Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 6

The writer returns here to the series of miracles Elisha performed for the benefit of the prophetical schools under his care. The connection, from this perspective, is with 2 Kings 4:44.

The place where we dwell with you—literally, "the place where we sit before you," that is, "the place where we assemble and sit to hear your teaching." Elisha visited the sons of the prophets in circuit, staying a short time at each place where a "school" was established. Perhaps he was visiting Jericho at this time (compare 2 Kings 2:5).

Take every man a beam - Trees were rare in most parts of Palestine but were plentiful in the Jordan Valley. Jericho was known in early times as “the city of palms” (Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 1:16).

The ax head - This is meant literally, as noted in the margin of some Bibles. The Jews used iron for the heads of axes from a very early date . They probably acquired knowledge of the smelting process in Egypt, where iron had been in use since at least the time of the third Rameses.

No doubt, there is something startling in the trivial character of this miracle and of the few others that resemble it. However, since we know very little about the laws that govern the use of miraculous powers, it is possible they are so fully under their possessor’s control that he can use them, or not use them, at will. It may therefore depend on his discretion whether they are used only in important cases or in trivial ones as well.

Elisha evidently had a great kindness of heart. He could not see a grief without wishing to remedy it. It seems as if he sometimes used his miraculous power out of pure good nature, when no natural way of remedying an evil presented itself.

The king of Syria — This was likely the great Benhadad (see 2 Kings 6:24).