2 Kings · WEB-C
2 Kings
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The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we live and meet with you is too small for us. See also: 2 Kings 2:3Isaiah 54:2-3Isaiah 49:19-20Please let us go to the Jordan, and each man take a beam from there, and let’s make us a place there, where we may live.” He answered, “Go!” See also: Acts 18:3John 21:31 Corinthians 9:6One said, “Please be pleased to go with your servants.” He answered, “I will go.” See also: 2 Kings 5:23Judges 19:6Job 6:28So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. See also: Deuteronomy 19:5Deuteronomy 29:11But as one was cutting down a tree, the ax head fell into the water. Then he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” See also: Ecclesiastes 10:10Revelation 18:102 Kings 6:15The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float. See also: 2 Kings 2:21Exodus 15:25Mark 8:23-25He said, “Take it.” So he put out his hand and took it. See also: 2 Kings 4:36Exodus 4:42 Kings 4:7Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” See also: Proverbs 21:30Proverbs 20:182 Kings 6:24The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” See also: Amos 3:72 Kings 4:272 Kings 3:17-19The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once or twice. See also: Proverbs 27:12Matthew 2:12Matthew 3:7The king of Syria’s heart was very troubled about this. He called his servants, and said to them, “Won’t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” See also: 1 Samuel 22:8Isaiah 57:20-21Matthew 2:3-12One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” See also: Amos 3:7Daniel 2:28-30Daniel 2:22-23He said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” He was told, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” See also: Genesis 37:17John 11:47-53Psalms 37:12-14Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night and surrounded the city. See also: Matthew 26:47Matthew 26:551 Samuel 24:2When the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. His servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” See also: Matthew 8:262 Chronicles 20:12Psalms 53:5He answered, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” See also: Romans 8:31Isaiah 41:10-141 John 4:4Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, please open his eyes, that he may see.” the LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha. See also: Psalms 68:17Psalms 34:7Zechariah 6:1-7When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word. See also: Acts 13:11Genesis 19:11John 12:40Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to Samaria. See also: Mark 8:34Matthew 16:24Luke 9:23When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “LORD, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” The LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria. See also: 2 Kings 6:17Luke 16:23Luke 24:31The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?” See also: 2 Kings 5:132 Kings 8:92 Kings 2:12He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, then go to their master.” See also: Genesis 48:22Romans 12:20-212 Chronicles 28:8-15He prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel. See also: 2 Kings 5:22 Kings 24:22 Kings 6:8-9After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. See also: 1 Kings 20:1Deuteronomy 28:521 Kings 22:31There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. See also: Jeremiah 14:13-15Jeremiah 52:62 Kings 6:28-29As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” See also: 2 Samuel 14:4Isaiah 10:3Luke 18:3He said, “If the LORD doesn’t help you, where could I get help for you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” See also: Psalms 118:8-9Psalms 124:1-3Psalms 146:3Then the king asked her, “What is your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ See also: 2 Samuel 14:5Judges 18:23Leviticus 26:29So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him;’ and she has hidden her son.” See also: Leviticus 26:29Deuteronomy 28:53Deuteronomy 28:57When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body. See also: 1 Kings 21:27Isaiah 58:5-72 Kings 19:1Then he said, “God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today.” See also: Ruth 1:171 Kings 19:21 Kings 22:8But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Then the king sent a man from before him; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” See also: Ezekiel 8:1Ezekiel 14:1Ezekiel 20:1While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, “Behold, this evil is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” See also: Job 2:9Isaiah 8:21Isaiah 26:3
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)20 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
2 Kings 6:2
Ver. 2. Timber. Heb. and Sept. "a beam." Salien supposes that these prophets resided at Galgal.
M.
↑ 22 Kings 6:5
Ver. 5. Borrowed. He was grieved because he could not repair the loss. W.
↑ 52 Kings 6:6
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 6. Swam. So; Demersam fluvio relevavit virga securim. (Tert. c. Marc.) The Fathers here remark a figure of the cross of Jesus Christ; the virtue of which, in baptism, reclaims the hardened sinner from the ways of vanity. Tert. c.
