Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 1. WHose son he had restored to life] Chap. 4. 35.
houshold] Heb. house.
sojourn] Live as a stranger in some countrey where more plenty is.
called for a famine] Appointed that there shall be scarcity of food. So Psal. 105. 16, Jer. 25. 29. Hag. 1. 11.
seven yeers] The time of a very great famine, as Gen. 41. 27. 2 Sam. 24. 13.
V. 2. in the land of the Philistines] As Isaac in a like case, Gen. 26. 1.
V. 3. for her house and land] To have them restored; for some had taken possession thereof in her absence. See v. 6.
V. 4. with Gehazi] Though he were a leper, yet he might be talked withall. Some think, this history was before that of Naaman, Chap. 5. 1. Or he might repent and be cleansed. See the Notes on Chap. 5. 27.
V. 5. behold] She came so seasonably, to assure the king of the truth of the miracle, and to move him to do her justice, as it i… most worthy to be observed.
V. 6. asked] Whether that which Gehazi had told him of her son were true or no.
she told him] That it was true.
officer] Or, eunuch. See 1 King. 22. 9.
V. 7. The man of God] Elisha. See 1 King. 13. 1.
V. 8. Hazael] Of whom, 1 King. 19. 15.
a present] See 1 King. 14. 3.
V. 9. with him] Heb. in his hand.
every good thing] Choice and precious fruits; yea, and gold, and silver, and raiments, as Chap. 5. v. 5.
fourty camels burden] Camels used to carry more then horses; so as the quantity must needs be very great.
stood before him] With all reverence presented himself unto him.
Thy son] He that respects thee as a sonne doth his father: so Chap. 13. v. 14.
V. 10. Thou mayest certainly recover] Heb. Living thou shalt live, In the ordinary course of nature; for the disease is not mortall. In a contrary sense, Chap. 20. v. 1. some copies read, Thou shalt not live.
he shall surely die] Heb. dying he shall die, By another means, vers. 15.
V. 11. he] Elisha.
stedfastly] Heb. and set it.
untill he was ashamed] So long, as Hazael was ashamed.
wept] Being inwardly moved with that cruelty which he fore-saw that Hazael would exercise. So Jer. 9. 1. Luk. 19. 41.
V. 12. my lord] A title of a reverend and high esteem.
the evil, &c.] See this exemplified, Chap. 10. 32, 33. and 12. 17. and 13. 7.
V. 13. a dog] As a dog, fierce, cruell, mercilesse. See 2 Sam. 3. 8. Mat. 7. 6. Phil. 3. 2.
The Lord hath shewed me] By Elijah, 1 King. 19. 15. and by speciall revelation.
thou shalt be king] Thence thou shalt take occasion of exercising cruelty on Israel.
V. 14. thou shouldest recover] He useth the very words of the prophet, but in another sense.
V. 15. he] Hazael.
took, &c.] With a pretence to refresh him, but indeed to stifle him.
V. 16. began to reign] Heb. reigned. Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, was made vice-roy in the last yeer of Ahab, and first of Ahaziah: in this respect, Jehoram, the brother of Ahaziah, is said to begin his reign in the second yeer of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, Chap. 1. 17. About six yeers after (which was the fifth yeer of Joram, son of Ahab, here mentioned) Jehoshaphat made his son king, even while he himself lived; and, in that respect, is said to give the kingdom to Jehoram, 2 Chron. 21. 3.
V. 17. eight yeers] Four yeers in his fathers life-time, and four after his death.
V. 18. daughter of Ahab] Athaliah, 2 Chron. 22. 2.
V. 19. as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children] 2 Sam. 7. 13.
a light] Heb. candle, or lamp. See 1 King. 11. 36.
V. 20. Edom revolted] See 1 King. 22. 47. and 2 King. 1. 2. and 3. 4.
V. 21. Zair] A city in Idumea.
which compassed] The Edomites were round about Jehoram and his host.
V. 22. Yet Edom, &c.] Though the Edomites were overthrown in that battell, yet could they not be kept under, as in former times.
Libnah] One of the Levites cities in Judah, Josh. 21. 13.
V. 23. chronicles] See 1 King. 14. 29.
V. 24. with his fathers] But not in their sepulchres, 2 Chron. 21. 20.
in the city of David] See 1 King. 11. 43.
Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead] 2 Chron. 22. 1.
V. 25. In the twelfth] See v. 16.
V. 26. Two and twenty yeers old] See 2 Chron. 22. 2.
daughter] Grand-childe.
son in law] For he married Ahabs daughter.
V. 28. Ramoth-gilead] See 1 King. 4. 13.
V. 29. which the Syrians had given] Heb. wherewith the Syrians had wounded.
sick] Mortally wounded. See 1 King. 22. 34.