2 Kings 7:9-15

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 He feared that they had withdrawn into an ambush, to draw out the besieged, that they might fall on them with more advantage.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 7:9

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their hands; it would be joyful tidings to the inhabitants of the city, did they know it: and we hold our peace ; and do not publish this good tidings, that others may share...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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:11

And he called the porters ,.... The porter of the city called to the porters of the king's palace: and they told it to the king's house within ; to some of his domestic servants within the palace, and they reported it to the king. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:12

And the king arose in the night ,.... Upon the report made to him: and he said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us ; taking it to be a stratagem of theirs to decoy them: they know that we be hungry ; and would be glad to come out of the city to get some food: therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field ; to make us believe that they have broke up the siege, and have deserted the camp, and are gone, when they only lie... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:13

And one of his servants answered and said, let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city ,.... Not having died through the famine as the rest: behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, I say, they are even as the multitude of Israel that are consumed ; signifying, there was a like consumption among the horses as among the people, and they that remained were starving as they were; so that should those horses, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:14

They took therefore two chariot horses ,.... Not five, but two only, and those the best, that drew in the king's chariot perhaps, and so were better fed, and fitter for this expedition: and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, go and see ; whether they are fled or not. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 7:15

And they went after them unto Jordan ,.... Not finding them in the camp, and knowing the rout they would take to their own land, they went as far as Jordan, over which they must pass: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels which the Syrians had cast away in their haste ; in their fright and flight, such of their clothes as hindered them in running; and their armour, as Josephus F3 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 9. c. 4. sect. 5.) seems rightly to understand the word used,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 7:12

The king arose in the night - This king had made a noble defense; he seems to have shared in all the sufferings of the besieged, and to have been ever at his post. Even in vile Ahab there were some good things! They know that we be hungry - This was a very natural conclusion; the Syrians by the closest blockade could not induce them to give up the city, but knowing that they were in a starving condition, they might make use of such a stratagem as that imagined by the... read more

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