ,.... Benhadad king of Syria: who said to him, what said Elisha to thee ? concerning his recovery, which was the thing uppermost in his mind, and he was eagerly desirous to know how it would be: and he answered, he told me that thou shouldest surely recover ; which was false; for he only said that he "might", and not that he should; and he concealed what he also declared, that though he might recover of his disease, yet that he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:15

And it came to pass on the morrow ,.... In such haste was Hazael to be king, as the prophet said he would be: that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died ; not that Benhadad took or ordered such a cloth to be dipped and laid on his own face, to allay the violent heat in him; but Hazael did this, and perhaps under such a pretence; but his real design was to strike in the heat, or suffocate him; for such a thick cloth, one of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 8:11

He settled his countenance steadfastly - Of whom does the author speak? Of Hazael, or of Elisha? Several apply this action to the prophet: he had a murderer before him and he saw the bloody acts he was about to commit, and was greatly distressed; but he endeavored to conceal his feelings: at last his face reddened with anguish, his feelings overcame him, and he burst out and wept. The Septuagint, as it stands in the Complutensian and Antwerp Polyglots, makes the text very plain: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 8:12

I know the evil that thou wilt do - We may see something of the accomplishment of this prediction, 2 Kings 10:32 , 2 Kings 10:33 ; 2 Kings 13:3 , 2 Kings 13:7 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 8:13

But what , is thy servant a dog , that he should do this great things - I believe this verse to be wrongly interpreted by the general run of commentators. It is generally understood that Hazael was struck with horror at the prediction; that these cruelties were most alien from his mind; that he then felt distressed and offended at the imputation of such evils to him; and yet, so little did he know his own heart, that when he got power, and had opportunity, he did... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 8:15

A thick cloth - The versions, in general, understand this of a hairy or woollen cloth. So that he died - He was smothered, or suffocated. read more

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