2 Kings
Verse 1. A stater. It is the same as a sicle or shekel. Challoner.—As it is in Hebrew and Sept.—Bushel, or “measure,” Bible. above 9 pints.—Gate, where the market place commonly was. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
2 Kings 7
Historical chapter commentary
2 Kings
Verse 2. Lords. Hebrew shalish, “an officer” of the first rank, Exodus 14:7. Septuagint τριστατης, which Josephus explains of one who “commands a third part of the army.” Calmet.—Flood-gates. If corn should fall with the same abundance as water does from the cataracts of the Nile; or, Hebrew “if the Lord should make windows,” and so forth to pour it down, ( Calmet.) could it possibly be so cheap? Menochius.—Thereof. Thus his incredulity was punished, verse 17. Salien.—Reason must not pretend to reach the power of God, but ought to believe what he says. Worthington.
2 Kings
Verse 3. Lepers. They were excluded from society, though the laws of religion were ill observed in Israel. The Rabbins say, these four were Giezi and his three sons. Calmet.—But this is without foundation, ( Bible.) as Giezi was not yet a leper. Calmet. 8:5.—Salien places that judgment two years later. Bible.
2 Kings
Verse 5. Evening. Hebrew “twilight.”—First part, where the advanced guard should be, or the nearest tents.
2 Kings
Verse 6. Hethites. Septuagint “Chetteans.” Joseph. “the islands” of Cyprus, and so forth He seems to have read Cethim in the text, as they peopled Cyprus. Calmet.—See Jeremiah 2:10. Menochius.—These Hethites seem to have dwelt in the stony Arabia, (Judges 1:26) or in Syria. Bible.—Solomon had connexions with them, 3 Kennicott. 10:29. Calmet.—Angels made the noise of a mighty army, and probably appeared, as they had done to Giezi. Calmet. 6:17. Tirinus.
2 Kings
Verse 9. Crime, and punished. Hebrew “iniquity shall find us.” Citizens are bound to give notice of what may tend to the common good. Calmet.—Court. Not in person, but by means of others. Menochius.
2 Kings
Verse 10. Tied to the mangers, or rather by the hind-legs, as it is still the custom in the East. Xenop. Anab. iii. Martyr legat. Babyl.
2 Kings
Verse 13. Consumed, for food. Menochius.—Septuagint “Let them take five of the horses left. Those which are left here, behold they are to all the remaining multitude of Israel, and let us send them.” They have read in a different manner from the present Hebrew which has, “Let them take five of the horses there remaining; behold they are like all the multitude of Israel who are lost; let us send them.” Arab. “Let us send thither five horsemen who remain; if they escape, we shall look upon them as those Israelites who continue alive; if they perish, they well be numbered with the other Israelites who are dead.” Both horses and horsemen were dreadfully lean, and they could not expect a better fate than those already consumed by famine. Calmet.—The truth of the report ought at least to be fully ascertained. By following the timid advice of the king no prospect of redress appeared. At last the king consented to send two horsemen. Bible. Septuagint verse 14. Jun. and so forth
2 Kings
Verse 14. Horses. Hebrew “chariot horses,” or two chariots with (each) two horses, as it was customary to go to war, and to travel on chariots. Calmet.
2 Kings
Verse 17. Gate, to prevent confusion and accidents, (Josephus) or to guard against any return of the enemy. Menochius.
2 Kings
1 seah is about 7 liters or 1.9 gallons or 0.8 pecks
2 Kings
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces. In this context, it was probably a silver coin weighing that much.
2 Kings
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
2 Kings
1 seah is about 7 liters or 1.9 gallons or 0.8 pecks
2 Kings
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces. In this context, it was probably a silver coin weighing that much.
2 Kings
1 seah is about 7 liters or 1.9 gallons or 0.8 pecks
2 Kings
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces. In this context, it was probably a silver coin weighing that much.