EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
VIII.(1-6) How the kindness of the Shunammite woman to Elisha was further rewarded through the prophet’s influence with the king.
(1)Then spake Elisha.—Rather,Now Elisha had spoken. The time is not defined by the phrase. It wasafter the raising of the Shunammite’s son (2Kings 8:1), andbefore the healing of Naaman the Syrian, inasmuch as the king still talks with Gehazi (2Kings 8:5).
Go thou.—The peculiar form of the pronoun points to the identity of the original author of this account with the writer of 2 Kings 4. Moreover, the famine here foretold appears to be that of2Kings 4:38,seq., so that the present section must in the original document have preceded 2 Kings 5. Thenius thinks the compiler transferred the present account to this place, because he wished to proceed chronologically, and supposed that the seven years’ famine came to an end with the raising of the siege of Samaria.
For a famine.—To the famine. The sword, the famine, the noisome beasts, and the pestilence were Jehovah’s “four sore judgments,” as we find inEzekiel 14:21.
And it shall also come upon.—And, moreover, it cometh into.
Seven Years.—Perhaps not to be understood literally, any more than Dante’s
“O caro Duca mio chepiù di setteVolte
m’hai sicurtà. renduta.”—Inferno 8. 97.
2 Kings 8:1.
Then spake Elisha —There is nothing in the Hebrew for this particle of time,
then.It is literally,
And Elisha spake,or, as Houbigant renders it,
had spoken.So
2 Kings 8:2,
The woman had arisen, and done,&c. He conjectures, from
2 Kings 8:4, that this event happened before Gehazi was struck with the leprosy: this, however, is by no means certain. On the other hand, most commentators seem to be of opinion that it took place in the order in which it is recorded in the history, after the events related in the former chapter, and some think several years after.
Unto the woman whose son he had restored to life —Manifesting his gratitude for her former kindness, by taking special care for her preservation.
Go thou, and sojourn, &c. — In any convenient place out of the land of Israel.
For the Lord hath called for a famine —Hath appointed to bring a famine upon the country, or a great scarcity of provisions. The manner of speaking intimates that all afflictions are sent by God, and come at his call.
Seven years —A double time to the former famine under Elijah, which was but just, because they were still incorrigible under all the judgments of God, and under the powerful ministry of Elisha, who confirmed his doctrine by so many astonishing miracles.
8:1-6 The kindness of the good Shunammite to Elisha, was rewarded by the care taken of her in famine. It is well to foresee an evil, and wisdom, when we foresee it, to hide ourselves if we lawfully may do so. When the famine was over, she returned out of the land of the Philistines; that was no proper place for an Israelite, any longer than there was necessity for it. Time was when she dwelt so securely among her own people, that she had no occasion to be spoken for to the king; but there is much uncertainty in this life, so that things or persons may fail us which we most depend upon, and those befriend us which we think we shall never need. Sometimes events, small in themselves, prove of consequence, as here; for they made the king ready to believe Gehazi's narrative, when thus confirmed. It made him ready to grant her request, and to support a life which was given once and again by miracle.
The famine here recorded, and the conversation of the monarch with Gehazi, must have been anterior to the events related in
2 Kings 5 since we may be sure that a king of Israel would not have entered into familiar conversation with a confirmed leper. The writer of Kings probably col ected the miracles of Elisha from various sources, and did not always arrange them chronologically. Here the link of connection is to be found in the nature of the miracle. As Elisha on one occasion prophesied plenty, so on another he had prophesied a famine.
Called for a famine - A frequent expression (compare the marginal references). God's "calling for" anything is the same as His producing it (seeEzekiel 36:29;Romans 4:17).
CHAPTER 8
2Ki 8:1-6. The Shunammite's Land Restored.
1. Then spake Elisha unto the woman—rather "had spoken." The repetition of Elisha's direction to the Shunammite is merely given as an introduction to the following narrative; and it probably took place before the events recorded in chapters 5 and 6.
the Lord hath called for a famine—All such calamities are chastisements inflicted by the hand of God; and this famine was to be of double duration to that one which happened in the time of Elijah (Jas 5:17)—a just increase of severity, since the Israelites still continued obdurate and incorrigible under the ministry and miracles of Elisha (Le 26:21, 24, 28).The Shunammite having, by Elisha’s advice, left the land because of the famine, returneth home; and hath her whole estate restored to her for Elisha’s sake,2 Kings 8:1-6. He cometh to Damascus. Ben-hadad is sick, and sendeth Hazael to him with presents. Elisha foretelleth Ben-hadad’s violent death, and Hazael’s cruel reign, with tears. Hazael’s answer: he killeth his master, and succeedeth him,2 Kings 8:7-15. Jehoram’s wicked reign in Judah: Edom and Libnah revolt,2 Kings 8:16-23. He dieth, and Ahaziah his son succeedeth him: his wicked reign: he entertaineth friendship with Joram king of Israel,2 Kings 8:24-29.
Then: this particle of time may be understood either particularly and definitely of the time next following the former history, or more generally and indefinitely (as it is frequently used) of the time in which Elisha and this Shunammitish woman lived. Possibly this might happen before the history of Naaman, 2Ki 5, or at least before the siege of Samaria, 2Ki 6; but this is not certain.
Unto the woman; expressing his gratitude for her former kindnesses, by taking special care for her preservation.
Wheresoever thou canst sojourn; in any convenient place out of the land of Israel.
Hath called for a famine, i.e. hath appointed to bring a famine, or a great scarcity of provisions. This expression intimates that all afflictions are sent by God, and come at his call or command.
Seven years; a double time to the former famine under Elijah,Jam 5:17, which is but just and reasonable, because they were still obstinate and incorrigible under all the severe and succeeding judgments of God, and under the powerful ministry of Elisha, who confirmed his doctrine by glorious miracles. SeeLeviticus 26:21,24,28.
Then spoke Elisha unto the woman (whose son he had restored to life),.... His hostess at Shunem,
2 Kings 4:8 the following he said to her, not after the famine in Samaria, but before it, as some circumstances show:
saying, arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn; with the greatest safety to her person and property, and with the least danger to her moral and religious character:
for the Lord hath called for a famine, and it shall also come upon the land seven years: which Jarchi says was the famine that was in the days of Joel; it was, undoubtedly, on account of the idolatry of Israel, and was double the time of that in the days of Elijah.
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou{a} canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.(a) Where you can find a convenient place to dwell, where there is plenty.
