PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings
George Rawlinson [1812-1902] · 432,569 words · 453 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAWL…
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(eh. i. 17), and the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat (eh. iii. 1). 2. Jchor~m of Judah is said to hn,ve began to reign in the fifth year of his father Jehoshaphat ( eh. viii. 16), and also in the fifth year of J ehoram of Israel, which was the twenty-second year of Jehoshaphat. 3. Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, is said (eh. xii…
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After the termination of the Israelite monarchy by the capture of Samaria. in B.C. 722, the difficulties of the chronology become much less, chiefly from the absence of those exact synchronisms which have constituted tbe main difficulty in the period between the accession of Ahaziah and the Israelite captivity. Such ex…
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o.n extensive sway in Western Allia. from about B.C. 1300 to B.C. 1070, in the latter part of the eleventh cent·ary B.C. passed under a cloud, and did not emerge from it until about B.C. 900. Egypt, on the other hand, about n.a. 1100, began to increase in strength, and soon after B.C. 1000, resumed her role of Asiatic …
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e,ccording to the Assyrian chronology. Assyria was at this time pressing especially upon the Syrian states, the Hamathites, Hittites, Syrians of Damascus, and Phcenicians. Shalmaneser contended successively with the Benhadad who preceded Hazael on the Damascene throne, and with Hazael himself; his reign, according …
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Sargon claims as his first act the conqnest of Samaria, from which he says that he .carried off 27,290 captives.1 He is, perhaps, the king intended in eh. xvii. 6 and xviii. 11; and he obtains distinct mention in Isa. xx. l. Hezekiah seems to have revolted from him (eh. xviii. 7); but he was successful in most other qu…
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year, n.o. 701. The date, -therefore, in eh. xviii. 13 must be an error; and the choice would seem to lie between regarding it as a corruption-'' four- teenth" for" twenty-seventh "-and viewing it as th~ marginal note of a. commentator which has crept into the text. After an interval (2 Chron. xxxii. 9), which may not…
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0£ .Assyria, and Atrove to establish their domination in the place of hers, were Babylon and Egypt. Egypt appears to have anticipated her rival. As early as the reign of Psamatik I. she recommenced aggressions upon Asia by persistent attacks upon the strongest of the Philistine cities, the famous Ashdod,1 and about B.O…
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BOOK OF THE KINGS. EXPOSITION. e.nd ciroumstances of this rebellion. Moab OHAPTER L he.d, we know, been subjected by David Vers. 1-18.-THE REVOLT OF MOAB. (2 Sam. viii. 2), and had been very severely THE ILLNESS, IMPIETY, AND DEATH OF treated. Either in the reign of Solomon, or more probably at his death, and the…
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is no mention of a "]Rttice." Was siok; i.e. BeeaW!e Ahazie.h had Rposte.tized from God, "was so injnrcd that he had to tako to his God sentenced him to die from the effools of bed." Inquire of Be.al-zebub the god of his fall, 1md not to recover. It is impliecl Ekron. As a worshipper of Baal, bent on that he might h…
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as other e.scetios. It is Elijah the Tillhbite. the prophet or the charges or cruelty and ' The description given is enough. '.rhe king bloodthirstiness which have been brought has no longer any doubt. Hie suspicion is against him. But there is no need of alter- turnod into certainty. There is no living ing the tra.ne…
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countable del&y. He therefore changes his death wns, as Elijah hnd snid II judn-ment order from " Come down " to "Come down on his aiu iu sending to oonsu1t' D1111l-z~bub. quickly." Yer. 13.-A oaptain of the third fifty; REIGN 011' J EBORAll, rather, the captain of a third fifty (see the Revised Version). This ca…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-18.-The short reign of Ahaziah: his sins, and tlieir punishment. For homiletic purposes we must attach to this chapter the last three verses of the Fir~t Book of the Kings. We find in that passage a short but very complete account of the general character of Ahaziah's sins; we find in this chapter …
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calves, whether he would persecute or protect the adherents of the Jehovistic religion. He decided to "walk in the way of his father and of his mother," and at once the firet blow fell. Moab revolted, and was successful. The mere attempt at revolt might have happenccl in any case, for Mesha would naturally have seiz…
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severity of the Mosaic code, the frequency of the penalty of death, and the strictness with which the penalty was in almost every case exe.cted. The first idolatry was vunished by the death of three thousand by the sword (Exod. xx.xii. 28). Nadab and A.bihu, for offering strange fire, were destroyed by :fire from he…
