2 Kings 6:33

“And while he yet talked with them, etc.] Elisha with the elders: behold, the messenger came down unto him; sent by the king: and he said; either the messenger in the king’s name, or rather the king, who was at his heels, and came to the door before the messenger was let in, who was detained; and therefore it is most probable the king went in first; for that was the intention of Elisha in holding the messenger, not to save his own life, but that the king, who was following, might hear what he had to say; and whom he advised to wait for the Lord, and his appearance, for deliverance: in answer to which he said, behold, this evil is of the Lord, what should I wait for the Lord any longer? this…”

“The messenger - It has been proposed to change “messenger” into “king,” the two words being in Hebrew nearly alike, and the speech with which the chapter ends being considered only suitable in the mouth of the king, whose presence is indicated in 2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 7:17. Others think that the words “and the king after him” have fallen out of the text. Came down - The messenger came down from off the wall to the level of the streets. Behold this evil ... - Jehoram bursts into the prophet’s presence with a justification of the sentence 2 Kings 6:31 he has pronounced against him. “Behold this evil - this siege with all its horrors - is from Yahweh - from Yahweh, Whose prophet thou art. Why…”

“He said - Or, the king, who, though not here named, may be presumed to be present, both by the prophet's prediction of his speedy coming, and by the presence of the lord, on whose hand the king leaned, Kg2 7:2. This evil - This dreadful famine, which is now so extreme, that women are forced to eat their own children. The Lord - Hath inflicted it, and (for ought I see) he will not remove it. All penal evil is of the Lord, as the first cause and sovereign judge. And this we ought to apply to particular cases: if all evil, then this evil which we are groaning under. Whoever are the instruments, God is the principal agent. What should I, &c. - Thou bidst me wait upon God for help: but I perceive…”

“6:33 And the king said: Literally And he said. The messenger might have been delivering the king’s words verbatim. • Because the misery of the siege appeared to be from the Lord, Joram felt that further prayer for rescue was useless.”

“this evil is of the Lord: Gen 4:13; Exo 16:6-8; Sa1 28:6-8, Sa1 31:4; Job 1:11, Job 1:21, Job 2:5, Job 2:9; Pro 19:3; Isa 8:21; Jer 2:25; Eze 33:10; Mat 27:4, Mat 27:5; Co2 2:7, Co2 2:11; Rev 16:9-11 wait for the: Psa 27:14, Psa 37:7, Psa 37:9, Psa 62:5; Isa 8:17, Isa 26:3, Isa 50:10; Lam 3:25, Lam 3:26; Hab 2:3; Luk 18:1 Next: 4 Kings (2 Kings) Chapter 7”