_ELISHA CAUSETH AN AXE, WHICH HAD FALLEN INTO THE JORDAN, TO SWIM. HE DISCLOSETH THE SECRET COUNSELS OF THE KING OF SYRIA TO THE KING OF ISRAEL. HE LEADS THE SYRIANS INTO SAMARIA; A SEVERE FAMINE RAGES THERE._ _Before Christ 893._... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CUT DOWN A STICK, AND CAST IT IN THITHER. &C.— The calling in this stick could no more contribute to the performance of the present miracle, than the garment of Elijah to the division of the Jordan, or the clay put by our Lord upon the eyes of the blind man to the recovery of his sight. These ina... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE MY CAMP— _I will lie in wait._ Houbigant. And so at the end of the ninth verse, instead of _thither the Syrians are come down,_ he reads, _there the Syrians lie in wait. Not once nor twice,_ at the end of the tenth verse, signifies _frequently:_ and at the end of the eleventh, instead of _w... [ Continue Reading ]
ELISHA THE PROPHET—TELLETH, &C.— It is not to be doubted but that Naaman, upon his return from Samaria, spread the fame of Elisha so much in the court of Syria, that some of the great men there might have the curiosity to make a further inquiry concerning him; and being informed by several of his mi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD OPENED THE EYES OF THE YOUNG MAN, &C.— It is probable that this young man had been but a little while with his master; no longer than since Gehazi's dismission; and therefore, perhaps, had not seen any great experiments of his power to work miracles; or if he had, the great and imminent dan... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS NOT THE WAY, &C.— Elisha says this without being asked; for if the Syrians had asked him whether this was the way to the city of Dothan, his answer certainly would have been a falsehood; from which his words are clear; _this is not the way, neither is this the city;_ because the prophet does... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULDEST THOU SMITE THOSE, &C.?— _Wouldest thou smite them as if thou hadst taken them,_ &c.? Houbigant. Elisha here urges, that it would not only be more merciful, but more prudent and politic, to spare and treat them kindly; for thus, upon their return, they would become so many preachers, as it w... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THIS, THAT BEN-HADAD, &C.— It has been often observed, that injuries are more gloriously overcome by benefits, than requited by pertinacious and mutual hatred; but the sense of benefits does not last long in bad natures. No sooner do we read of the kind treatment which the Syri... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ASS'S HEAD WAS SOLD FOR FOURSCORE PIECES OF SILVER, &C.— If we reckon these pieces of silver at fifteen pence a-piece, they come to five pounds sterling: a great price for that which had on it so little meat, and that too _unclean,_ according to the law, Leviticus 11:26. In times of famine, howev... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE BOILED MY SON, &C.— This shocking anecdote is a terrible effect of the divine vengeance, which Moses had long before told the Israelites would fall upon them, if they rebelled against God. The same evil happened to them at two other times besides this; at the siege of Jerusalem, under Nebuchad... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ELISHA SAT IN HIS HOUSE— Some suppose, that by the _house_ of Elisha, is meant the _school,_ where the sons of the prophets met to be instructed; and by the _elders,_ his chief scholars, who, under his instruction, applied themselves to the study of divine things. But as we frequently read in Ez... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, BEHOLD THIS EVIL IS OF THE LORD, &C.— _He said,_ that is, according to some, the messenger; though Houbigant rather thinks that it was the king himself; for it appears both from the preceding verse, and from Exodus 6:17 of the next chapter, that the king came to Elisha; and as Elisha ha... [ Continue Reading ]