Commentary on the Holy Bible

Terse 46. the rsmnanf qf Jfte oodorvitee] v^pn qf As eoTuecrated mraoru? or, it may rather apply here to the eyetem of pollution, eiSeminacy, and debauch. He destnnr* ed dw thing itself; the abominations cS ftmpaa, and tos rites of Venus, Baal, and Ashtarotb. No mors of that pure worship was to be touad in Judea. Yens 47. Thers was— no kinjr in Edam] It is plun

4!J * There was theo no king ia Edom: a dapoty waa king.

48 r Jehoshaphat i made ' ships of Tharihish to go to Ophir for ffold: * but they went act; for the ships were broken at • Ezioa-geber.

49 Then eaid Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thv servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.

\*t nik' ^ ' Jehoshaphat slept with his AttMi. otia. ftthers, and was buried with hia fa- ISaTSSS!' thers in the and Jehoram lus son reigned in his

Vene 47. Tbare wm no king in Bdatn.] It ia plain that the compilar of this book IiT«d after the day* of Je> borftapbat, in whooe time the Edomitea revolted: eee 2 Cinga viii. 22. David had conauered the Edomiteit nnd they cootintied to be sovemed by deputies, appointed by the king! of Judah, till they recovered their liber^, aa above, nita note i> intrOdu»d by the writer to account for JeboriiafAuu^B boiMing Aipa at Exion-g^er, which was in the territory of the JBdomitct; and whiA showed dMim tobe, at that tim^andsr the Jewi^ yoke.

Terae4a £KAm «r tWsAM to m to QpM- goUl lathspsfallel ^Me, 2 Chron. u.% it bauddiat Jeheahsiwm joiBed faiiaself f- Ahaaiah, to wiafa«)U|M to g9 to TtMrah^! and Ikay mad* tkt tlupt in Sxion-geber. Conoeminx these placaa, and the voyage thither, see the notea oa 1 Kings IX. 36— 38. and Z.1 1,22. Some translate, instead cfs&i9M4^7W'aU«A,ships(rfburdeo. SeefibuM^oaf; vh& eXTvesaes himself doubtful as to the meaning of the word.

Verse 49. But JAoAaphat wndd ttoe. j It u>pean from die above-eiied place in Chroaick% that Jehoanapbat did join in making and sending ships to Tbantuah; and. it is possible^ that what is here aaid, is spoken of a second •xpedition, in which Jehosbsfibat vouldnot join AhaiiBh. Bat, inatead of nan hV> abak, "ha would not}" parhua wa shouU read nan iVi Mia sioft "be cosssntsd to SSi

Sja to roiffn over Israel in Sunaria _ -3^ e seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

5a And he did evil in the aiffht of the Loan, and * walked in the way of his ftrOier, in the mtf of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Melnt. who made brael to sin:

53 For ' he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the Loan God of Israiel, aoeofding to all that his fittber had

him:" two words proaouneed exactly in the same wip, aaddiffwingbutinonaMtorj vis, an m a/atAgUst a >««■. This reading, however, ia not aiqiported by ai^ MS. w version; bat die emendation seemanist; for then are several plaices in these historical booss in which tfaere an mistakes of transcriben^ which nothing but violent criiicism can restore; and to this it is dangeroos to resort, but in cases of die last necessity. Criticsnave reeommoided the 48lh and 49(h verses to Tvad thus: ^mAmAa/ A«{ buiU skipe burden at finon-tfv&er, to go- to Opiurfw «ok &.AndAhm*ioJt,tlusmtifAhab,ka4o»idloJoiaslualtat, LetmjfSorviUa, l9raifAm,goigtAAgo^ oitf* MtAsshw: to vAicfc JUssft^fAa^eeitssiito^ M the Aips lecm not thUhor: for Ike skips were broken at Ssion'gAsr. litis is BouotgOnfo tnaslatioa; ■wbovm' tends, '^that the words of the 48th verse, but t&wwnUiM^ should be placed at the end of the 49th verse; & wbe oaa believe that the sacred writer should first relate that As sAtos tosre broken, and then diat Ahaxiah reqoested of bosnanbat thai his aarvaala night ambirit widi dm ssrvantsnJehosbaphatT' This birid eritie, who nadaaiooil the Hebrew language better than any man in Bonpe, ba%

