Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 1:7

"And he said unto them, What manner of man was he that came up to meet you, and told you these words?" — 2 Kings 1:7 (ASV)

He said. —Spoke. (See Note on 2 Kings 1:3.)

What manner of man? —See margin. The word mishpat here denotes the external characteristics and visible peculiarities by which a man is distinguished (shâphat) from his fellows. (Compare our expressions “sort,” “fashion,” “style,” and the Vulgate, “Cujus figuræ et habitus est vir ille?” Septuagint, ἡ κρίσις. Syriac, “appearance,” “look.” Targum, νόμος.)