The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 85

mcenn in order to reRCh Elieh&, not to de- honourable title of "father," whioh implied ,emd. We mnst. therefore, with F. Meyer, respect, deference, snbmiBSion. Oompare the 'J'h<>nius, and Bii.hr, translate, "When they use of the same expression by Joneh (eh. [Elislll\ and liis scr\"ant] came down to them xiii. 14), and the employment of the corre- [the Syrians] "-either changing 1•~15 into lative term "son 11 (eh. viii, 9) by Beuhs• o::,•~~. as Theniue docs, or underetanding dad. She.11 I smite thorn? she.11 I smite them ? The repetition me.rka extremo eager- 1•~~ to refer to the "host" (~'.r,) of the ness, while the interroge.tive form shows a Syrinns. Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and oertain amount of ·hesitation. It is oerte.in Hid, Smite thie people, I pra.y thee, with that the Israelites were in the habit of put- bl.i.ndnese. Not literal blindness, or they ting to death their prieoners of wa.r, not could not haYe followed Elisha'e lead, and only when they were captured with arms in marcbecl a distnnce of twelve miles to Sa- their hands, but even when they surrendered rnnria; but a state of confusion and bewil- themselves. When a oity or country was derment, in which" seeing they ee.w, but did oonquered, the whole male population of not perceive " ( compare the h bi indness" full age wa.s commonly put to death (Numb. of the men of Sodom, in Gen. xix. 11 ). And xxxi. 7: 1 So.m. xv. 8 : 1 Kings xi. 15 ; 1 he smote them with blindness according to Chron. x.x. 3, etc.). When a third part was the word of Elisha. spared, it was from some oonsicleration of Yer. 19.-And Elisha sa.id unto them, relationship (2 Se.m. viii. 2). The Law dis- This is not the way, neither is this the oity. tinctly allowed, if it did not even enjoin, This was clenrly "an untruthful st.a.tement 11 the practice (Deut. xx. 13). Jehoram, there- (Keil), if not in ihe letter, yet in the intent. fore, no doubt, put his prieoners of \far to Elisha meant the Syria.ne to understand him death under ordinary circumstances. But to say, "Thie is not the way which ye ought he hesitates now. He feels that the case is to have ta.ken if ye wanted to capture the an extraordinary one, and that the prophet, Prophet Elisha., and this ie not the city who has me.de the capture, is entitled to be (Dotha.n) where you were told that he was consulted on the subject. Hence hie ques- to be found." And eo the Syria.us under- tion. stood him. In the morality of the time, Ver. 22.-And he answered, Thou she.It and, indeed, in the morality of a.11 times up not smite them. The prophet has no doubt. to the present, it has been held to be justi- His prohibition is absolute. These prieonera, fiable to deceive a public enemy. Follow at any rate, are not to be alain. •• The ob- me, and I will bring you to the DlJlil whom ject of the miracle," as Keil ea.ye, "would ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.. It have been frustrated, if the Syrians had could only be through the miraculous de- been elain. For the intention wae to sho\V lusion for which Elisha had prayed, and the Syrians that they had to do with a which bad been sent, that the Syrians be- prophet of the true God, against whom no lieved the first comer in an enemy's country, human power could be of any ave.ii, that followed him to the capital without heeita- they might learn to fear the .Almighty God " tii>n, and allowed him t.o bring them inside (' Commentary on 2 Kings,' p. 327, Eng. the walls. Bnt for the delUBion, they would trans.). There was also, perhaps, a further have suspected, made inquiries of others, political object. By sparing the prisoners and retreated hastily, as soon as the walls and treating them with kindness, it might and towers of Samaria broke on their eight. be possible to touch the heart of the King Ver. 20.-.And it came to pall, when they of Syria, and dispose him towards peace. were come into Ba.maria, that Elisha said, Wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they taken captive with thy sword and with thy may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, bow 1 rather, Wouldest thou be smiting thoae, and they ■e.w; and, behold, they were in the etc.? i.e." Wouldest thou, in smiting these midst of Samaria. Their delusion was dis- persons, be smiting those whom thou hadst pelled-they returned to their proper senses, made prisoners in war, so as to be able to and, seeing the size and strength of the jUBtify thy conduct by Deut. xx. 13? No; town, recognized the fact that they were in thou wouldest not. Therefore thou shalt Samaria, their enemy's capital, and so were not smite them." Set bread and water before hdpleBB. them. " Bread II and " water II atand for Ver. 21.-And the Xing of Israel &aid meat and drink generally. Elisha bids unto Elisha, when he saw them, Ky father. Jeho1·e.m entertain the captive Syrians In hie joy at the deliverance of so large a hospitably, and then send them be.ck to force of the enemy inlo his hands, Jehoram Denhadad. That they me.y ee.t and drink, forgets the coldm,ss and estrangement which and go to their ID&lter. ham hitherto characterized the relations Ver. 23.-And he prepared great proviaion between himself and the prophet (eh. iii. for them. J ehoram followed the directions 11-14; v. 8), and BOlutes bi1u by the of the prophet, carrying them out, not in thll OH, VI, 1-33,] Tll:1!1 SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 123