Shap^ coi^ieeturesL stne* vwiflod by tha «— iw^nriif SS. Ninoved the Hots ot mmw eanlaas msartaa iiutk. In OHlir Id mbhbA -OBi. «L K.M. wjU irU "

ClrftAft kAucr Ir^i -....,

HI Pmsr, vV> lltiri itniii Imn Imiml aniiittnmtm i -if clsa nin cmubinl iiiuimtir fbri, h Huh LM Ki _ ail aC U>: V^bHihu Ihi ■•«J Li irturli HuUH* It., ft c&P T*HEN Moab ' rebelled aeatnet biimioL m. X raeH after the death of Alttb.

mlTSHt 2 \ And Ahaziab fell down through p'"*^^ a lattice in bis upper chamber that was ia Samaria, and was side: and be sent messea' fera, and said unto them, Qo, ioguire of Baalxebiw the goi of < Ekron wfaQther I itaall recover of this disease.

3 But the aof^el of the Lohd said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arme, np^ to meet the mesaeneer« of the king of Samaria, and say nolo them, Ja it not because there ia oat a God in Israel, that;e go to inquire of Baal-2^iA the god of EkroD?

In Uw yr^fim to the first book of King^ I have apoken •t larga concerning both these booka, the author, time of writing, &C. Ac to vhieh I muil nfisr my resden^ aa. lint preface ii etmvum to both.

The Mcond book of KiDsa containa (be hiatorref Arcs hundred and eight 3reara, from the rebellion of noeb, A. M. 3108, to the ruin of the kingdom of Judah, A. M. 3416.

nw hiatory, on the whole, ezhibiu Itttls elae than a ■eriea of crimes, dinsten^ divine benefiti^ and divine judgrmenla. In the Hngdom. of Judah m meat with a few Kings who fcared Go^ ani promoted (he intonata of pure religion in '(t» land: but the major part were idolatKr9% and profligates of the highest oroer.

The kingdom of ftrael vaa still more corrupt: all its IciAA were determined idolaters, profficate, vicioo^ and cruel tnaiAs. Elijah and ElUha stood up in the behalf of Ood aikd truth in this toXlea, idolatrous Kingdom t and bore a strone teatimony against the corruptions of the prince^ and the profligaey of the people: duir powerfbl miniatry was coiifhied to the Icn frwe*; Judah had ita own prophets^ and those io considerable number.

At length the avenging hand of Ood fell first upon /rra«l and afterward upon.hidoA- Israel, after many eonvuiaion^ torn by domestic and foreign wars, was at length wholly subjugated by the king of Assyria, the people led away mto eaptivi^, and the land repeoplea by strangers, A. M. 3287.

"nte kingdom of Judah contiDaed some time longer, but WM at last overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar; Zedekiah, ita last kin^ taken prisoner, and his eyes put out, and ibe priOBipal part of the people carried into e^Miviqri irtiich usMd about MHnfy jeaii. The cs^drity baf|U ante

4 Now therefore thus laith the Loae, <■ Thoa shalt not come dowo from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. A^od Elijah departed.

5 1f Ana when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, iVby are ye now turned back t

6 And they said unto him. There came a roan up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Tbtu saith ute Loan, Is it not because there ia not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to iaquire of Baat-zebob the god of EkrcHi? thereftve thou shalt not come down frota that bed on which thou art gone up, hot shalt surely die.

7 And he said unto them, ■ What raaaner of man wa« he which came up to meet yon, and told you these words?

6 And they answered tarn. Hie wot ' a hairy man, cuid girt with aeirdle of leatfier about his loins. Aiu he said. It ia Elijah the Tishbite.

