1Řekli pak synové proročtí Elizeovi: Ej, teď místo toto, v němž bydlíme s tebou, jest nám těsné. 2Medle, nechť jdeme až k Jordánu, abychom vzali odtud jeden každý jedno dřevo, a uděláme sobě tu místo, v němž bychom bydlili. Jimž řekl: Jděte. 3I řekl jeden: Prosím, poď také s služebníky svými. Kterýž odpověděl: A já půjdu. 4Takž šel s nimi. A když přišli k Jordánu, sekali dříví. 5I stalo se, když jeden z nich podtínal dřevo, že sekera spadla mu do vody. Tedy zkřikl a řekl: Ach, pane můj, a ta ještě byla vypůjčená. 6Jemuž řekl muž Boží: Kamž jest upadla? I ukázal mu to místo. Kterýž uťav dřevo, uvrhl je tam, a učinil, aby zplynula sekera. 7A řekl: Vezmi ji sobě. Kterýž vztáh ruku svou, vzal ji. 8Když pak král Syrský bojoval proti Izraelovi, a vešel v radu s služebníky svými, řka: Na tom a na tom místě položí se vojsko mé: 9Tedy poslal muž Boží k králi Izraelskému, řka: Viz, abys netáhl přes to místo, nebo tam Syrští jsou v zálohách. 10Protož posílal král Izraelský na to místo, o kterémž mu byl řekl muž Boží, a vystříhal ho, aby se ho šetřil a to nejednou ani dvakrát. 11A tak zkormoutil se v srdci svém král Syrský pro tu věc, a svolav služebníky své, řekl jim: Proč mi neoznámíte, kdo z našich králi Izraelskému donáší? 12Jemuž řekl jeden z služebníků jeho: Nikoli, pane můj králi, ale Elizeus prorok, kterýž jest v Izraeli, oznamuje králi Izraelskému slova, kteráž ty mluvíš v nejtajnějším pokoji svém. 13Kterýž řekl: Jděte a vizte, kde jest, abych poslal a jal jej. I oznámeno jemu těmito slovy: Hle, jest v Dotain. 14Protož poslal tam koně a vozy a vojsko veliké. Kteříž přitáhše v noci, oblehli město. 15Vstav pak ráno služebník muže Božího, vyšel, a aj, vojsko obklíčilo město, koni i vozové. I řekl služebník ten jeho k němu: Ach, pane můj, což budeme dělati? 16Kterýž odpověděl: Neboj se, nebo mnohem více jich s námi jest, než s nimi. 17I modlil se Elizeus a řekl: Ó Hospodine, otevři, prosím, oči jeho, aby viděl. A tak otevřel Hospodin oči služebníka toho, a viděl, a aj, hora ta plná koňů, a vozové ohniví okolo Elizea. 18A když nepřátelé táhli k němu, modlil se Elizeus Hospodinu a řekl: Poraz, prosím, národ tento slepotou. I porazil je slepotou vedlé řeči Elizeovy. 19V tom řekl jim Elizeus: Neníť to ta cesta, ani to město. Poďte za mnou, a dovedu vás k muži, kteréhož hledáte. Takž je vedl do Samaří. 20I stalo se, když vešli do Samaří, že řekl Elizeus: Ó Hospodine, otevři oči těchto, ať vidí. Tedy otevřel Hospodin oči jejich, a viděli, že jsou u prostřed Samaří. 21Řekl pak král Izraelský Elizeovi, když je uzřel: Mám-liž je zmordovati, otče můj? 22Odpověděl on: Nemorduj. Zdaliž jsi je zjímal mečem svým a lučištěm svým, abys je zmordoval? Dej jim chleba a vody, ať jedí a pijí, a navrátí se ku pánu svému. 23A tak připravil jim hojnost velikou, a když pojedli a napili se, propustil je. Oni pak navrátili se ku pánu svému, aniž kdy více potom lotříkové Syrští vskakovali do země Izraelské. 24Stalo se potom, že shromáždil Benadad král Syrský všecka vojska svá, a přitáh, oblehl Samaří. 25Pročež byl hlad veliký v Samaří; nebo aj, tak dlouho obleženo bylo, až hlava oslová byla za osmdesáte stříbrných, a čtvrtý díl míry káb trusů holubích za pět stříbrných. 26I přihodilo se, když král Izraelský šel po zdi, žena jedna zvolala k němu, řkuci: Spomoz mi, pane můj králi. 27Kterýž řekl: Jestliť nespomůže Hospodin, odkud já mám pomoci tobě? Zdali z humna aneb z presu? 