Judæos xiii. C. --- Those who would explain the reason of every miracle, may here inform the infidel why recourse was had to a supernatural interference, in a matter apparently of such a trifling nature. They ask why God should cause the eyes of various pictures in Italy to move on a late occasion; and because they cannot assign a satisfactory reason, they boldly assert that all was an imposture. But this mode of argumentation is very delusive, if not impious. "
Who hat been his ( God's) counsellor? " Rom. xi. 34. All that we have to do is to believe, when the proofs are of such a nature as to require our rational assent.
↑ 62 Kings 6:8
Ver. 8. And such, which the king would mention. M. --- The causes of this war are not known; but an ambitious prince always finds pretexts to cover his injustice. C.
↑ 82 Kings 6:10
Ver. 10. Twice, but very frequently: so that the Syrian feared some treachery. H.
↑ 102 Kings 6:12
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 12. Chamber. It is difficult therefore for the saints in heaven to hear our prayers? though they have not such long ears as Calvin ridicules. H.
↑ 122 Kings 6:13
Ver. 13. Take him. Foolish attempt! as if the prophet could not foresee his own danger. Salien.
--- Dothan or Dothain, (Gen. xxxvii. 17.) twelve miles north of Samaria. (Eus. C.) Andrichomius says, in the tribe of Zabulon. M.
↑ 132 Kings 6:14
Ver. 14. Of an, or, "of the army." To take one man was judged of such consequence; and Benadad feared lest the Israelites should rise up in his defence. H.
↑ 142 Kings 6:15
Ver. 15. Servant, Giezi; as his leprosy is placed too soon. Salien. M.
↑ 152 Kings 6:17
Ver. 17. Of fire. The angels assumed such a glorious and terrible appearance.
One of them would have sufficed to destroy all the army of Syria; and thus the servant might be convinced how vain were all attempts against God's servants, Psalm cxliv. 19. Salien, A.C. Christ 907.
Jacob beheld such camps of angels, (Gen. xxxii. 1, 2.) and our Saviour speaks of the legions which he could have brought forward, Mat. xxvi. 53. C.
↑ 172 Kings 6:18
Ver. 18. Blindness. The blindness here spoken of was of a particular kind, which hindered them from seeing the objects that were really before them; and represented other different object to their imagination; so that they no longer perceived the city of Dothan, nor were able to know the person of Eliseus; but were easily led by him, whom they took to be another man, to Samaria.
Sot that he truly told them; this is not the way, neither is this the city, &c.
because he spoke with relation to the way, and to the city which was represented to them. Ch. --- Stratagems in war are lawful. S. Chrys, &c. Grot.
Jur. iii. 1. 17. The words of the prophet might be merely ironical. ---
Blindness, Sept. aorasia, "not seeing" certain objects, while they could perceive others; as was the case of the men who sought Lot's door at Sodom; (Gen. xix. 11. C.) and the eyes of the disciples were held, that they might not know our Saviour. Eliseus had left his house, going towards Samaria to meet the soldiers; and when they asked him where the prophet dwelt, he answered truly, This, &c. For he was then near the royal city, and is above was at Dothan.
Salien. H. --- The reprobate will thus acknowledge their error, when it is too late, at the last day.
↑ 182 Kings 6:22
Ver. 22. For thou. Heb. "Dost thou kill, &c.?" If those who have surrendered themselves in battle be often spared, though they might be slain by the strict laws of war, how much less ought these men to be treated with such severity?
C. --- Sicut bellanti & resistenti violentia redditur: ita victo vel capto misericorida jam debetur. S. Aug. ep. 1. ad Bonif. Grot. --- And water, all necessary provisions. W. --- These men were suffered to live that they might relate the wonders of God. Theod. q. 20.
