Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Kings 6:4-5

"So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe-head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed." — 2 Kings 6:4-5 (ASV)

These young men were too poor to buy their own tools, so they asked for a kind loan of an axe-head to use in the Lord's service. It was very natural, therefore, for this young man to regret that the axe he had borrowed fell off into the water. This made him exclaim, "Alas!"

Be very careful about loans, be sure to repay them in due time, and take great care that nothing prevents you from doing so. He said, "Alas, master! for it was borrowed."