Jehoiakim, A. H. 3402, and ended under Betahazzar, A. H. 3470: or S472. Here was after thia a partial restoration of the Jews; but they itever more rose to any consequence amonK the natioaa: and, at laat, their civil polity was finally ussolved by the Romans, and their temple burnt, A. D. 70. And mm that time until now they oecame fUsitiveB and ve^pbonds over the face of tbo earth, universuiy detested by mankind.

Tern 1. Moab rebeiltdi The HoaUtes had been subdued by Davii and laid under tribute, ehao. iii. 4. and 2 8am. viiL 3. After the diviaion of the two kingdoms, die Moabites fell partly under the dominion of Israel, partly under that of Judah, until the death of Ahab, when they arose, and shook m thia yoke. Jefaoram con&deraied with the king of Judah and the king of Edook, in order to reduce them. See thia war, chap. ui. 6.

Verse 2. Fell down through a tatlice] Perhaps either through the flat roof of his bouae, or over or through be balustrades, with which the roof was surrounded.

Oo, inquire qf Baat-xebub] Literally, diejtygo^ or master tff'Jliet. The Septuagint has paaX /tviaf, Baal Ihejfy. Be was the tutelaty of Ekron; and probably was used at first aa a kind OlttUwm, to drtee awayjtiet. He became afterward a very rentectable devil; and was supposed to have great power and influence. In the New l^Mtantent Beelzebub is a common name fhr Satan himselt or the prince of devils. See my notes oo HatL x. 9.

verse 4. But thalt mirOy die\ Tbfi true Ood tells you this: he, in whose hands are both life and death, who can kill and make alive. Baal-z^b can do aouungt Ood baa detarmined that your master shall die.

9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fiftjr with his fifty. And he went up to him: and behold, he eat on the top of a hill. And he «pt^^e unto him, Thou man ol Ood, the king hath eaid, Come down.-

10 And Elijah answered and eaid to the captain of fifty, If I &e a man of God, then i let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with hia fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hzUh the king «aid, Come down quickly.

12 And Elijah answered ajid said unto them, If I &e a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from neaven, and eonsumed him and hie fifty.

13 IT And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and ^ felt on hie knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him. O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, i be precious in thy aight.

14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven^ and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifUes: therefore let my life now be preciouB in thy sight.

15 And the anget of the Loan said unto EUjah. Go down with him: be not afraid of him.

Tern 8. He w&a a hairy man} Thai ii, he wore a rougfr garmait, either made of camel's hnir, aa hia aucceaaor John Baptiaf* wui or he wore a uin draaaed uitft the hair on. Some tnink that the meaning ia, he had -nrj tvng hair, and a Img beard. The ancient propheta all wore rough jnuments, or upper coata made m the $kin» btatU r Tney vtaritUred about in liieepaMwand goat-Mna, aaya the apoatle, Heb. xi. 37.

VerM9. A ca^Uin ofJlftyipHh hit Jljly] It ia impoaaible (batiueh a man m AbBziah,.iD miefa ciroumataDcea, could have had any Jritndly deaiga in aeoding a captain and Aflv toldiMn tat the prophet i and Ibe mmnar in vbitn tMry an WaJaA, aliowa plainly that thejy want with a hottiU ialeiiL

And ha make unto him, TAou man ^ Ood] Thou prophet of the Moat High.

Verse' 10. And there came down ^e] Some have Uuned the pn^iet for deatnwing tbe»e men, by tmoging down fire mm heaven upon tium. But tbcry do not consider that it waa juat aa powible for Slijah to bring down fire from heaven, a« for them to do iu Ood alone could send the fir«; and, aa he ia Ju$i, and good, he could not twve destroyed these men, hod there not been a tufflcimi eaute to juattfjr the act. It waa not to pUatt ElUah, or to gratify any vindictive humour in bun, that Ood thua Rcled; but to show hie power and his Jaetiee, No entreaty of Elijah could have induced Ood to have performed an act that waa wrong in itself. Elijah, personally, had no concern in the buaineas; Ood led him simnly to nnnounee on these occaaions what he himaelf had determined fs (ft). If The a man qf Ood, i. e. aa surely aa I am a r wdijlre SHALL eom« down from heaven, and ' - Thia ia the literal

BH4LL coniume thee and Oty Mly- Thia ia the literal meaning of Ibe original i aod of u wocda were only dedorattve, and not imprecatory.

