2 Kings 8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 8

The passages of story recorded in this chapter oblige us to look back. I. We read before of a Shunammite woman that was a kind benefactor to Elisha; now here we are told how she fared the better for it, afterwards, in the advice Elisha gave her, and the favour the king showed her for his sake, 2 Kgs. 8:1-6. II. We read before of the designation of Hazael to be king of Syria (1 Kgs. 19:15), and here we have an account of his elevation to that throne and the way he forced for himself to it, by... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1-6

Here we have, I. The wickedness of Israel punished with a long famine, one of God's sore judgments often threatened in the law. Canaan, that fruitful land, was turned into barrenness, for the iniquity of those that dwelt therein. The famine in Samaria was soon relieved by the raising of that siege, but neither that judgment nor that mercy had a due influence upon them, and therefore the Lord called for another famine; for when he judgeth he will overcome. If less judgments do not prevail to... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 8:16-24

We have here a brief account of the life and reign of Jehoram (or Joram), one of the worst of the kings of Judah, but the son and successor of Jehoshaphat, one of the best. Note, 1. Parents cannot give grace to their children. Many that have themselves been godly have had the grief and shame of seeing those that came forth out of their bowels wicked and vile. Let not the families that are thus afflicted think it strange. 2. If the children of good parents prove wicked, commonly they are worse... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 8:25-29

As among common persons there are some that we call little men, who make no figure, are little regarded, as less valued, so among kings there are some whom, in comparison with others, we may call little kings. This Ahaziah was one of these; he looks mean in the history, and in God's account vile, because wicked. It is too plain an evidence of the affinity between Jehoshaphat and Ahab that they had the same names in their families at the same time, in which, we may suppose, they designed to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 8 This chapter gives an account of some advice Elisha had formerly given to the Shunammite woman, and of the success of it, 2 Kings 8:1 and of the sickness of the king of Syria, who sent to Elisha, then being at Damascus, by Hazael, to know whether he should recover; by whom a message was returned, and Hazael was told by the prophet he should be king of Syria, and exercise great cruelty in Israel, 2 Kings 8:7 and of the bad reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:1

Then spoke Elisha unto the woman (whose son he had restored to life) ,.... His hostess at Shunem, 2 Kings 4:8 the following he said to her, not after the famine in Samaria, but before it, as some circumstances show: saying, arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn ; with the greatest safety to her person and property, and with the least danger to her moral and religious character: for the Lord hath called for a famine, and it shall also come... read more

John Gill

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

And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God ,.... Whose words she had reason to believe; she having a son given to her according to his word, and this restored to life, when dead, through his intercession: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines ; which was not far from her native place, and where there was plenty of food, and she could have as free an exercise of her religion as in the idolatrous kingdom of Israel. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:3

And it came to pass, at the seven years end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines ,.... Either hearing that the famine was over, or believing that it was, the time being expired the prophet fixed for it: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house, and for her land ; which her nearest relations in her absence had seized upon, as heirs to them; or those in whose hands she had intrusted them refused, upon her return, to deliver them to her; or the king's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:4

And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God ,.... Elisha's servant, just at the same time the woman made her application to him; so that this was before he was dismissed from the service of the prophet, and consequently before the affair of Naaman's cure, and so before the siege of Samaria: saying, tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done ; the miracles he wrought, as the dividing of the waters of Jordan, and healing those near Jericho; the... read more

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