2 Kings Chapter 8

“Then spoke Elisha unto the woman (whose son he had restored to life), etc.] His hostess at Shunem, (<120408>2 Kings 4:8-17) the following he said to her, not after the famine in Samaria, but before it, as some circumstances show: saying, arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn; with the greatest safety to her person and property, and with the least danger to her moral and religious character: for the Lord hath called for a famine, and it shall also come upon the land seven years: which Jarchi says was the famine that was in the days of Joel; it was, undoubtedly, on…”

“THE SHUNAMMITE'S LAND RESTORED. (Kg2 8:1-6) Then spake Elisha unto the woman--rather "had spoken." The repetition of Elisha's direction to the Shunammite is merely given as an introduction to the following narrative; and it probably took place before the events recorded in chapters 5 and 6. the Lord hath called for a famine--All such calamities are chastisements inflicted by the hand of God; and this famine was to be of double duration to that one which happened in the time of Elijah (Jam 5:17) --a just increase of severity, since the Israelites still continued obdurate and incorrigible under the ministry and…”

“The famine here recorded, and the conversation of the monarch with Gehazi, must have been anterior to the events related in 2 Kings 5:0 since we may be sure that a king of Israel would not have entered into familiar conversation with a confirmed leper. The writer of Kings probably col ected the miracles of Elisha from various sources, and did not always arrange them chronologically. Here the link of connection is to be found in the nature of the miracle. As Elisha on one occasion prophesied plenty, so on another he had prophesied a famine. Called for a famine - A frequent expression (compare the marginal…”

“Sojourn - In any convenient place out of the land of Israel. The Lord, &c. - Hath appointed to bring a famine. This expression intimates, that all afflictions are sent by God, and come at his call or command. Seven years - A double time to the former famine under Elijah, which is but just, because they were still incorrigible under all the judgments of God, and the powerful ministry of Elisha. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 8:3”

“8:3 getting back her house and land: Her property might have been held in trust or confiscated.”

“am 3113, bc 891 whose son: Kg2 4:18, Kg2 4:31-35 sojourn: Gen 12:10, Gen 26:1, Gen 47:4; Rut 1:1 the Lord: Gen 41:25, Gen 41:28, Gen 41:32; Lev 26:19, Lev 26:20, Lev 26:26; Deu 28:22-24, Deu 28:38-40; Kg1 17:1, Kg1 18:2; Psa 105:16, Psa 107:34; Hag 1:11; Luk 21:11, Luk 21:22; Act 11:28 called for a famine: Jer 25:29 seven years: Gen 41:27; Sa2 21:1, Sa2 24:13; Luk 4:25 4 Kings (2 Kings) 8:2”

“Elisha's Influence Helps the Shunammite to the Possession of her House and Field. - Kg2 8:1, Kg2 8:2. By the advice of Elisha, the woman whose son the prophet had restored to life ( Kg2 4:33) had gone with her family into the land of the Philistines during a seven years' famine, and had remained there seven years. The two verses are rendered by most commentators in the pluperfect, and that with perfect correctness, for they are circumstantial clauses, and ותּקם is merely a continuation of דּבּר, the two together preparing the way for, and introducing the following event. The object is not to relate a prophecy of…”