Verse 16. And the angel qf the Lord eaid — vo down with him] Thia ia an additional proof that Elijah waa thisn actiiu; under particular inepiratioTte: he had neither ttjil nor Mtign of nis own. He waited to know the coun- ■d, declare fas will, snd obey the commam^ of hia Ood.

And ht anf«L and v*nl down] He did not even regard hia pmonu salety, or his life; he goes without least heantaliim to the king, though he had reuon io suppose he would be doubly irritated by hia prediction, and the death of one hundred of hia men. But with all tbeae flonse<]uences he had oothine to do; he waa the ambassador of the King eternal; and his honour and life were in the hands of hia Master.

Verse 17. And JAoram rtignoA in hi* etead] The Vulgate, S^uagiixt, and Syriae say, Jehoram na bmo-. una reigned in hte itead, in the eeeend year qfJehoravL There were tvro J^wrame who were contempomrj: iha

And he arose, and went down with him onto the

16 And he said unto him, Thus aaitb the LoRO, Forasmuch as thou hast sent mesaoi^era

to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, it U not because there is no God m Israel to iiuuire of bis word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on vrtiteh thou art gaoe up, but ahalt surely die.

17 ^ So he died according to the word of the LoRo which Elijah had spolTen. And ^ Jehoram reigned in hie steEid, in the aeeond year of Jehoram the son of JehoshairfuLt king oC Jndah; because he had no son.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Aha- *-JSjJ» ziah which he did, are th^ not writ- b.c »-m ten in the book of the Chronicles of i otTTSi the kings of Israel,

AND Ll rEiiiH- lo paet; when the Lopo would I lake ui> Elijah inW hL-ii,ven by a. wliirlwimt, thai Elijah went with ■'Elit'hn from fiiiirnh first, the son qf Ahab, brotha to Ahaxinh, and his i Bor m the kiiigdom of Israel; the second, the soa ff Jo- Aoai^Aog king of Jtidah, who sueceailed his father ia Judah. But there is a difficulty here; " Bow is it il«t Jehoram, the brother of Ahaziah, began to reign in the eecond year nf Jehoram ton nf Jehoehaphat, seeir^ thai, in chap. iii. ver. I. he is said to have begun hie reign » the IQih year qf the reign qfJehothaphat? And, in diop. viii. 16. uiathe begitn Stat reign in AeSA year^Mmmm king of Itrael 7 CalmH and others aaawer thus: " Jehoram, king sf larael, bwan to reign in the I9di year of Muirii^Aiat King of JudaE; iriuch was the second year after this lame Jaboahubat had given the vicoroyatty IS his son Jehoram: and vflerward Jdioabajihat umunnnkBted the royoltv to Jehoram hia sucoeesor, (too yean befcra his deotbh and the.It/Ui year Jehoram, king of I«eL" Dr. LigtHfool takes another method; — "Observe" mjw ht, "these texts, 1 Eiogt xxii 6L Ahariah, As sen if Ahab, began to reign aotr breA, tti iSsMorio, en tfcasw enteenth year qf jAiMhaphat,Hngqf Judah, attd reigned two yeart. And 2 Kiiws i. 17. And Akaximh-diei of cording to Aa word ttf oU Lord whidi Elijah had apsAa, and Jdioram reigned in hie etead, in ike eeeond year ^ Jehoram, eon iff Jdiothaphat. king qf Judah. And 2 Kinga iii. 1. JVoid ^i^ffrani, la* eon m Ahab, began la reign over terael in Samaria, the ei^teentk year ^J»- hoehaphat, king of Judah. By these Scriptures it is »osi plain, that bothJehoram, the sou of Jehoabaphat,aiMl Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, began to reign in the seveoieeDth of Jehosha|diat: (or who sees not in these texts that Jeboabaphat'a eighteenth, when Jehoram, the son of Ahab, legem to reign, la called the eeeond year qf Jehoram, the eon qf JehoAaphat? Now, Jehoahaf^iat's reign was not yac expired, by eight or nine yeart; for this was in his eevemr teenih year, and he reinted Iwenty-Jlve year*, 1 Kii^ zxii. 42. Nor was Ahab'a reign expired by two or three yeart i for this was in his tteentieth yean and he reipied twenty-tuo yeart, 1 Kings zvi. 29. But the reason why boih tneir sons came thus into their thrones in their brnti me, and both in the saffls year, was, because their faihen, Jdwabaphat and. Ahofa^ were both engaged in the war ■gainst the Syrian*, about Bamoth-^ead; and whtU they wen providing for and carrying it on, ibey msda their aona vieeroyi^ and set them to reign i» ibair sUmL while they were absent or employed t^ion that expeditiai.** lilt* is very probable; aeems well su|noned by the lextat and solves the difficulties with whiA mmj bsva heeo puzzled, and not a few stumbled, had we suffiqert niJsMM lor die vicerondhr here nentioMd.

