2 Kings 7:2

_THEN A LORD ON WHOSE HAND THE KING LEANED ANSWERED THE MAN OF GOD, AND SAID, BEHOLD, IF THE LORD WOULD MAKE WINDOWS IN HEAVEN, MIGHT THIS THING BE? AND HE SAID, BEHOLD, THOU SHALT SEE IT WITH THINE EYES, BUT SHALT NOT EAT THEREOF._ A lord on whose hand the king leaned. When an Eastern king walks, or stands abroad in the open air, he always supports himself on the arm of the highest courtier present. IF THE LORD WOULD MAKE WINDOWS IN HEAVEN, х_ 'ARUBOWT_ (H699)] - windows closed by a lattice; but here "windows in heaven" denote sluices, floodgates, opened to let rain fall (cf. Genesis 7:11; Genesis 8:2; Isaiah 24:18;...

1,2 Man's extremity is God's opportunity of making his own power to be glorious: his time to appear for his people is when their strength is gone. Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselves of the favours he designed for them. Such will be the portion of those that believe not the promise of eternal life; they shall see it at a distance, but shall never taste of it. But no temporal deliverances and mercies will in the end profit sinners, unless they are led to repentance by the goodness of God....

Verse 2 Kings 7:2. _THEN A LORD_] שליש _shalish_. This word, as a name of _office_, occurs often, and seems to point out one of the highest offices in the state. So unlikely was this prediction to be fulfilled, that he thought God must pour out wheat and barley from heaven before it could have a literal accomplishment. _BUT SHALT NOT EAT THEREOF._] This was a mere prediction of his _death_, but not as a judgment for his unbelief; any person in his circumstances might have spoken as he did. He stated in effect that nothing but a miracle could procure the plenty predicted, and by a miracle alone was it done; and any person in his place might have been trodden to death by the crowd in the gate of Samaria....

A LORD - Rather, “the captain,” as in Exodus 14:7; 1 Kings 9:22; etc. The term itself, שׁלישׁ _shâlı̂ysh_ (derived from שׁלושׁ _shâlôsh_, “three,”) may be compared with the Latin “tribunus.” WINDOWS - Rather, “sluices” (compare Genesis 7:11). The “lord” means to say “If Yahweh were to open sluices in heaven, and pour down grain as He poured down rain in the time of the Deluge, even then could there be such abudnance as thou speakest of?”...

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

THEN A LORD, ON WHOSE HAND THE KING LEANED,.... Not figuratively, in whom the king confided, but literally, on whose hand he rested, and by whom he was supported, being a form and matter of state, while he and Elisha were talking together, or on whom he leaned as he came to him; this was a principal lord, the third to the king, as his title seems to denote; the word by which the Septuagint renders it is by Suidas u interpreted of such that held three spears in the hand together; and this was an honourable post, for a king to lean on him; such state was used by the king of Syria, 2 Kings 5:18 and by the kings and queens of Persia; so Gorionides w says of Esther, that on the third day; she put on her beautiful garments and glorious ornaments, and took two of her maidens with her, and put her right hand on one of them, and leaned upon her in a royal manner, or as was the manner of kings: th...

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

LEANED. Compare 2 Kings 5:18. MAN OF GOD. See App-49. THOU SHALT SEE IT. Compare verses: 2 Kings 7:19....

_Then a lord_ R.V. THE CAPTAIN. This is the usual rendering except in this narrative. The same change is made by R.V. in verses 17 and 19. The word is originally the title of some military officer. Hence the greater fitness of -captain". _on whose hand the king leaned_ For the expression cf. 2 Kings 5:18, where Naaman describes himself as attending in this capacity. By taking the hand of any one as they walked by their side royal persons shewed their friendship and confidence. _Behold,_if _the Lord would_[R.V. SHOULD] _make windows in heaven_ There is no mark of the hypothesis in the Hebrew, as is shewn by the italic -if" of A.V. But the sense is hypothetical. Literally the words are -Behold the Lord [is] making &c." This is said in derision. Almost as if the captain had said, -I suppose then the Lord is going to make &c." and then he follow