The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 109

OHAPTER VIl. chcapneSB is promised, but only an enormous fall in prices from the rate current at the Ven. 1-20.-TBE SIEGE o:r SutABli moment (eh. vii. 25). Bnch a fall implied, (continued): THE DELIVERANCE. almost necessarily, the discontinne.nce of the siege. Jeho:ram appears to have accepted Vere. I, 2.-The separation of these verses the prophet's solemn e.seeveration, and on from the preceding ne.rrati ve is most un- the strength of it to have spared his life, at fortunate. They are an integral part of any :rate till the result should be seen. And it, and form its climo.x. In answer to the two measures-literally, seahs-of barley for king's attempt upon hie life, e.nd hasty a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. The gntcs, or rather gateways, of Oriental towns were speech in which he he.s threatened to re- spacious places, where business of various nounce Jehovah, Elisha is commissioned to kinds was transacted. One at Nineveh had proclaim that the siege is on the point of e.n nree. of above two thousand five hundred terminating, the fa.mine about to be within square feet. Kings often held their courts twenty-four hours succeeded by e. time of of justice in the oity gates. On this occa- plenty. There is thus no reason for the sion oue of the gates of Samaria seems to have been used a.a e. oom-market (comp. king's despair or anger. vere. 17-20). Ver. 1.-Then Elisha said, Rear ye the Ver. 2.-Then a lord on whose hand the word of the Lord. This was a very solemn king leaned ; rather, thB lord, or the captain, exordium, well calculated to arrest atten- e.s the word 'li•',r:;i is commonly translated tion. It must be remembered that the (Exod. xiv. 7; xv. 4; 2 Sam. xxiii. 8; prophet's life wae trembling in the be.lance. 1 Kings ix. 22; eh. ix. 25; x. 25; xv. 25; The executioner we.s present; the king had I Cbron. xi. 11; xii. 18; 2 Chron. viii. not revoked hie order ; the elders would 9). ( For the habit of kings to lean on probably have suffered the kiug to work his the bend of e.n attendant, see above, eh. v. will. All depended on Elisha, by half a IS.) Answered the man of God, and so.id, dozen words, changing the king's mind. Behold, if the Lord would make windows in He therefore announces e. Di vine oracle hee.ven,"might this th.illg be 1 The king ( comp. 2 Chron. xiii. 4; xv. 2; xx. 20 ; and makes no reply; he waits for the result. fo1· the oxe.ct expression, see Isa. i.10; xxviii. But the officer on whose arm ho leans is 14; xxix. 5, etc.; Jer. ii. 4; vii. 2, eto.). not so reticent. Utterly incredulous, he Thus aaith the Lord, To-morrow about this expresses hie incredulity in a scolliu~ way: time ehe.11 a mee.enre-literally, a seah-ot "Couhl this possibly be, even if God were ftne flour be sold for e. shekel. The " eeah" to 'make windows in heaven,' as ho ,lie! at wne probably about equal to e. peck and a the time of the Floou. (Gen. vii. 11), nnd ha! f English, the shekel of the time to pour through them, iustea,l of rain, e.s theu, about h11lf a orown. Thus no extrnordinary a ooutinul\l shower of tine mel\l !\nd coru?"  148 THE SECOND BOOK or TIIE KINGS. [011. VII. 1-20,