TfOTES ON CHmCR IL Verse 1. IVftsn like Lord widd take ta BUJak} It ■ppesrt that God had revsaled this inlewMijl namhtisa

2 And BUjfA Baid unto Bliaha, ■ Tarry here, 1 pray thee: for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord Kveth, and *■ a« thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.

3 And r the sons of the prophets that vere at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto biro, Knowestthou that the Lord will take awar thy inaster from thv head to-day 7 And he said, Yea, I know it: hold ye your peace.

4 And Elijah said unto him. Elieba, tarry here, I pr^ thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and a* thy soul Uveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that -were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Bjwweet thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye voor peace.

6 And Eluah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I Will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7 And fiAy men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood « to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

not only to Elijah hiinael( b« alw to Kisha, and to tbe ■chooU of the prophet^ both at Beth-el and Jericho, so that they were lul expecting^ ihii wlemn event.

TerM 2. TVrrjr hire, Jjrrav (Am] He either made these r^eala, ihrough hamUm, not vUhing any param to be witoeu of tbe honew conmrred on him by Om i pr widi the deaire to proTe the fideli^ of Bliaha, whether be would Domiotie to follow and terve him.

Verse 3. Knowat thm that Ou Imma] Thua we aee, that it waa a matter well known to all tbe aona of the pro[rf»ta. Tina tlay the Lord will take thy master and in- ■tnieler from tbee.

Terse T. FVk/ nun of Aa ton* qf tKe prop/utt'] They Ihlly npeeUa ans examordinair evenii and they could have kiwwn it only from BGjab bima^ or by a direct revelation from QfM.

▼eisaS. Took hU vumOe} Tur fiii\»Tv nm, hit shaptktTi, MVB the Stjiluagint. The ikini of beast% dresaed with the hair on, were formerly worn by propheta mndprltata, as the dmple inai^a of their office. Aa the iSvit auHiorUy waa often lodged in the handi of aoch per- ■00% particularly amoiw the Jewa^ manttae of this kiitd were naed by kingt km high eMt ttS^ten when they bore no sacred character. The cuatom eontimies to the present dM': a IamV*-«M's hood, or doat, i> the Mm which certain naduatea in oar universitiea wear; and ifie royal robea of kings and rreat offieera of itate are adorned with the ^etn» of the animal called the erMbu.

TJuy wera divided hithtr and thilhtr] tiaS wis a moat attoniriting minel^ and cotdd be permaed only by the ftlmich^ power of Qod.

Terae9. A double portion qf tky apirU be ttpntflu.] litis is in refBrenee to the law, Deut. xxi. 17. He aAoU ^knowUdfe thejtrtt-bom by riving him a dovbls roanoir qfalt that he hath— the rli^t<^theJlrH'bom ie Ma. Rliaha considered himself the only child! or firat-bora. of Rliiah; aa die disciplea of eminent teaoners were called their oiildren: ao here he claima a double portion of bis •piritua! influence; wy other disciples coming in for a thigle share only. The eons qf the pnpkMa, mean no more than the diietplee or tchoiare of ihe propnM& Tita original words vsw *s pi ehenaytnif mean rather Ivo pari»,tbaa dotMe Aeqwmtity.

Terse 10. A hard iKtng} This ia what U not to my power; Ood alone can give diia: yef, if thou tee me taken avayfivm thee^ it ihaU be so. Pernaps diis bmsbs no more man, ** JS inou eontinue with me dfl I am tranakied, Ood will grsnt diis to thee;" for, on (he mere tmksgm not eemng htm in the moment in which hs was butea •way, this divine gift eonld not depeiMl.

Verse II. A ehariot a/Jlre, ana hortee o/Jtre) 1%at is, a dioriot and horses of ^ most respundent gtorjf, whidt, maiufesting itwlf in «onweaH0Tu, orthoeMngraj/e, s«emtd' to be lilcs blsziag Jtre, or likis the sun In fas atreogdk. Some diiiik that this eireamsianee, known in ths beadMo w«rl^ gam rise to die fcbls of Apottsi or lbs mmt, bstaig ssttsd^tn a hUutng 'Otartat, diawa bj AorsM

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9 IT And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijali said unto Elisha. Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of Uiy spirit be upon me.

10 And he said, ■ Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertkeleia, if thou see me ioA«tt / am taken from thee, it shall be so unto fhee: but if not, it shall not be so.

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared ta chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and " Elijah went up by a whirlwmd into heaven.

13 II And Elisha saw it, and he cried, * My lather, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces,

13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the ' bank of Jordan.

U And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said.

whidi breathed and morted Jtre. These horses were Jimr, and called Pyroeis, Eoua, £thon, and Phl^ont all whtdi words aignify jSrt^ or retplenitnt ligU. So Ovu»-

Perhaps the whole of this fhble, wbidi represents Phdiion, son of Apollo^ reqiteating to drive the eftoHof qf hie father (Ac Aortas ana Aanol effiri) for one d^. was bonvwed from the remuet EliAa, to Us apirilual father Etikh, whom be onerwarda aaw bone sway by a vhirhDinia, in a dtariol Jtre, drawn by Jlery ateede.

Verse II. Elijahwantmi — iatokeavenl He was truly trait^aied; and the words here leave us no room to in* du^ theeoojeetoreof Dr. Priestley, who supposes that, as "Enodi, (profaably Afoaea) EUJah, and CVM, had no relation to any other world orplanet, they are do doubt f n this:" for we are told dtat rajjah went up into heaven/ and we know, from tbe sure testimony of tbe Scripture^ that our blessed Lord ja at tbe right band of the Msjes^ on high, ever living to make Intercession for us.

Terse 12. 7%e Aariet iff brad, and the horaemm thereof.} The Chsldee translates these words thua: " Mr master, my masterl whoh by thy intsrceasion, wert c« more use to larael than bones and diariots." "nis U probably Ihe sense,

In the hook of Eodaataatieita, Aiap. xlriii. 1, Ac. the fyrj horaea and cAorM are conndend as an emblem, of mat bandng zeal which Elijah mantfosted io 'tbK whole of his ministry. "Then stood up Eliwh the prophet at frt! and bis word burned aa a lamp,*' ftc

And rent them in two pleeea.] Aa a sign of somiB for having lost sogood and glorious a master.

Terse 13. m took— the msntfel The same with which be had been called by Elijah to the prophetic office; and the aame by whidi Elijtui divided Jordan. His having the manlk, waa a proof that he was invested with tbe anthortty snd influenoe of his master.

Verse 11. Where is the Lobd €hd cf E^<A\ Vne Vti%ato gives a strange torn to ihia verse: — Kt peraisait

Xaa, etilon sant divias, et dixit, Obi eat Data Blies mnnne? PereuM^tqae atptaa, et diviaa: aunt hie d tUite. "And he amois the watery biitAegdidnotdivid*! and be said. Where is the Ood of EIHah even now 1 And be struck uie waters, and they wen divided hither and thither." Tbe act of striking the wawts seems to be twice repeated in tbe verse, thtugh toe get rid of the aaeond •frlHiif fay rendering tbe second elmise^ wAsii As alto Aod

Where is the Lobd God of Elijah 7 And when he had also Emittea the waters, ■ they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15 And when die soofi of the prophete, which were r to view at Jericho, saw nim, they eaid. The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to theffround before him.

16 TjAnd they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifVy * strong men: let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: ' lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon " some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therepre flfly men; and they sought three days, but found him not

19 \ And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sceth: but the water ia naught, and the ground • barren.

20 And he eaid, Bring me a new cruise, and pat salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and ' cast the salt in there, and said.

3 And when they came again to hiin, (for he ried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not

amitten the waters: which baa the Bame Hebrew wurda am the Rrst, aad which we tnuialaie, he amote the viatera. The Vulgate Buppoaea be unote once ia vain, perhaps confiding too much in hia own Btrenzth; and then, having invoked the Ood of Ehjah, he autxuatd, "Hii^ diatinctian ii not followed 1^ any of the other veriiona; nor is the clause, el non luni aivUx, "and they divided not," expreaaed by the H^ew text. Vwae 16.

__ TJu apiTit ^Elijah doth reat tm BliAa] Hum waa a natunu eoncTuaion, from seeinghim with the mitntle, and working the same miraete. Thia disposed them to yield Ae same obedience (o him they had done to hia maater: and in token of thii, lhay mat out to meet him, and botaed themaeivea to lha ground b^orehitn, verae 16. Fyty Orong m*a\ TrobeUy uiB mbmJI/V whioh are meiuioned, ver. 7. and who aaw Elijah Wtcit. up in the iriuclvind.

Coat AuA upoa aama mauntaihl Though they aaw him talun up toitard Aeovsn, yet they thought it poaaible that the Spirit of the Lord might have deacendtd with him, and left him oa some remote mountain or valley,

Ya ahall not aend.] He knew that he was translated to bMvan; and that, therefore, it would be useless.

Verse 17. TUi he waa CMamad} He saw they would not be mlisfied unless they made the proposed aeareb: be fi^ therefore, that he oould not, with asy good giwa^ reaiat tiuii importuni^ any longer.

Verse 19. JTu water ianaiaht, and Aagrvundbarr ok.} The bturennea of the ground was the effect ot the badnose of the water.

Verse 21. And coat the eaU in there] He cast in the salt at Ae place where the waters sprang out of the earth. Jdrtlu well observes here, " Salt ia a thing which corrupu walerttherefimitiaevidentdiatthis was a true miracle." What Bliaha did on this occasion, getting the new cruise, and throwing in the saJl, waa onlV to make the miracle more coiupicuous. If the salt could have had any natural tendency to render the water salubrious, it oould have acted Only for a aft«r( time, and only on that portion of the smam which now aroas from the apring { and in a few mumeats its eftota must have disappearedT But the mirada hen was panuncnti lite dewt of men aod ewio, which had been OBoaaioned by the inaahibn^ of the water% ceased I the land was no longer barrani and the waters beeame permanently At fin all agriouluual and doneabe

Verse 23. Thera came forth UUU diiUlran. out qf lha cUjr] These ware probably the school of noma aalsbraied teaidier i but, under tiis instmetion, they had neilhar leamtdmetj aor good manners.

Oa up, thmi batd k*cui: go up, tho^ bald h«id.] nSy mpn^ nv aleh kareach; aleh kareacb. Does not this imply the grosaeat insult? Aaeand, thou emptyjkult, to Aaaven, as it ia pretended ihy master did I lUs was blaqtMaay agaiiwt Oodtiud their pwishniwn, far Ihsy

Thus saith the Lorp, I have healed the** m- ters i there shall not be from thence any more deaio or barren land.

22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

23 TI And he went up from thence unto Bethel: aiid as he was gomg up by the way, there came forth little chiTdren out of the city, 'and mocked hun, and said unto htm. Go up, thov bald head: go up, thou bald head.

