2 Kings 6:8-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8-12

Here we have Elisha, with his spirit of prophecy, serving the king, as before helping the sons of the prophets; for that, as other gifts, is given to every man to profit withal; and, whatever abilities any man has of doing good, he is by them made a debtor both to the wise and unwise. Observe here, I. How the king of Israel was informed by Elisha of all the designs and motions of his enemy, the king of Syria, more effectually than he could have been by the most vigilant and faithful spies. If... read more

Matthew Henry

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 6:8

Then the king of Syria warred against Israel ,.... Proclaimed war against him; on what account, or how long it was after Naaman his general came with a letter of recommendation from him to the king of Israel, and had his cure, is not said: and took counsel with his servants ; his privy counsellors, or the general officers of his army: saying, in such and such a place shall be my camp ; in some covered hidden place, as the Targum; where he would lie encamped waiting in ambush, to fall... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:9

And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel ,.... That is, Elisha sent to him: saying: beware that thou pass not such a place : not go to it, but avoid it, and pass another way: for thither the Syrians are come down : are hidden, as the Targum; lie covered at the bottom of the hill, so as not to be seen. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:10

And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him, and warned him of ,.... Sent spies thither to see whether the Syrians were there or not, and whether it was truth the man of God told him; for he had no hearty respect for the prophet, though he had been so serviceable to him: and saved himself there, not once, nor twice ; escaped the snares the king of Syria laid for him, not once, nor twice only, but many times. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:11

Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing ,.... There was as it were a storm in his breast, as the word signifies; he was like a troubled sea, tossed with tempests, exceeding uneasy in his mind, fretting at the disappointment he met with time after time: and he called his servants, and said unto them, will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel ? he suspected that some one of his counsellors was in the interest of the king of Israel, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:12

And one of his servants said, none, my lord, O king ,.... He believed everyone of his counsellors were true and faithful to him: but Elisha the prophet, that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber ; what is said in the most private place, and in the most secret manner: this man had heard much of Elisha, by Naaman, very probably; or perhaps he had attended him in his journey to Israel for a cure, and so might have personal knowledge of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:13

And he said, go, and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him ,.... But how could he expect to take him, who could give the king of Israel such intelligence of his designs against him, that he might escape his snares? and it was told him, saying, behold, he is in Dothan ; a city in the tribe of Manasseh, not far from Shechem; see Genesis 37:17 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:14

Therefore sent he thither horses and chariots, and a great host ,.... To terrify the inhabitants from attempting to defend the prophet, but deliver him up at once: and they came by night ; that they might come upon them unawares, and their design not be discovered, so as to have timely help from Samaria, which was not far off: and compassed the city about ; that the prophet might not make his escape out of it. 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

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