Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 6:23

"And he prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel." — 2 Kings 6:23 (ASV)

He. —The king of Israel.

Prepared great provision. —Or, a great feast. The Hebrew verb (kârâh) occurs nowhere else in this sense. The noun (kçrâh) is cognate with it, and the root meaning seems to be union: such as takes place at a common meal. Thenius renders kçrâh by “das Gastrund”—i.e., the circle of guests.

So the bands of Syria came no more. —The stress lies on the word “bands.” The Syrians, dreading Elisha, did not make any further clandestine attempts to injure Israel, like those described above, which only involved the dispatch of predatory bands.

They now resolved to try the fortunes of regular war with the whole strength of their army (2 Kings 6:24). It is evident, therefore, that we must not think of any gratitude on their part for the clemency of Jehoram.

Into the land. —Syriac, “into the border;” Targum, “into the border of the land.” (Compare to 1 Samuel 7:13).