Allied army distressed for water. B. C. 895. II. KINGS. A. M. 3109. and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle 2 that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, Alas, that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab ! 11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat which poured water on the hands of Elijah. 12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, i What have I to do with thee? get thee to Elisha promises an abundant supply. B. C. 895. 1the prophets of thy father, and to A. M. 3109. 15 But now bring me a " minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, P Make this valley full of ditches. 17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that 11 Kings xviii. 19.- 1 Kings xvii. 1; Ch. v. 16. 1 Sam. x. 5.- Ezek. i. 3; iii. 14, 22; viii. 1.- -P Chap. iv. 3. m Verses 10, 11. The king of Israel said, Alas, &c. Let these idols, which thou servest in thy pros-He did not cry to God for help, but only bewailed perity, now help thee in thy distress. The king of the straits into which they were fallen; which his Israel said, Nay, &c.—That is, I will not consult own guilt made him imagine God had brought to them; but do thou now give us counsel how we pass for their destruction. Jehoshaphat said, Is may be extricated from this great distress. For the there not here a prophet-This he should have asked Lord hath called, &c.-He was sensible it was by before, when they first undertook the expedition, as the particular providence of the God of Israel that he did in a like case, (1 Kings xxii. 5,) and for that || he was brought into this strait, and perhaps secretly neglect he now suffers; but better late than never: he believed in Jehovah alone as the true God, his affliction brings him to the remembrance of his though, for political reasons, he worshipped the former sin, and present duty. Here is Elisha, who calves. poured water, &c.—Who was his servant: this being one office of a servant: and this office was the || more necessary among the Israelites, because of the frequent washings which their law required. Probably it was by a special direction from God that Elisha followed them, unasked, unobserved. Thus does God prevent us with the blessings of his good-friendship and society of good men. ness, and provide for those who provide not for themselves. Verse 12. The word of the Lord is with him—|| He is a true prophet, and the Lord declares his will by him. Undoubtedly he had been informed how Elijah had chosen him his successor; how he had|| attended him till he was taken up into heaven, and what wonders he had already done. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, &c., went down to him -To his tent, which was either in the camp or not far from it. They did not send for him, but went to him, that by paying him this respect, and thus honouring him, they might engage him to give them his utmost assistance. Verse 13. Elisha said to the king of Israel,|| What have I, &c.?-I desire not to have any discourse with thee. Get thee to the prophet of thy father, &c.-Seek counsel and help of thy false prophets and of their gods, the calves, which thou, after thy father's example, worshippest; and the Baals, which thy mother yet worships by thy permission. Verse 14. Were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat-Whom I reverence and love for his piety, and therefore for his sake will inquire of the Lord for you all. It is good being with those who possess God's favour and the love of his people. Wicked men often fare the better for the Verse 15. Now bring me a minstrel-One that can sing and play well upon an instrument of music. This he requires, that his mind, which had been disturbed at the sight of idolatrous Jehoram, might be composed, and that he might be excited to more fervent prayer, and thereby be prepared to receive the prophetic inspiration. See on 1 Sam. x. 5, and xvi. 16. Those that desire communion with God, must keep their spirits quiet and serene. All hurry of spirits, and all turbulent passions, make us unfit for divine visitations. The hand of the Lord came upon him-The spirit of prophecy, so called, to note that it was no natural or acquired virtue inherent in him, but a singular gift of God, given to whom and when he pleased. Verses 16, 17. Make this valley full of ditchesWhich may receive the water and retain it, for the use of men and beasts. They that expect God's blessings, must prepare room for them. Ye shall not see wind-Any of those winds which commonly bring rain. Seeing is here put for perceiving or The water appears like blood. B. C. 895. B. C. 895. A. M. 3109. valley shall be filled with water, that || they gathered all that were able to A. M. 3109 ye may drink, both ye, and your 5 put on armour and upward, and cattle, and your beasts. stood in the border. 18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and 'mar every good piece of land with stones. 20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat-offering was offered, that behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, 22 And they rose up early in the morning and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood : 23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. 'Heb. grieve. Exodus xxix, 39, 40.— Heb. were cried to- | Heb. gird himself with a girdle.- - Heb. destroyed.—7 Or, gether. they smote in it even smiting. feeling; the words belonging to one sense, being frequently applied to another. Neither shall ye see rain-Elijah, by prayer, obtained water from the sea and clouds: but Elisha fetches it nobody knows whence. God is not confined to second causes. Ordinarily it is by a plentiful rain that he refreshes || his inheritance: but here it is done without any Verse 21. All that were able to put on armour and such means. Yet that valley shall be filled with || upward-That is, from youths, that were but just water-That valley only, it seems, and no other able to put on armour, to those that were far adplace, however near or adjoining, which greatly in-vanced in life; so that none were exempted. And creased the miracle. stood in the border-Of their country, intending to defend themselves, but not to march out of their country to give the enemy battle. versy between the Israelites and the Jews, about the place and manner of worship, and give a public testimony from heaven for the Jews, and against the Israelites. God, that commands all the waters both above and beneath the firmament, sent them abundance of water on a sudden. Verse 18. This is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord-But a small favour in comparison of what he intends to do for you, for Jehoshaphat's sake. He will give you more than you expect or ask. For they were so weakened and discouraged by the great drought, that they had no hopes of proceeding in the offensive war, and thought it sufficient, if it were possible, to defend themselves from the Moabites, verse 13. seem severe, Verse 19. Ye shall smite, &c.