2 Kings 7:12

_AND THE KING AROSE IN THE NIGHT, AND SAID UNTO HIS SERVANTS, I WILL NOW SHEW YOU WHAT THE SYRIANS HAVE DONE TO US. THEY KNOW THAT WE BE HUNGRY; THEREFORE ARE THEY GONE OUT OF THE CAMP TO HIDE THEMSELVES IN THE FIELD, SAYING, WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE CITY, WE SHALL CATCH THEM ALIVE, AND GET INTO THE CITY._ I will now show you what the Syrians have done. Similar stratagems have been so often resorted to in the ancient and modern wars of the East (see 'History of the Revolt of Ali Bey' for a deception almost the same), that there is no wonder Jehoram's suspicions were awakened. But the scouts whom he despatched soon found unmistakeable signs of the panic that had struck the enemy, and led to a most precipitous flight....

12-20 Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his own folly; but he did not eat of the plenty he saw. Justly do those find the world's promises fail them, who think that the promises of God will disappoint them. Learn how deeply God resents distrust of his power, providence, and promise: how uncertain life is, and the enjoyments of it: how certain God's threatenings are, and how sure to come on the guilty. May God help us to inquire whether we are exposed to his threatenings, or interested in his promises....

Verse 2 Kings 7:12. _THE KING AROSE IN THE NIGHT_] This king had made a noble defence; 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 king, in order to get possession of the city....

HIS SERVANTS - i. e., “high officers of the household,” not mere domestics. I WILL SHEW YOU WHAT THE SYRIANS HAVE DONE - Jehoram sees in the deserted camp a stratagem like that connected with the taking of Ai Joshua 8:3. The suspicion was a very natural one, since the Israelites knew of no reason why the Syrians should have raised the siege....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 7:1 THE SIEGE OF SAMARIA (_continued_)_: _THE DELIVERANCE. 2 KINGS 7:1, 2 KINGS 7:2 The separation of these verses from the preceding narrative is most unfortunate. They are an integral part of it, and form its climax. In answer to the king's attempt upon his life, and hasty speech in which he has threatened to renounce Jehovah, Elisha is commissioned to proclaim that the siege is on the point of terminating, the famine about to be within twenty-four hours succeeded by a time of plenty. There is thu

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 in ambush: SAYING, WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE CITY; which they supposed they would do through hunger: WE SHALL CATCH THEM ALIVE; take them captive at once: AND GET INTO THE CITY; being open to let them out, and receive them on their return....

6. ELISHA'S PREDICTION AND ITS FULFILMENT CHAPTER 7 _ 1. Elisha's prediction (2 Kings 7:1)_ 2. The unbelieving lord (2 Kings 7:2) 3. The four lepers and their discovery (2 Kings 7:3) 4. The day of good tidings (2 Kings 7:9) 5. The prediction fulfilled (2 Kings 7:16) 6. The death of the unbelieving lord (2 Kings 7:19) When the worst had come, Samaria starving to death, the king in despondency, Elisha's life threatened, t

2 Kings 6:24 to 2 Kings 7:20. THE SIEGE OF SAMARIA. The date and source of this episode need discussion. The name of the king of Syria, as in 1 Kings 20, was Ben-hadad; the king of Israel is not named at all. Two Benhadads are possible, the king in 1 Kings 20 who was defeated by Ahab, and the son and successor of Hazael (2 Kings 13:24). If the first is meant, then Jehoram was king of Israel; if not, Jehoash, the grandson of Jehu. Elisha was called in the days of Ahab, and lived under Ahab and his two sons Ahaziah and Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash, dying under the last-named king. It is true that Elisha called the king this son of a murderer, which may be applicable to a son of Ahab; but son of may be used as the commo

The report of the Syrian flight found to be true. The consequent plenty in Samaria (Not in Chronicles) 12. _the king arose in the night_ The news was so important that though it was night-time, the messengers went with it to the king's bedchamber, and he, though probably thinking the report much too good to be true, at once arose to take measures for investigating it. _what the Syrians have done to us_ i.e. with the hope of entrapping us....

II. ELISHA'S PREDICTIVE MIRACLES 6:24-8:15 Three predictive miracles of Elisha are recorded in connection with this period of Aramean invasion: He predicted (1) the deliverance of Samaria from an Aramean siege (2 Kings 6:24 to 2 Kings 7:20); (2) a famine in Israel (2 Kings 8:1-6); and (3) the murderous career of Hazael (2 Kings 8:7-15). A. PREDICTION OF DELIVERANCE FOR SAMARIA 6:24-7:20 Several different stories connected with an Aramean siege of Samaria have been collected in 2 Kings 6:24 to...