↑ 222 Kings 6:23
Ver. 23. Meats. So the apostle orders us to treat our enemies, Rom. xii. 20. ---
The robbers, these soldiers, who were dismissed. H. --- No more, ( ultra) or,
"no farther." (H.) during this war, or in small troops; but, a little later, Benadad came with all his forces to besiege Samaria. T. --- He was enraged at Eliseus and Joram, as if they despised his power. Salien.
↑ 232 Kings 6:25
Ver. 25. In Samaria. It had raged in all the country above three years, (Salien) and continued other four, C. viii. 1. The continuance of the siege added fresh horrors. --- Pieces is not expressed in Heb.: a sicle is understood. H. --- Lyran supposes that the whole ass was sold for about 38
crowns, (H.) or 130 livres; as we say commonly, "so much a head." But interpreters generally assert that the price of the head alone is given; which shews more forcibly the greatness of the famine. On other occasions the animal could not be eaten by the Jews. Artaxerxes was forced to kill his beasts of burden; and an ass's head was then sold for 60 drachms, or 25 livres. When Hannibal besieged Casilinum, a mouse (or rat) was sold for above 70, or for 200 denari. Plin.
viii. 57. V. Max. vii. 6, 3. --- Cabe. Sufficient measure of corn for a man's daily sustenance. M.
--- The fourth part would be about a gill. H. --- Dung. Bochart maintains that
"chick-peas" are designated. The Arab. usnen and kali, "pigeon or sparrows'
dung," are real eatables. Those who suppose that the Samaritans bought the dung of pigeons to use as salt or for food, or to burn, or to manure the earth,
&c. produce not satisfactory reasons; no more than the Rabbins, who pretend that the corn which they had picked up was taken from their crop. Tr. Megil. 3.
and the Schol.
History. Junius and Fuller would translate "belly," which is refuted by Bochart, Anim. T. ii. B. i.
7. Very disgusting things have often been used through extreme hunger, (Grot.) and some sort of birds' dung is said to fatten oxen and swine, Varro 38.
Pliny xvii. 9. --- But what nutriment can there be in that of pigeons, that people should go to buy it? C. --- Houbigant understands a sort of peas is meant. H. ---
The Hebrews called them kali when they were parched; and such food was very common. 2 K. xvii. 28. Bellon. ii. 53, and 99. C.
↑ 252 Kings 6:27
Ver. 27. Save ( salvat. ) Many ancient MSS. read salvet, conformably to the Heb.
and Sept. as if the king cursed the woman: "Let not the Lord save thee,"
Joseph. ix. 4. Others place the stops differently: "He said, no: the Lord save thee." C. --- He is the author of life. M.
↑ 272 Kings 6:29
Ver. 29. Eat him. Strange cruelty! foretold Deut. xxviii. 53, and again verified at Jerusalem.
Ezec. v. 10.
↑ 292 Kings 6:30
Ver. 30. Passed by, without punishing such a horrid crime, as he esteemed his own sins the occasion of it. M. --- Flesh. Behold the advantage to be derived from afflictions! They make the most hardened enter into sentiments of humility and penance. C. --- Abulensis thinks that God was pleased to cause the siege to be raised, to reward this act; as a similar one of Joram's father had merited a delay and mitigation of punishment, (H.) 3 K. xxi. 27. Salien.
↑ 302 Kings 6:31
Ver. 31. Day. This was said in a fit of sudden passion, which may give us reason to conclude that the repentance was insincere, or of short duration. H.
--- The king supposed that he Eliseus could remedy the evil: but God was not moved by his prayers to grant such a favour, till all were convinced that human aid was fruitless. C. --- The prophet might have answered Joram in the words of Elias, 3 K. xviii. 18. M. --- Probably he had dissuaded the king from making peace. T.
↑ 312 Kings 6:32
Ver. 32. Murderer. Achab had slain Naboth, and Jezabel had destroyed the prophets. C.
↑ 322 Kings 6:33
Ver. 33. And he, Joram, (M. &c.) after (H.) his messenger. E. Pisc. --- What, &c.
All is desperate; (C.) our miseries cannot increase. M. --- I have nothing now to fear or to hope for.
Salien.
↑ 33License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses