Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Kings 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
2 Kings 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
2 Kings 8
"Now Elisha had spoken unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for Jehovah hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. And the woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of God; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And it came to pass at the seven years` end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him that was dead, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now." — 2 Kings 8:1-6 (ASV)
The kindness of the good Shunammite to Elisha was rewarded with care for her during the famine. It is good to foresee evil, and it is wise, when we foresee it, to hide ourselves if we lawfully can do so.
When the famine was over, she returned from the land of the Philistines; for that was not a proper place for an Israelite any longer than was necessary. There was a time when she lived so securely among her own people that she had no need for anyone to speak to the king on her behalf; but there is much uncertainty in this life, so that things or people we most depend on may fail us, and those we think we will never need may befriend us.
Sometimes events, small in themselves, prove to be of consequence, as in this case; for they made the king ready to believe Gehazi's narrative when it was thus confirmed. This made him ready to grant her request and to support a life that had been given once and again by a miracle.
"And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thy hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Jehovah by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels` burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou shalt surely recover; howbeit Jehovah hath showed me that he shall surely die. And he settled his countenance stedfastly [upon him], until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child. And Hazael said, But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, Jehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou wouldest surely recover. And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead." — 2 Kings 8:7-15 (ASV)
Among other changes in people's minds brought about by affliction, it often leads to different thoughts about God's ministers and teaches people to value the counsel and prayers of those whom they have previously hated and despised. It was not from Hazael's facial expression that Elisha discerned what he would do; rather, God revealed it to him, and this brought tears to Elisha's eyes. The more foresight people have, the more grief they are prone to. It is possible for a person, under the convictions and restraints of natural conscience, to express great abhorrence of a sin, yet later be reconciled to it.
Those who are humble and obscure in the world cannot imagine how strong the temptations of power and prosperity are. Should they ever attain these, they will discover how deceitful their hearts are, and how much worse than they suspected. The devil ruins people by telling them they will certainly recover and prosper, thereby lulling them into a false sense of security. Hazael's false report harmed the king, who lost the benefit of the prophet's warning to prepare for death. It also harmed Elisha, who would then be considered a false prophet.
It is not certain that Hazael murdered his master. If he did cause his death, it may have been unintentional. However, he was a deceiver and later proved to be a persecutor of Israel.
"And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy Judah, for David his servant`s sake, as he promised him to give unto him a lamp for his children alway. In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents. So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then did Libnah revolt at the same time. And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead." — 2 Kings 8:16-24 (ASV)
A general idea is given of Jehoram's badness. His father, no doubt, had him taught the true knowledge of the Lord, but did wrong to marry him to the daughter of Ahab; no good could come from union with an idolatrous family.
"In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother`s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel. And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab. And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram. And king Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick." — 2 Kings 8:25-29 (ASV)
Names do not make natures, but it was bad for Jehoshaphat's family to borrow names from Ahab's. Ahaziah's relation to Ahab's family was the occasion of his wickedness and of his fall. When men choose wives for themselves, let them remember they are choosing mothers for their children.
Providence so ordered it that Ahaziah might be cut off with the house of Ahab when the measure of their iniquity was full. Those who join sinners in their sin must expect to share in their plagues. May all the changes, troubles, and wickedness of the world, make us more earnest to obtain our share in the salvation of Christ.
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