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cannot keep sickness out. Abaziah had been looking through the window of his chamber, or, as some think, leaning over the frail baluster of wicker-work which re.n round the roof on the inner or courtyard side, when the lattice-work gave way, and he we.s precipitated into the court beneath and seriously injured. But the…
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the present life there are things more precious than money. Men who Aacrifice every- thing for money soon find that they have lost things which money cannot buy. "The world with stones instead of br,1ad My hungry soul has always fed : It promised health; in one short hour Perished the fair but fragile flower. It p…
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sends forth n captain with a company of fifty men to lay hold upm the prophet. It was not the first time Elijah's life had been threatened by royal ·sinners, When II man is fearless in rebuking sin, he must expect the hatred of impenitent sinners. Smooth words may win a fleeting popularity, but the friendship of thi…
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o.nd reason on our side. A full examination of 1111 the circumstances will generally banish even such a suggestion from our minds. But, then, there are many cases where we cannot possibly understand or know all the circumstances. In such a case, is it not the only course we can take to bow in Sllbmission to the all-wis…
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assistance. But a great many commentators and preachers, who would not go the length of saying that Christ condemned Elijah, seem to suggest t.hat he condemned hi.s spirit, as unsuited to gospel, times. Even for this suggestion I do not think there is any warrant.. Our Saviour condemned the disciples for a spirit of v…
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fift:r, destroyed by lightning. '.fhis aw!hl judgment came npon them, not merely on their own account-although, like all srnners, they had forfeited their lives to eternal justice-but as messengers of the king. Throughout the human race, in all races and times, there are found millions groaning under the trials and suf…
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-perhaps leanin~ against it, _and gazing from his elevated position on the fine prospect that spreads 1ti<elt around-his support suddenly gave way, and he was precipitated to tlie ground, or courtyard, below, He is picked up, stunned, but not dead and carried to his couch. It is, in common speech, an accident-some t…
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of spiritualism. It was to supersede unlawful modes of consulting the invisible world that God gave "the sure word of prophecy" (Deut. xviii. 9-22). III. THE UNEXPEOTED MEETING. The messengers speed on their way to the shrine of Baal-zebub at Ekron, but their steps are soon to be arrested. Here we notice: I. A new …
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of his death, i_nstead of humbling himse~f in repentance, stretching out his puny arm to do battle with God m the person of his messenl(er. If he must die he is resolved that Elijah shall die also. This resolve is: 1. A si,gn of character.' It shows the thoroughly hardened and irreligious n&ture of the man. There ar…
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though it is, will fire descend from heaven to consume the hosts of the ungodly (Rev. xx. 9). 2. The second captain. One example of this kind should have been enough. nut when men are inspired by fury and hate of God, above all, wh<rn it is not their own lives they are risking, they are not easily deterred. A.s if this…
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hRd no eqm1l in the parity of its devotion (Ecclus. xlviil. 9). He WnB ranked with to the service of Jehovah, and was at the Enoch, as not having seen death (Josephus, Rame time consummated by such powerful 'Ant. Jud.,' ix. 2. § 2), and was viewed I\S "continuing in hee.ven e. mysterious life, efforts to promote the …
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command, "Swear not at all," had not yet the master once more yields. So they oame been given. I will not leave thee. The to lericho, resolve indicates strong attachment, deep Ver. 5.-And the ions of the prophets fidelity, oombiaed, perhaps, with a reason- that were at J'erioho came to Elisha, and able curiosity to…
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be received by any other of the "sons of "whirlwind;" and "the heavens" e.re pri- the prophets." He made a reference to murily the visible firmament or sky which Deut. xxi. 17, and asked for the "double overhangs the earth. Elijah, like our Lord, portion" (literally, "double mouthful") roso bodily from the earth into t…
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rendered U, And when' he also had smitten (Acts viii. 39), and would be found some- the watel'II; but the position of the vau con- where alive, o.e Philip "was found 11t junctive, after N\,""9~ and before /"i.?_', makes Azotus." Behold now, there be with thy thie dideion of the clauses impossible. servants fifty str…
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The miracles showed his twofold power, of two miles from it. Ain-es-Sultil.n is de- both to confer benefits and to punish. scribed as "e. large and beautiful fountain of sweet and pleu11nt water" (Robinson, Ver. 19,-And the men of the city-i.e. 'Researches,' voL ii. p. 384), and as "scat- the inhabitants of Jericho …
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-10.-Preparation for <YI/IT' departure from earth. Abnormal as was the mode of Elijah's depe.rture from the earth, his conduct in prospect of departure may be to some extent a lesson to Christians. Note- I. HIS BESIGNA'l'ION, No murmur escapes him; he shows no unwillingness to depart, no clinging t…
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Ver. 14.-A.nd he said-he, Elisha, said to the boy joined him there, aa he had probably Giih:izi-What then is to be done for her 1 ?ften don_e before. C?untry children delight '(f the ...-ome.n will suggest nothing herself, m wntchmg the various operntions of the <'Rn Gehazi snggest e.nything? Has he fe.m1steo.d. be…
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at all." All thiR, ,md more, eeeme to be to intense unwavering faHh-faith, some- im·olved in the woman's "'ords. And the times, in those that are the objeots of them, prnphet fully understood their meaning. almost always in those that are the workers Yer. 29.-Then he said to Gehari, Gird up of them. The present case w…
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and onae fro; took, ,.e., e. Bingle tnm up and have mostly come to the conclusion that the down the large room e.djoining hie bed- vegetable intended is the Cuc¥mi• agre•ti• ohamber-BOarcely wHh o.ny remedial object, or Ecbaliwm elate,ium, the "squirting en- but o.e men do when they are in distress cumber" of English n…
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may eat. And there wu no harm in the harvest mercies. In the hu1k thereof; pot. :Sach RB had fe.ith in Elisha, and rather, in hu bag, or in hi, eack (see the continued to e11.t of the pottage, found no Revised Version). And he Bald, Give unto ill remit. What they ate did them no the people-i.e. to the sons of the pro…
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ciii. 17); "The children of thy servants shall continue, e.nd their seed shall be e11tab- liehed hefore thee n (Pe. cii. 28). II. BY THE SYMPATHY INVOLVED m GoD's FATBERHooo. After God all fatherhood (..a.-a ,ra-rpla) in heaven e.nd earth is named (Eph. iii. 15). As a Father, he sympa- thizes with all fathers, knows t…
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Vere. 27-31.-Limits lo inspiration. Many men seem to suppose that the pro- phetical inspiration, the Divine afflatus, whatever it was, which God vouchsafed in times past to his prophets, apostles, and evangelists, was absolutely unlimited-a sort of omniscience, at any rate omniscience on all those subjects on which …
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It is this that makes it such e. book of universal comfort a.nd instruction. We ca.n a.II find something in it that suits ourselves. As we read of the men a.nd women whose lives are recorded in it, we learn more from their faith and their failings, from their tempte.tlons and their victories, than we could from any abs…
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be widows, A.Dd your children fatherless" (Exod. x:xii. 22-24). And in Deut. :ui.v. 17 we have a simile.r command, We learn here in all the relationships of life to mingle mercy with justioe. Too often in the keen competition of life, and in the race for :,ve_alth, the fi~~r feelings become blunted. If you are a Chr…
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had had them. But when there were no more vessels to be filled, the oil ceased to flow. At any rate she had enough to sell for the payment of her debt, and to provide herself and her sons with a temporary support. We learn here that our blessings may be limited by our capacity to receive. There ill no limit to God's…
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of II prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the n&me of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward."-0. H. L yers. 18~7.-Death 11ntl restora™"!- This is a touching story. It is a story for ch_ild':'8n· It 1s a story for parents. It 1s a story for every one. The…
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which porhaps your dRrling sang-and 9.8 you look there surely you cannot but ~ay, "It is well-it is well with the child." .A word here to 'all parent9. Can you say, a8 you think of your children one by one, "It is well with the child"? If they should die in infancy, it certainly is well with them. But your children …
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a testimony in fe.vour of the theatre, compared to the testimony against it of the thousands it has ruined? "It might do good, but never did." Beware of impurity in any form. Beware of impure books, impure songs, the impure jest, impure companions. "'!'here is death in the pot." There is no sin that brings a more speed…
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V9111. 1-7.-~ prop'he,t's widow and a, prop'he,es kindness. "Now there cried a oartaiD. woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha," etc. There nre two subjects of thought in these vers~s. L A PBOPHET's wroow m DISTRESS. "Now there cried a certain wom11,n of the wives of the sons of the prophets unt…
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modiUes Judro1t traded in (Ezek. xxvii. 17). She would, therefore, have little difficulty in disposing of this oil, which no doubt was of the best description. The proceeds were to go first to the s1ttisfaction of her heartless creditor, and then to the permanent relief of herself and family. CONCLUSION. Matthew Henry…
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consciousness of his power tvith God. He finds out, through his servant Gelll\zl that the one greRt thi1Jg on earth that they desired most., and would most appreciate ~,•as a f~mily; a child would. brighten their. hearth and gladden their hearts. Thie, tbrough his wonderful power with Hea1•en, Ehsha obtains for them. T…
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"Smooth Jet it be or ro11gh, It will be still the beet ; Winding or etre.ight it matters not, It leacls me to thy rest." m. That great trials MAY HA VE A BLESSED END. The end of this woman's great trial was the restoration of her dead child to life. This was brought about: 1. In c()'fl,- mction with her own efforts…
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Ibey were nen~eous and pemicious. "The sons of the prophets," ~nys M~ttl1cw Henry, "it would seem, were better skilled in divinity than philosophy, and read their Dibles more than their herbals." What they put into the pot tended to produce d<>11th rather then to strengthen life. Every day men are afflicted through …
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reduce them from affluence to poverty. It Is, however, a sad thing when the heao of a household dies, and leaves to his struggling family an inheritance of debt. This la a contingency to be by every legitimate means guarded aaainst. The Rev. C. H 0 Spurgeon, commenting on the text," Take no thought for the morrow,"…
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wns not repudiated; it WM! paid. God would put the stamp of his approval on honesty. The whole incident teaches us the lesson of trusting God in every time of need. When have the righteous been forsaken, or their seed seen be"'gin.,. bread (Ps. xxxvii. 25)? If we can trust in God for t.emporal supplies, much m~re ~a…
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great a mother's love I The father is sought in the hour of play ; the mother's knee is the piece in sio~css. A~ noon the child dies. 3. The child dead, (1) It is not :m unexampled thing for children to be taken away as suddenly and pathetically ns this Shunamm1te's son was. Many a parent's bleediug heart can tell o…
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perceived how deeply her soul was "vexed" within her, though e.s yet he could not divine the cause. There ia e. sile~ce which is often more eloquent than speech. God does not need our words to tell him what we want; he can read even the "groanings the.t cannot be uttered" (Rom. viii. 26). Th~s m~urner took her troub…
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Vf'n<. 88-41.-The deadly pottage. Two other remarkable, though more briefly related, works of Elisha are narrated in the closiog vel'l!es of this chapter. Both have to do with "the sons of the prophets" at Gilgal; both relate to a time of famine; and ooe is Rn Old Testament anticipation of a signal miracle of Christ…
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prophete of God'e o.bility and reo.dinese to help them in every time of need. The uimpleet meo.ne can be made effectual if God blessee it.-J. O. VerR. 42-44.-The twenty barley loaves. 'Ibis miracle foreehadowe Christe acts of multiplying the loaves (Matt. xiv. 15-21; xv. 32-39, etc.). I. THE GIFT OF LOAVES. In a time…
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oooaeion for it would not h11.ve arisen. The or she liar! merely p11.esed into his possession two together must h11.ve gre11.tly raised the by purchase, and thus become one of his reputation of the prophet, and have given wife's attendants. him 11.n influence beyond the borders of the Ver. 3.-And she said unto her m…
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times oe.rried on oro.lly by e.mbaseadore, of chief magns, or as the laroelitish high probo.bly took plnoe to a lnrge extent by priest" (Menken), whom the king would moBns or letters from 11, very early date. have at his beck and en.II, and whose services Written communico.tions eeem to have led would be completely at …
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Isr&el in his eaving might throngh his Siloe.1'11," and, in another point of view, with l!Grvants the prophets" (Bii.hr), of whom I the.t given to Joshua (Josh. vi. 8-5), e.ml nm one. that of Elijah to his servant (1 Kings xviii. Ver. 9.-80 Naaman oa.me with hi■ horses 43). To repe11,t a formal act six times with- …
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flowing through a series of romantic glens, I.e. followed exactly the prophet's directions bursts finally from the mountains through a in Ver. 10-aooording to the saying of the deep gorge and scatters itself over the plain. man of God : and his flesh came again like One branch passes right through the city of unto the …
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iii. 29: vi. 20, et.o.). But here we have a the "polyt,heistic superstition II tl1Rt evory plain nnd distinct recognition of him as tho god l1as his own land, where alone he oan bo one and only God that is in all the earth, properly worshipped, It rests simply on Ne.aman thus shows I\ greater docility, a the notion …
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of thf'l snme rleity, who WM called "Hadad" cha.riots, and will not travel at e. faster prtce or "11,ulnr" ns bright o.ntl glorious, "Rim- 1he.n about three miles an honr. Thus mon" o.s lofty 11.nrl exo.ltecl. To worship Gehe.zi, if be went at his best speed, could there, and he leaneth on my hand. Either expect to …
1,078 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.