2 Kings 13:14-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 13:10-19

We have here Jehoash, or Joash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu, upon the throne of Israel. Probably the house of Jehu intended some respect to the house of David when they gave this heir-apparent to the crown the same name with him that was then king of Judah. I. The general account here given of him and his reign is much the same with what we have already met with, and has little in it remarkable, 2 Kgs. 13:10-13. He was none of the worst, and yet, because he kept up that ancient... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 13:20-25

We must here attend, I. The sepulchre of Elisha: he died in a good old age, and they buried him; and what follows shows, 1. What power there was in his life to keep off judgments; for, as soon as he was dead, the bands of the Moabites invaded the land?not great armies to face them in the field, but roving skulking bands, that murdered and plundered by surprise. God has many ways to chastise a provoking people. The king was apprehensive of danger only from the Syrians, but, behold, the Moabites... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:14

Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died ,.... The prophets do not live for ever; this sickness was unto death; Elisha died, and was not translated as Elijah was: and Joash the king came down unto him ; from his palace to the prophet's house, to visit him in his sickness; which was an instance of great condescension and respect, and especially in a wicked prince that could not be reformed by him: and wept over his face ; held his head over him, and wept, perceiving... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:15

And Elisha said unto him, take bow and arrows ,.... The usual instruments of war in those days: and he took unto him bow and arrows; which though they might not be had in the house of the prophet, he could have some from his guards that attended him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:16

And he said unto the king of Israel, put thine hand upon the bow, and he put his hand upon it ,.... His left hand: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands ; on both his hands, which were put, the one on the bow, the other on the arrow F13 See Virgil. Aeneid. 11. ver. 831,862. ; hereby signifying, that though the king would draw the bow in battle, the Lord, whom the prophet represented, would give the success; and that it would be by his help, and through his blessing on his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:17

And he said, open the window eastward ,.... Syria lying east of the land of Israel, as the Jewish commentators in general observe, and for which they quote Isaiah 9:12 , but it lay northeast, or rather more to the north; wherefore this may respect the eastward part of the land of Israel, which the Syrians had got possession of, and should be recovered, as this sign showed, see 2 Kings 10:33 , and he opened it: then Elisha said, shoot, and he shot ; the arrow, out of the window, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:18

And he said, take the arrows, and he took them ,.... The rest of them: and he said unto the king of Israel , smite upon the ground; the floor of the room in which the prophet lay: and he smote thrice, and stayed ; made a stop, ceased smiting; he might think this action trifling, and beneath him, only was willing to please the prophet, but did not do it with a good will, and therefore smote no more; though this was an emblem of his smiting the Syrians, which he might not understand. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:19

And the man of God was wroth with him ,.... Because he ceased smiting, and smote no oftener; for it was revealed to the prophet, by an impulse upon his mind, that by the number of times he smote on the ground, it would be known how often he should get the victory over his enemies; but this was to be left to the king's own will, how often he would smite, and thereby the prophet would know also with what spirit he would pursue his victories, and the advantages he would gain: and said, thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:20

And Elisha died, and they buried him ,.... In Samaria. Epiphanius says F14 De Vitis Prophet. c. 6. , in Sebastopolis of Samaria, Samaria itself was called Sebaste in later times; though the Jews say F15 Cippi Heb. p. 46. he was buried in Mount Carmel, in the cave of Elijah; according to the Jewish chronology F16 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 19. , he died in the tenth year of Joash, and he prophesied more than sixty years; sixty six, as Abarbinel, since he began to prophesy in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 13:21

And it came to pass, as they were burying a man ,.... That is, as they were going to bury him; for as yet they were not come to the place they designed to bury him at, as appears by what follows: that, behold, they spied a band of men ; one of the bands of the Moabites, which came to rob and plunder, and which was about the place where they intended to bury the man; or they supposed would be there by that time they got to it, or at least before they could bury him, and therefore being... read more

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