2 Kings 7:3-10

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 7:3

There were four leprous men - The Gemara in Sota, R. Sol. Jarchi, and others, say that these four lepers were Gehazi and his three sons. At the entering in of the gate - They were not permitted to mingle in civil society. read more

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