2 Kings 6:21 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Book Notes

2 Kings 6:21

19 Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.

20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!

21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My ^afather, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

22 But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? ^aSet food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”

23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So ^athe bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.

Syria Besieges Samaria in Famine

24 And it happened after this that ^aBen-Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.

25 And there was a great ^afamine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a¹ kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver.

Book Notes:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Book Notes

I & II Kings

THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF KINGS, in the ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, constitute one book. Various titles have been given them; in the Septuagint and the Vulgate they are called the Third and Fourth Books of Kings. The authorship of these books is unknown; but the prevailing opinion is that they were compiled by Ezra, or one of the later prophets, from the ancient documents that are so frequently referred to in the course of the history as of public and established authority. Their inspired character was acknowledged by the Jewish Church, which ranked them in the sacred canon; and, besides, it is attested by our Lord, who frequently quotes from them (compare I Kings 17:9; II Kings 5:14 with Luke 4:24-27; I Kings 10:1 with Matthew 12:42).