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
Beware that thou pass not such a place - Elisha must have had this information by immediate revelation from heaven. read more
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
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
The King of Syria and Elisha. "Then the King of Syria warred against Israel," etc. In these sixteen verses we have four subjects worth looking into—wickedness thwarted, timidity dispelled, supernatural power manifested, and revenge overcome. I. WICKEDNESS THWARTED . The King of Syria had determined on an enterprise of bloodshed and wickedness. He had made all arrangements, fixed on the place for his camp. "In such and such a place shall be my camp." Bat Elisha thwarted the bloody... read more
A bootless invasion. The chronic hostility which subsisted between the Israelitish and the Syrian kingdoms soon broke out again in war. In this, as in other instances, Syria was the aggressor. The invaded kingdom was delivered, not through "the sword and the bow" ( 2 Kings 6:22 ) of its king, but once more through the interposition of Elisha. I. FRUSTRATED PLANS . 1. Royal strategy . The war which the King of Syria commenced was intended to be carried on, not by battle in... read more
And the man of God — i.e. Elisha, who at the time was " the man of God "( κατ ἐξοήν )— sent unto the King of Israel —Jehoram, undoubtedly (see 2 Kings 6:32 )— saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. Some translate, "Beware that thou neglect not such a place, for thither the Syrians are coming down;" but our version is probably correct, and is approved by Bahr and Thenius. Elisha did not suffer his hostile feeling towards... read more
Miracles of warning to Israel (6:8-8:15)The remaining stories of Elisha concentrate on his dealings with the rulers of Israel and Syria. God was going to use Syria to punish Israel for its sin during the period of the Omri dynasty, but first he had various lessons to teach the two nations.On one occasion when Israel and Syria were fighting each other, Elisha repeatedly warned the Israelite king of Syrian ambushes (8-10). The Syrian king was furious when he learnt why his ambushes failed, and... read more
king of Israel. Jehoram. read more
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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