2 Kings 8:7-15 KJV

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 8:7

And Elisha came to Damascus ,.... On what account, and when, is not certain, whether to convert Gehazi, as say the Jews F4 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 47. 1. ; or to confirm Naaman in the true religion he professed, for which he might be dismissed from his office, since another man was made general of the Syrian army; or on account of the famine; or rather it may be to anoint, or, however, to declare that Hazael would be king of Syria; see 1 Kings 19:15 , and Benhadad the king of Syria... read more

John Gill

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

And the king said to Hazael ,.... The captain general of his army: take a present in thine hand, and go and meet the man of God , who, perhaps, was not as yet come into the city, only into the region of Damascus: or rather "with thee"; so the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions; and which Noldius F6 Ebr. Concord. Part. p. 189. No. 362. approves of, since a burden of forty camels, 2 Kings 8:9 could not be carried in the hand: and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, shall I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:9

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him ,.... As was usual when a prophet or seer was consulted, see 1 Samuel 9:7 . even of every good thing of Damascus ; which was a very fruitful place, and had abundance of gardens and orchards in it, which yielded excellent fruit, and of such it is probable the present consisted, and which was large: even forty camels' burden : which, as they are strong creatures, will bear a great deal. Abarbinel thinks, bread, flesh, and wine,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:10

And Elisha said unto him, go, say unto him, thou mayest certainly recover ,.... That is, of the disease; and there was not only a probability that he might recover of it, it not being a mortal one, but a certainty that he should not die of it, as he did not, but die a violent death, which the prophet predicts in the next clause; though some take these words not as a command, what he should say, but as a prediction of what he would say; that he would go and tell him he should certainly... 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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:10

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

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

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

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

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

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