2 Kings 8:12-29

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 8:12

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord ?.... Imagining it was for the death of Benhadad he had predicted, for which he could see no reason; of the title, "my lord", see 1 Kings 18:7 . and he answered, because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel ; which he foresaw by a spirit of prophecy; and Israel being his own people, he sympathized in their calamities before they came: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire ; which should be taken by him, see 2 Kings... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:13

And Hazael said, but what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing ?.... What dost thou take me to be, a vile, impudent, fierce, and cruel creature, as a dog, to be guilty of so great inhumanity and barbarity as this? or what is thy servant? a dog, a mean abject creature, of no power and authority, incapable of doing such great things spoken of? to which sense not only what is predicted of him, said to be great, inclines, but what follows: and Elisha answered, the Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:14

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master ,.... Benhadad king of Syria: who said to him, what said Elisha to thee ? concerning his recovery, which was the thing uppermost in his mind, and he was eagerly desirous to know how it would be: and he answered, he told me that thou shouldest surely recover ; which was false; for he only said that he "might", and not that he should; and he concealed what he also declared, that though he might recover of his disease, yet that he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:15

And it came to pass on the morrow ,.... In such haste was Hazael to be king, as the prophet said he would be: that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died ; not that Benhadad took or ordered such a cloth to be dipped and laid on his own face, to allay the violent heat in him; but Hazael did this, and perhaps under such a pretence; but his real design was to strike in the heat, or suffocate him; for such a thick cloth, one of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:16

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel ,.... Who began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, 2 Kings 3:1 . Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah ; as he continued to be two years more; for this must be in the twenty third year of his reign, and he reigned twenty five years, 1 Kings 22:42 . Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign ; according to Dr. Lightfoot F8 Works, vol. 1. p. 84. , there were three beginnings of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:17

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign ,.... The second time, in the lifetime of his father: and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem ; which ended in the twelfth year of Joram king of Israel, 2 Kings 8:25 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 8:18

And he walked in the way of the king's of Israel, as did the house of Ahab ,.... Imitated them in idolatry: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife ; whose name was Athaliah, 2 Kings 8:26 , and by her he was drawn into idolatrous practices; of such bad consequence are marriages with idolaters; it is very much that so good a king as Jehoshaphat his father was should contract such an affinity; he suffered for it in more instances than one: and he did evil in the sight of the Lord ; was... read more

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