28Řekl jí ještě král: Cožtě pak? Kteráž odpověděla: Žena tato řekla mi: Dej syna svého, abychom ho dnes snědly, zítra také sníme syna mého. 29I uvařily jsme syna mého, a snědly jsme jej. Potom druhého dne řekla jsem jí: Dej syna svého, abychom ho snědly. Ale ona skryla syna svého. 30A když uslyšel král slova ženy té, roztrhl roucha svá. (Když pak on šel po zdi, viděl lid, an pytel byl na těle jeho zespod.) 31Protož řekl král: Toto mi učiň Bůh a toto přidej, jestliže zůstane hlava Elizea syna Safatova na něm dnes. 32(Elizeus pak seděl v domě svém, a starší s ním seděli.) I poslal jednoho z přístojících svých, a prvé než přišel posel ten k němu, již byl řekl starším: Nevíte-liž, že poslal ten syn vražedlníkův, aby sťal hlavu mou? Šetřtež, když by vcházel ten posel, zavřete dvéře a odstrčte jej ode dveří. Zdaliž i dusání noh pána jeho není za ním? 33A když on ještě mluvil s nimi, hle, posel přicházel k němu, a řekl: Aj, toto zlé jest od Hospodina, což mám déle čekati na něj?
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ELISHA CAUSES IRON TO SWIM. (
2Kgs 6:1-7)
the place where we dwell with thee--Margin, "sit before thee." The one points to a common residence--the other to a common place of meeting. The tenor of the narrative shows the humble condition of Elisha's pupils. The place was either Beth-el or Jericho, probably the latter. The ministry and miracles of Elisha brought great accessions to his schools.
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan--whose wooded banks would furnish plenty of timber.
5 it was borrowed--literally, "begged." The scholar's distress arose from the consideration that it had been presented to him; and that, owing to his poverty, he could not procure another.
6 cut down a stick, and cast it in thither--Although this means was used, it had no natural adaptation to make the iron swim. Besides, the Jordan is at Jericho so deep and rapid that there were one thousand chances to one against the stick falling into the hole of the axe-head. All attempts to account for the recovery of the lost implement on such a theory must be rejected.
the iron did swim--only by the miraculous exertion of Elisha's power.
8 DISCLOSES THE KING OF SYRIA'S COUNSEL. (
2Kgs 6:8-17)
the king of Syria warred against Israel--This seems to have been a sort of guerrilla warfare, carried on by predatory inroads on different parts of the country. Elisha apprised King Jehoram of the secret purpose of the enemy; so, by adopting precautionary measures, he was always enabled to anticipate and defeat their attacks. The frequency of his disappointments having led the Syrian king to suspect some of his servants of carrying on a treacherous correspondence with the enemy, he was informed about Elisha, whose apprehension he forthwith determined to effect. This resolution was, of course, grounded on the belief that however great the knowledge of Elisha might be, if seized and kept a prisoner, he could no longer give information to the king of Israel.
13 Dothan--or, "Dothaim," a little north of Samaria (see on
Gen 37:17).
15 his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?--When the Syrian detachment surrounded the place by night, for the apprehension of the prophet, his servant was paralyzed with fear. This was a new servant, who had only been with him since Gehazi's dismissal and consequently had little or no experience of his master's powers. His faith was easily shaken by so unexpected an alarm.