—If this command it must be considered that the Moabites were a very wicked people, perfidious, cruel, and implacable enemies to God's people upon all occasions, and now in a state of rebellion. But these words are rather to be considered as a prediction of their success, than as a command, enjoining them to do all these things; and thus understood, they imply that their victory should be so full and complete, that they should have it in their power to lay the country of the Moabites waste with fire and sword. Verses 22, 23. The sun shone upon the water, &c.They stood in such a situation, when they looked at the water, that those rays of the sun which gave a red colour, were reflected from the water to their eyes; or the light of the morning sun shining upon the water, through the vapours that arose from the earth, gave it a reddish appearance; so that they imagined it to be blood, which they were the more inclined to suppose, because they knew very well there was no water there before. And they said— The kings are surely slain, &c.-As they concluded what they saw could be nothing but blood, so they could not conceive it could be any other blood than that of the army of the three kings, who they thought had fallen out among themselves, vexed at the straits into which they had brought one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil-Easily believing what they wished, they imagined they had nothing to do but to go and take the spoil, having no need to fight at all. Therefore they sent no scouts, but marched thither with their whole army, and that in great disorder: wherein, also, there was a divine hand, strengthening them in their mistakes, and hardening them to their destruction. Verse 20. In the morning when the meat-offering was offered-That is, at the time of the morning sacrifice, which doubtless was attended with the solemn prayers of God's people. At this time Elisha joined his prayers with the prayers of God's people, especially those at Jerusalem. And this time God Verse 24. They went forward, smiting the Moabchose to answer their prayers, and to work this mi-ites, even in their country-They pursued them to racle, that thereby he might determine the contro- their own country, and entered it with and after Elisha miraculously multiplies A. M. 3109. II. KINGS. the oil of a prophet's widow. B. C. 895. 25 And they beat down the cities, || him seven hundred men that drew A. M. 3109. and on every good piece of land cast swords, to break through even unto every man his stone, and filled it; and they the king of Edom: but they could not. stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. 8 27 Then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with || land. Heb. until he left the stones thereof in Kir-haraseth. t r Isa. xvi. 7, 11.- Amos ii. 1. Chap. viii. 20. them; the passes, which the Moabites had before whatever was most dear to them." Eusebius and defended, being now open to them. Verse 25. They stopped all the wells of water, &c.-These, in all probability, are hyperbolical expressions, signifying the great devastation which they made. Only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof This was the royal city of Moab, into which the remnant of the Moabites were gathered, and where also their king was with them. The wall and buildings of this city only were left; their whole country being destroyed. Howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it-By slinging stones, they drove those from the wall who defended it, and by raising batteries against it, made great breaches therein, by which they might enter the city and take it. Verse 26. He took with him seven hundred men— to break through, &c.-He made a sally with seven hundred stout men, upon the quarter of the king of Edom, which he thought the weakest side, hoping to break through and escape. But they were repulsed, and compelled to retreat. Lactantius mention several nations who used these sacrifices. And "Cesar, in his war with the Gauls, tells us that when they were afflicted with grievous diseases, or in time of war or great danger, they either offered men for sacrifices, or vowed that they would offer them; because they imagined that their gods could never be appeased unless one man's life was given for another's. In conformity with this horrid custom, and to appease, no doubt, as he thought, the anger of his idol Chemosh, the king of Moab made this costly sacrifice of his eldest son; a deed which, it is plain from the text, was held in the greatest abhorrence by the Israelites."-Dodd. For so, it seems, we are to understand the following words, which should be rendered, not, There was great indignation against Israel, but, There was great trouble, or repentance upon (in or among) Israel: that is, they were extremely grieved on account of this barbarous sacrifice, and wished they had not pushed on a war so far, which ended in such horrid action. They departed from him, and returned to their own land-They resolved to prosecute the war no further; but raised the siege, by common consent, and returned home, for fear any such thing should be done again. Verse 27. He took his eldest son—and offered him || a for a burnt-offering upon the wall-"Not only the Holy Scriptures, but several heathen writers assure us, that in case of great extremity, it was customary among various people to sacrifice to their gods CHAPTER IV. Elisha multiplies the widow's oil, 1-7. Obtains a son for the Shunammite, 8-17. Raises him again to life, 18-37. Heals the deadly pottage, 38-41. Feeds a hundred men with twenty small loaves, 42-44. B. C. 895. A. M. 3109. NOW there cried a certain woman | prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy A. M. 309. of the wives of the sons of the servant