2 Kings 8

2 Kings 8:1

whose son. Compare 2 Kings 4:35.

famine = the famine, which had already begun. Probably the same as 2 Kings 4:38. Occasion is not determined by the text, but, 2 Kings 8:3 takes up the history at the end of the seven years.

it shall also come = it is come.

seven years: i.e. “[to last] seven years”.

2 Kings 8:2

man of God. See App-49.

2 Kings 8:4

all the great things. See note on 2 Kings 2:15.

2 Kings 8:5

restored a dead body. Compare 2 Kings 4:35.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

for . . . for. Hebrew. ’al = for [to call attention to].

2 Kings 8:6

fruits = produce.

2 Kings 8:8

Hazael. One of Ben-hadad’s servants.

present. It does not say that Elisha accepted it.

2 Kings 8:9

every good = every kind of. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus). App-6.

2 Kings 8:10

mayest certainly recover, &c. = “so far as re-covering goes, thou wilt recover. And [yet] Jehovah hath made me plainly see that he will surely die. "

surely die. Figure of speech Polyptoton. See notes on Genesis 2:17 with Genesis 26:28.

2 Kings 8:11

he: i.e. Hazael.

ashamed. The thought of murder came into his mind.

2 Kings 8:12

the evil. Described in 2 Kings 10:32; 2 Kings 12:17; 2 Kings 13:3, 2 Kings 13:22. Hosea 10:14. Amos 1:3, Amos 1:4. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.

children = sons.

their children = little ones. Hebrew. ’ul.

with child. Hebrew. harah.

2 Kings 8:13

a dog. Compare 1 Samuel 17:43; 1 Samuel 24:14. 2 Samuel 9:8.

2 Kings 8:14

surely recover. See note on 2 Kings 8:10. A false report.

2 Kings 8:15

it came to pass. The inscriptions of Shal-manezer II agree with this. The name of Jehu appears on them with Hazael’s.

2 Kings 8:16

Jehoshaphat being then king. Jehoram associated with him in Joram’s filth year, and reigned solely in Joram’s sixth year. Compare 2 Kings 9:29. Joram (of Ahab) began in Jehoshaphat’s eighteenth year (2 Kings 3:1). His fifth year is therefore Jehoshaphat’s twenty-third year, when Jehoram is associated with him as king, in the third year before his death. See App-50.

began to reign: i.e. in consort with his father.

2 Kings 8:18

as = according as.

daughter of Ahab. Compare 2 Kings 8:26. See App-55.

did evil. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:2-4.

2 Kings 8:19

as He promised. Compare 1 Samuel 7:13.

light. Compare 1 Kings 11:36. See note on Genesis 15:17. Hebrew. ner. Found only four times, and always of David (2 Samuel 21:17. 1 Kings 11:36. 1 Kings 8:19. 2 Chronicles 21:7).

and to his children. Many codices, and five early printed editions, read “for his children”: i.e. sons.

2 Kings 8:20

Edom revolted. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:8 with 1 Kings 22:47, and see above (2 Kings 3:9).

2 Kings 8:21

the people: i.e. of Judah.

2 Kings 8:22

Yet Edom, &c. The success of Edom accounted for from the end of 2 Kings 8:21, and Genesis 27:40.

this day. Written therefore before the captivity of Judah.

Then Libnah revolted. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:10. Lib-nah was a city of the priests (Joshua 21:13), and Jehoram with his wife and sons had “broken up” the Temple worship (2 Chronicles 24:7). The priests therefore, headed by Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 23:1), led this revolt, and were afterwards active in repairing the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:1-14).

2 Kings 8:23

the rest. Compare 2Ch 21.

Joram = Jehoram.

are they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

2 Kings 8:24

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16.

Ahaziah his son: i.e. his youngest son; all the rest being slain. See 2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:1; and App-55.

2 Kings 8:26

Two and twenty years. See note on 2 Chronicles 22:2.

Ahaziah. Note that Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, omitted in Matthew 1:8, all died violent deaths (2 Kings 9:27; 2 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 14:19).

daughter. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), for grand-daughter; and even for successors not in descent by blood.

2 Kings 8:28

he went with Joram. His uncle.

Ramoth-gilead. It was then in the hands of Israel, but threatened by Syria. Compare 2 Kings 9:14.

2 Kings 8:29

Ramah = Ramoth-gilead.