2 Kings 2:19

“And the men of the city said unto Elisha, etc.] The inhabitants of Jericho, perceiving him to be a prophet, and endowed with a power of working miracles: behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth; in a plain, surrounded with gardens and orchards, with vineyards, oliveyards, and groves of palm trees, and other odoriferous ones: but the water is naught, and the ground barren; that is, that part of it where this water was, or ran, for from thence it became barren; or “caused to miscarry”, as the word signifies f16; not only trees cast their fruit, which it watered, but women became abortive that drank of it, as Josephus says f17 , and so cattle. Abarbinel…”

“The water is naught - i. e. “bad.” And the ground barren - Translate “and the land apt to miscarry.” The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, perhaps also among the people, that drank of it. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Barren - Either it was so originally, at least, as to that part of the city where the college of the prophets was: or, it became so from the curse of God inflicted upon it, when Hiel rebuilt it. However, upon the prophet's care, it grew exceeding fruitful, and therefore is commended for its fertility in later writers. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 2:20”

“my Lord seeth: Num 12:11; Kg1 18:7, Kg1 18:13; Ti1 5:17 the water: Exo 7:19, Exo 15:23; Jos 6:17, Jos 6:26; Kg1 16:34 barren: Heb. causing to miscarry, Exo 23:26; Deu 28:2-4, Deu 28:11, Deu 28:15-18; Hos 9:14 4 Kings (2 Kings) 2:20”