Wesley Corpus

Chapter VI Elisha causes iron to swim, ver. 1 - 7. Discloses to the king of Israel the secret counsels of the king of Syria, ver. 8 - 12. Saves himself out of the hands of those who were sent to apprehend him, ver. 13 - 23. Samaria is besieged by the Syrians, and reduced to extremity, ver. 24 - 33. Jordan - To the woods near Jordan. A beam - A piece of timber for the building. Hence it may be gathered, that although the sons of the prophets principally devoted themselves to religious exercises, yet they sometimes employed themselves about manual arts. Sent - Soldiers to secure the place and passage designed. They - Angels, unspeakably more numerous, God, infinitely more powerful. He saw, &c. - Fire is both dreadful and devouring: that power which was engaged for Elisha, could both terrify and consume the assailants. Elijah gave a specimen of Divine justice, when he called for flames of fire on the heads of his persecutors to consume them. Elisha gives a specimen of Divine mercy, in heaping coals of fire on the heads of his persecutors to melt them. Wouldest thou smite - It is against the laws of humanity, to kill captives, though thou thyself hast taken them with thy own sword and bow; which might seem to give thee some colour to destroy them; but much more unworthy will it be in cold blood to kill these, whom not thy arms, but God's providence hath put into thy hands. Set bread - Give them meat and drink, which may refresh and strengthen them for their journey. This was an action of singular piety and charity, in doing good to their enemies, which was much to the honour of the true religion; and of no less prudence, that hereby the hearts of the Syrians might be mollified towards the Israelites. No more - For some considerable time. Ben - hadad - He whom Ahab wickedly spared, now comes to requite his kindness, and to fulfil that Divine prediction. Ben - hadad was a name very frequent among the kings of Syria, if not common to them all. Famine in Samaria - Probably the siege was so sudden, that they had no time to lay in provisions.