Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 7

THen Elisha said , Hear ye the word of the LORD, Thus saith the LORD , To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel , and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

Either, to the Messenger, to be reported to the King: or rather, to the King, being then come to him, as it is expressed, ver. 18. and to his Courtiers, who were come with him, ver. 2.

The Lord, whom you have so highly offended, and at present despise and refuse to wait upon, of his own meer Grace and Bounty hath sent you the glad tidings of your deliverance.

Heb. Seah, a Measure containing six Cabs, or 144 Egg-shells, or about a Peck and a Pottle of our Measure.

Compare this with chap. 6. 25.

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 .

When he walked. See chap. 5. 18.

Through which he could Rain down Corn, as once he did Manna.

A just punishment for such peremptory unbelief, whereby he made not onely the Prophet, but even God himself (in whose Name it was evident Elisha said and did this and other things) a lyar.

Marginal references: Heb. a lord which belonged to the King, leaning upon his hand.

3 ¶ And there were four leprous men at the entring in of the gate : and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

To wit, of the City; out of which they were shut by virtue Gods Law, Lev. 13. 46. and 14. 3▪ either, the dwellingplace of the Lepers was near the Gate: or, they were come very near the Gate, for fear of the Syrians.

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.

In the Evening twilight, as appears from v. 9. and 12.

6 For the LORD made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites , and the kings of the Egyptians to come upon us.

Either, in the Air: or rather in their Ears: otherwise the Samaritans had heard it.

Under which name (as elsewhere under the name of the Amorites) he seems to understand all, or any of the people of Canaan. For though the greatest number of that people were destroyed, yet [illegible: 1+ letters]ry many of them were spared, and many of them upon Ioshua's coming, fled away, some to more remote parts, (whi[illegible: 1+ letters] that famous and ancient Inscription upon a Pillar in Africa testifies) and others to the Lands bordering upon Canaan, where by reason of the scarcity of Inhabitants there was in t[illegible: 1+ letters]t Age room enough for them; and there they seated themselves, and grew numerous and powerful, and had (after their ancient and constant manner) Kings over them. The Kings also of Tyrus or Sidon may be here included.

By which they may understand, either the King of Egypt, the Plural Number being put for the Singular, as it is elsewhere: or, the Princes and Governors of the several Nomi or Provinces in Egypt, such being oft called kings in Scripture.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 5. 2[illegible: 1+ letters]

7 Wherefore they arose and [illegible: 1+ letters]ed in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for life .

To save their lives; which they fancied to be in such present and extream danger, that they durst not stay to take away any of their Goods, but every man fled the next way before him.

9 Then they said one to another, We do not well : this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning-light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the kings houshold.

Not well for our Brethren, whom we should pity and help: nor well for our selves; for we may suffer for this neglect; either, from the Syrians, who may lie lurking hereabouts; or, from our King and people; or, from Gods immediate hand.

Marginal references: Heb. we shall find punishment.

10 So they came, and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them , saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

To wit, the Porter and his Companies.

11 And he called the porters , and they told it to the kings house within.

Either, his fellow-Porters of the City: or rather, the Porters or Guards of the Gate of the Kings House.

13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city: (behold, they are as the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed ) and let us send and see.

So the sense is, We may well venture these Horses, though we have no more, because both they and we are ready to perish through hunger; and therefore let us use them whilst we may for our common good, or to make the discovery. But the repetition of the Phrase seems to imply something more emphatical and significant than the saving of four or five Horses, for which it is not probable they would be so much concerned in their circumstances. The words therefore may be rendred otherwise, Behold, they are of a truth (the Hebrew prefix, Caph, being not here a note of similitude, as the other Translations make it, and as it is commonly used, but an affirmation of the truth and certainty of the things, as it is taken Numb. 11. 1. Deut. 9. 10. Hos. 4. 4. and 5. 10. I[illegible: 1+ letters]h. 1. 14.) all the multitude of the Horses of Israel that are left in it: (to wit, in the City:) behold, I say, they are even all the multitude of the Horses of the Israelites, which (i. e. which multitude) are consumed, i. e. reduced to this small number, all consumed except these five. And thus the vulgar Latin, and some others, understand it. And this was indeed a memorable passage, and worthy of a double behold, to shew what mischief the Famine had done both upon Men and Beasts, and to what a low ebb the King of Israel was come, that all his Troops of Horses, to which he had trusted, were shrunk to so small a number.

Marginal references: Heb. in it.

14 They took therefore two chariot-horses , and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go, and see.

Or, two chariots [illegible: 1+ letters]f horses: or rather, two chariot-horses, as divers render the words, i. e. Horses which belonged to the Kings Chariots. For single Horses [illegible: 1 word] much more proper for this service, than Chariots and Horses. And whereas it was moved by the Kings Servant that all the five Horses should be sent, it seems it was thought by the King and others, that two were sufficient for that purpose.

Marginal references: Heb. two chariots of horses, 1. Kin. 10. 29.

15 And they went after them unto Jordan, and lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste ; and the messengers returned and told the king.

Or, in their fear or consternation, wherewith God struck them.

Marginal references: Or. in the[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word]

17 ¶ And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned, to have the charge of the gate : and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

Partly, to prevent tumults, and disorders and mischiefs amongst the people: and partly, to take order about the shutting of the Gates, if need were, and if the Syrians should happen to return upon them.