my husband is dead; and B. C. 895. a 1 Kings xx. 35. NOTES ON CHAPTER IV. Verse 1. A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets-Who, though they were wholly devoted to sacred employments, yet were not excluded from marriage, any more than the priests and Levites. My husband-did fear the Lord-His poverty, therefore, was not procured by his idleness or prodigality, but by his piety, because he would not comply with the king's way of worship, and therefore lost all worldly advantages. The creditor is come to take my two sons to be bond-men-Either to use them as his slaves, or sell them to others, according to the law among the Hebrews in such a case. Elisha is very hospitably entertained B. C. 895. B. C. 895. A. M. 3109. thou knowest that thy servant did || full, that she said unto her son, Bring A. M. 3109. come 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not any thing in the house save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow1 not a few. C 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. And the oil me yet a vessel. And he said unto 7 Then she came and told the man of God. rest. 8 ¶ And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the ressels to her; and she poured out. Leviticus xxv. 39; Matthew xviii. 25.- Chapter iii. 16. 1 Or, scant not. Verse 2. Elisha said, What shall I do for thee? -How shall I relieve thee, who am myself poor? Tell me, what hast thou in the house?—Toward the discharge of thy husband's debts. keep it for her own use. Those whom Providence Verses 4-6. Thou shalt shut the door upon thee, Verse 8. Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a Verse 7. He said, Go, sell the oil-She must not ! A. M. 3109. candlestick and it shall be, when B. C. 895. her, she stood before him. 13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, dwell among my own people. I 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. e Gen. xviii. 10, 14. him there a bed and a table, &c.-He will not be troublesome or chargeable to us: he cares not for rich furniture or costly entertainment, but is content || with bare necessaries. And he shall turn in thither-Take up his lodging there, if he think good. Verse 12. She stood before him-The narrative seems to be a little perplexed, but may be thus conceived: it is in this verse recorded in the general, that the prophet sent Gehazi to call her, and that she came to him upon that call; then follows a particular description of the whole business, with all the circumstances; first, of the message with which Gehazi was sent when he went to call her, and of her answer to that message, (verse 13,) and Gehazi's conjecture thereupon, (verse 14,) and then of her coming to the prophet at his call; which is there repeated to make way for the following passages. she should have a son. B. C. 895. 15 And he said, Call her. And A. M. 3109. when he had called her, she stood in the door. e 16 And he said, About this 5 season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid. 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. 18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head! And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20 And when he had taken him, and brought 5 Heb. set time.- Verse 28. his chamber, while Gehazi went more freely about the house, as occasion led him. Gehazi answered, Verily, she hath no child-She has a great estate, but no son to leave it to, and is past hopes of having any, her husband being old: if Elisha can obtain this favour from God for her, it will be the removal of that which, at present, was her only grievance. Those kindnesses are the most welcome which are most suited to our necessities. When he had called her, she stood at the door-Either out of modesty, or reverence, or an unwillingness to disturb him. Verses 16, 17. About this season, according to the time of life-About this time next year; see on Gen. xviii. 10; thou shall embrace a son-She had received this prophet in the name of a prophet, and now she receives, not a courtier's reward, in being spoken for to the king, but a prophet's reward, a Verse 13. What is to be done for thee?-Wherein signal mercy, given in answer to a prophet's prayer. can I serve thee? For he was very desirous, as all || Nay, my lord, do not lie unto thy handmaid-Do good men are, to be grateful. "They that receive not delude me with vain hopes. She could not becourtesies," says Henry, "should study to return || lieve it for joy. The woman-bare a son at that them. It ill becomes men of God to be ungrateful,|| season that Elisha had said unto her-The event, or to sponge upon those that are generous." Wouldst thou be spoken for to the king, &c.?-For an office for thy husband, civil or military? Hast thou any complaint to make; any petition to present; any suit at law depending, that needs the countenance of the higher powers? It seems by this the prophet had got such an interest at court, since the late-A more than common heat of the sun probably victory over the Moabites, that though he minded not to prefer himself by it, yet he was capable of preferring his friends. I dwell among my own people-I live among my kindred and friends; nor have I any cause to seek relief from the higher powers. within the time limited, confirmed the truth of the promise. God built up her house in reward of her kindness in building the prophet a chamber. Verses 18-21. He went out to his father to the reapers-Either for pleasure, or with some message to him. He said to his father, My head, my head! made him thus ill. The hand of Providence, however, was in the affliction, that occasion might be given to the prophet of working a wonderful miracle for the manifestation of the glory of God, like that which Elijah had wrought for the widow of ZareVerses 14, 15. And he said, What then is to be phath. He sat on her knees till noon, and then died done for her?-The above answer being returned to His pain was so violent, that it killed him in a few his master by Gehazi, Elisha asked him what he hours. She laid him on the bed of the man of God thought might be most welcome to her, as if he had-The pious mother possesses her soul in patience said, Hast thou observed any thing which she wants or desires? For the prophet kept himself much in under this surprising affliction: not one peevish, indecent word drops from her lips. She has a strong |