2 Kings 6:8-12 KJV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:8

The king of Syria warred against Israel - This was probably the same Ben-hadad who is mentioned 2 Kings 6:24 . What was the real or pretended cause of this war we cannot tell; but we may say, in numberless war cases, as Calmet says in this: "An ambitious and restless prince always finds a sufficiency of reasons to color his enterprises." In such and such a place - The Syrian king had observed, from the disposition of the Israelitish army, in what direction it was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:9

Beware that thou pass not such a place - Elisha must have had this information by immediate revelation from heaven. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:10

Sent to the place - To see if it were so. But the Vulgate gives it quite a different turn: Misit rex Israel ad locum, et praeoccupavit eum . The king of Israel sent previously to the place, and took possession of it; and thus the Syrians were disappointed. This is very likely, though it is not expressed in the Hebrew text. The prophet knew the Syrians marked such a place; he told the king of Israel, and he hastened and sent a party of troops to pre-occupy it; and thus the Syrians... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8

Then the King of Syria warred against Israel. It may seem strange that, so soon after sending an embassy to the court of Samaria, and asking a favor ( 2 Kings 5:5 , 2 Kings 5:6 ), Benhadad should resume hostilities, especially as the favor had been obtained ( 2 Kings 5:14 ); but the normal relations between the two countries were those of enmity ( 2 Kings 5:2 ), and a few years would suffice to dim the memory of what had happened. The gratitude of kings is proverbially short-lived. ... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 6:10

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 6:8

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