17 Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see--The invisible guard of angels that encompass and defend us (
Ps 34:7). The opening of the eyes, which Elisha prayed for, were those of the Spirit, not of the body--the eye of faith sees the reality of the divine presence and protection where all is vacancy or darkness to the ordinary eye. The horses and chariots were symbols of the divine power (see on
2Kgs 2:12); and their fiery nature denoted their supernatural origin; for fire, the most ethereal of earthly elements, is the most appropriate symbol of the Godhead [KEIL].
18 HIS ARMY SMITTEN WITH BLINDNESS. (
2Kgs 6:18-23)
Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness--not a total and material blindness, for then they could not have followed him, but a mental hallucination (see
Gen 19:11) so that they did not perceive or recognize him to be the object of their search.
19 This is not the way, neither is this the city--This statement is so far true that, as he had now left the place of his residence, they would not have got him by that road. But the ambiguity of his language was purposely framed to deceive them; and yet the deception must be viewed in the light of a stratagem, which has always been deemed lawful in war.
he led them to Samaria--When they were arrived in the midst of the capital, their eyes, at Elisha's request, were opened, and they then became aware of their defenseless condition, for Jehoram had received private premonition of their arrival. The king, so far from being allowed to slay the enemies who were thus unconsciously put in his power, was recommended to entertain them with liberal hospitality and then dismiss them to their own country. This was humane advice; it was contrary to the usage of war to put war captives to death in cold blood, even when taken by the point of the sword, much more those whom the miraculous power and providence of God had unexpectedly placed at his disposal. In such circumstances, kind and hospitable treatment was every way more becoming in itself, and would be productive of the best effects. It would redound to the credit of the true religion, which inspired such an excellent spirit into its professors; and it would not only prevent the future opposition of the Syrians but make them stand in awe of a people who, they had seen, were so remarkably protected by a prophet of the Lord. The latter clause of
2Kgs 6:23 shows that these salutary effects were fully realized. A moral conquest had been gained over the Syrians.
24 BEN-HADAD BESIEGES SAMARIA. (
2Kgs 6:24-33)
Ben-hadad . . . besieged Samaria--This was the predicted accomplishment of the result of Ahab's foolish and misplaced kindness (
1Kgs 20:42).
25 an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver--Though the ass was deemed unclean food, necessity might warrant their violation of a positive law when mothers, in their extremity, were found violating the law of nature. The head was the worst part of the animal. Eighty pieces of silver, equal to Ł5 5s.
the fourth part of a cab--A cab was the smallest dry measure. The proportion here stated was nearly half a pint for 12s. 6d.
dove's dung--is thought by BOCHART to be a kind of pulse or pea, common in Judea, and still kept in the storehouses of Cairo and Damascus, and other places, for the use of it by pilgrim-caravans; by LINNĆUS, and other botanists, it is said to be the root or white bulb of the plant Ornithogalum umbellatum, Star of Beth-lehem. The sacred historian does not say that the articles here named were regularly sold at the rates described, but only that instances were known of such high prices being given.
26 as the king was passing--to look at the defenses, or to give some necessary orders for manning the walls.
29 we boiled my son, and did eat him--(See on
Deut 28:53).
30 had sackcloth within upon his flesh--The horrid recital of this domestic tragedy led the king soon after to rend his garment, in consequence of which it was discovered that he wore a penitential shirt of haircloth. It is more than doubtful, however, if he was truly humbled on account of his own and the nation's sins; otherwise he would not have vowed vengeance on the prophet's life. The true explanation seems to be, that Elisha having counselled him not to surrender, with the promise, on condition of deep humiliation, of being delivered, and he having assumed the signs of contrition without receiving the expected relief, regarded Elisha who had proved false and faithless as the cause of all the protracted distress.
32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him--The latter clause of
2Kgs 6:33, which contains the king's impatient exclamation, enables us to account for the impetuous order he issued for the beheading of Elisha. Though Jehoram was a wicked king and most of his courtiers would resemble their master, many had been won over, through the prophet's influence, to the true religion. A meeting, probably a prayer-meeting, of those was held in the house where he lodged, for he had none of his own (
1Kgs 19:20-21); and them he not only apprised of the king's design against himself, but disclosed to them the proof of a premeditated deliverance.