2 Kings 7:5

_AND THEY ROSE UP IN THE TWILIGHT, TO GO UNTO THE CAMP OF THE SYRIANS: AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP OF SYRIA, BEHOLD, THERE WAS NO MAN THERE._ They rose up in the twilight - i:e., the evening twilight (2 Kings 7:12). THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP OF SYRIA - i:e., the extremity nearest the city....

3-11 God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerful checks on the selfishness of the ungodly. These feelings tend to preserve order and kindness in the world; but they who have found the unsearchable riches of Christ, will not long delay to report the good tidings to others. From love to him, not from selfish feelings, they will gladly share their earthly good things with their brethren....

Verse 2 Kings 7:5. _THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP_] Where the Syrian advanced guards should have been....

THE TWILIGHT - The evening twilight (see 2 Kings 7:9). THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP - The extreme boundary of the camp toward the city, not its furthest or most distant portion. Compare 2 Kings 7:8....

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 THEY ROSE UP IN THE TWILIGHT, TO GO UNTO THE CAMP OF THE SYRIANS,...., The dusk of the evening, or the evening twilight, as appears from 2 Kings 7:9, AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE CAMP OF SYRIA; not the further part of it, but the edge or border of it nearest to them: BEHOLD, THERE WAS NO MAN THERE; no sentinel or guard, which they expected, and to whom they would have surrendered themselves....

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

TWILIGHT. darkness. See note on the _Homonym,_ 1 Samuel 30:1....

_in the twilight_ This must be evening twilight. For in verse 9 they blame themselves for tarrying until morning light, and it was in the night (verse 12) that Jehoram was roused by the news that the Syrian camp was vacated. _to the uttermost_[R.V. OUTERMOST] _part of the camp of Syria_ R.V. THE SYRIANS. The portion meant is that which was nearest to them, but -uttermost" has lost that sense now, and would be taken to signify the -farthest portion". Hence the change here and in verse 8. The Hebrew word for Syria is _Aram_, which is used alike for the country and the people; and since it is rendered -Syrians" in the first clause of this verse, and in other places of the chapter, there is no need why it should be otherwise translated here....