2 Kings 7:3-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 7:3-11

We are here told, I. How the siege of Samaria was raised in the evening, at the edge of night (2 Kgs. 7:6, 7), not by might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, striking terror upon the spirits of the besiegers. Here was not a sword drawn against them, not a drop of blood shed, it was not by thunder or hailstones that they were discomfited, nor were they slain, as Sennacherib's army before Jerusalem, by a destroying angel; but, 1. The Lord made them to hear a noise of chariots and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 7:12-20

Here we have, I. The king's jealousy of a stratagem in the Syrian's retreat, 2 Kgs. 7:12. He feared that they had withdrawn into an ambush, to draw out the besieged, that they might fall on them with more advantage. He knew he had no reason to expect that God should appear thus wonderfully for him, having forfeited his favour by his unbelief and impatience. He knew no reason the Syrians had to fly, for it does not appear that he or any of this attendants heard the noise of the chariots which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:3

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate ,.... Of the city of Samaria; lepers, according to the law, being obliged to be without the city and camp, Leviticus 13:46 these might have a dwelling assigned them near the gate; or they might get as near to it as they could, partly to obtain relief from the city, and partly for fear of the Syrians; these, the Jews say F24 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 47. 1. & Sanhedrin, fol. 107. 2. , were Gehazi and his three sons, see 2... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:4

If we say we will enter into the city ,.... Contrary to the law which forbid them: then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there ; not being able to obtain food to preserve life: and if we sit here, we die also ; having nothing to eat to support nature: now therefore let us come, and fall unto the host of the Syrians ; put ourselves into their hands, and lie at their mercy: if they save us alive, we shall live ; if they do not put us to death, but give us bread to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:5

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians ,...., The dusk of the evening, or the evening twilight, as appears from 2 Kings 7:9 , and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria ; not the further part of it, but the edge or border of it nearest to them: behold, there was no man there ; no sentinel or guard, which they expected, and to whom they would have surrendered themselves. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:6

For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host ,.... Or of many armies, as the Targum; either in the air by the ministry of angels; or the Lord so wrought upon their imagination, that they fancied they heard such noises; or he caused such noises in their ears: and they said one to another, lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites ; one of the nations of the Canaanites, and may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:7

Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight ,.... Or in the dark, as the Targum; when the twilight was going off; so that the lepers came very quickly after they were gone, 2 Kings 7:5 . and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses ; such was their fright, that they could not stay to loose their cattle, with which they might have made greater speed, but ran away on foot: and they left even the camp as it was ; took nothing away with them, either money or provisions: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:8

And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent ,.... The first they came to: and did eat and drink ; which was the first thing they did, being hungry, and almost starved: and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it ; in a place without the camp, where they thought it would be safe, and where they could come at it again: and came again and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:9

Then they said one to another, we do not well ,.... This is not right, to take this booty to ourselves; it is not doing justice to our brethren, and it may not prove well to ourselves in the issue: this day is a day of good tidings ; to be delivered from the enemy, and have such plenty of provisions thrown into their hands; it would be joyful tidings to the inhabitants of the city, did they know it: and we hold our peace ; and do not publish this good tidings, that others may share... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:10

So they came and called to the porter of the city ,.... The chief of those that had the care of the gate of it; for there were more than one, as follows: and they told them ; the porter, and the watchmen with him: we came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man ; not one to be seen or heard: but horses tied, and asses tied ; to their mangers; the latter, as well as the former, were used for war, not only to carry burdens, but to fight... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 7:3-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 7:12-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:10

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