2 Kings 6:15-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 6:13-23

Here is, 1. The great force which the king of Syria sent to seize Elisha. He found out where he was, at Dothan (2 Kgs. 6:13), which was not far from Samaria; thither he sent a great host, who were to come upon him by night, and to bring him dead or alive, 2 Kgs. 6:14. Perhaps he had heard that when only one captain and his fifty men were sent to take Elijah they were baffled in the attempt, and therefore he sent an army against Elisha, as if the fire from heaven that consumed fifty men could... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:15

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth ,.... Either out of his master's house, or out of the city upon some business to be done early in the morning; this was not Gehazi, but a new servant: behold, an host compassed the city, both with horses and chariots ; which he could see at the door of his master's house, the city being built upon an eminence; or which he perceived, as soon as he came out of the gates of the city, or was about so to do: and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:16

And he answered, fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. Meaning the legions of angels that encamped around them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see ,.... Not the eyes of his body, which were not shut nor blinded, but the eyes of his mind; or, in other words, grant him a vision, represented in so strong a light, as to remove his fears: and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw ; he had a vision of angels: and, behold, the mountain ; on which the city was built, or one near it: was full of horses and chariots of fire ; angels in this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:18

And when they came down to him ,.... The Syrian army, from the hill on which they were first seen, who came down from thence to the bottom of the hill on which the city stood; and whither Elisha came out, in order both to meet them, and proceed on his journey to Samaria: Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness ; or "blindnesses" F7 בסנורים "in caecitatibus", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; ; with great blindness, such as the men of Sodom... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:16

For they that be with us are more , etc. - What astonishing intercourse had this man with heaven! It seems the whole heavenly host had it in commission to help him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:17

Lord - open his eyes - Where is heaven? Is it not above, beneath, around us? And were our eyes open as were those of the prophet's servant, we should see the heavenly host in all directions. The horses and chariots of fire were there, before the eyes of Elisha's servant were opened. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:18

Smite this people - with blindness - Confound their sight so that they may not know what they see, and so mistake one place for another. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8-16

God's presence with his people. There has been a sudden change in the horizon of Elisha's life. From the quiet work of cutting down trees and budding a college, he is suddenly called upon to stand a siege from a Syrian army. These changes do come in the lives of most of us. Health suddenly changes into sickness. Friendship suddenly changes into hostility. Wealth suddenly changes into poverty. Such changes will come in the life of the believer and in the history of the Church of God. At one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8-23

Wicked men vainly attempt to outwit God. Benhadad, after the miracle wrought upon his favorite Naaman, had abundant reason to know that Israel was the people of God, and enjoyed special Divine protection and superintendence. Had he been truly wise, he would have laid aside his hostile designs against the nation, and have made it his endeavor to cultivate friendly relations with them, and, if possible, secure their alliance. But true wisdom is a plant of rare growth, while its counterfeit,... read more

Group of Brands