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lobd. And there came forth ''two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

25 And be went D'om thcncu to mount Carmc'lp.-in>t from (hence he returned tp Samarm.

NOW ijehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehosha- — phat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

were Bethel ite idolaters, waa only jm^MttioDed to ibeir guilt. Elisha curaed them, L e. pronounced a curse upaa uiem, in the name of the Lord, mr ors beakam. Taka^ki by the name or authority (ff Jehovah. The snrit of their offence lies in their ridicuUTifr a miracU of the Lord: the offence was against Aim, and ha punished it. It was so petulant humour of the prophet that caused him to pronounce this ourse; it was Ood alone: bad it proceeded from a wrong diapoaition of the prophet, no miracle would have been wrought in order to gralily it.

"But waa it not a cruel thing to deatroy^or^y-fws Kills ehildrai, who^ in mare chiMimncas, bad aimfdy callsd the prophet oare afttil^ or batd hood?"

I answer, Etiaha did not destroy then: ha bad no power by which be could bring two ana-bears out of the wood to destroy them. It waa evidently either accidental, or • divine juc^msntt and if a judgment, God niiat be the sola author of it Elid»*s curat must ba only dcelanlary id ■vbax Ghd was about to do. See on chap. L lOl ''But then, aa diey were little ehUdftn, ihey could scarcely be accwniable for their conduct; and, CMtacquently, it waa cruelty to dealroy them." If it was a Judgment of God, it could not ba cruel nor Mniuat; and I conieod that tha prophet had no power 1^ which he could bring theaa she- Dear* to fiill upon them. But were they HtUa dUidrn 7 for A«re the strength of tbsolMOtkn lien. Nowlsnpposa the objectioD means dUMreB&omybur to w»at or dfU 3rears old; for so we use the word: but the original anpa n^Mp nearim keianim, may mean young matt, for |cp ieatan, signifies to be young, in oppositioa to old, and isso transited ia various plaoes in our Bible. And «a4r, signifiea not only a child, but a young man, a •araoiti^ or even a aoldtar, or one it to go out to bauJe; and ta at translated in a nultitiide of plaoea in our eomnon English version. I ahall mention but a few, because they are sufficiently decisive; Isaac was called f/i nodr, vhen Iwantfeight years old, Gen. xxi. 5—12. Ai>d Joe^ was so called when ha waa thirty-nine, Otn. zlL 12. Add 1» UttmlKhigasx-li. And Ahab said. By whom 7 [d»a the Assyrians be dslivared into my hand.] Thus saiut iba Lord, ^the Totnts Hn!)('>vu banaSteu, iff thtpriMta ^ Ota pnwiness.) That these ware aomiera^ probaUy miliiia, or a.selectioa from the ntiliti^ which served aa a. body-guard to Ahab, the event suffiaeotly deckrea; and the persons that mocked Elisha were perfecily aocouatnMs for their eonduot. But ia it not possiUe that these fiH§- tiBo were a set of uoluclty young men. who hsd beut employed in the vood, daavojrins the icne^ of tfaeas sams al^frears^ who now pursued them, nd ioi« tbem n

Eieoes, for the injury Ihw had donal Wa ham alicndy eard of the feroci^ of a oev ro6I>«df^ Act isAa^ 8m at the end of 2 Sam. chap. xvii.

T%a mention of am-fteara gives some colour to above eoi^eolura) and, probably, at the time when ihsoa youn^ fellm biaultod tbs pn^n^ dw bear^ iw^.hn tnmc

2 And h« wroacht evfl in the Birht of the Los*; but not like his fiitber, and like his mother: for he put away the ^ image of Baal ■ that his father had made.

3 Nevcrthelesa he cleaved unto ^ the eins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to Bin; he departed not therefVom.

4 T And Meeha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel a hnndred thoasand i lambs, and a hundred thousand rams, with the wocd.

5 But it came to pass, when "Ahab Was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king

6 ^ And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all laraeL

amloliu, phat the kins ofJudah, saying, The ^SitfrKSl king of hath rebelled against

pty^wr; ^j|t thou go with me against Moab to battle t And he said, I will go up: "I am as thou ai4, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.

8 And he said, Which way shall we go up t And he answered, The way tiirough the wilderness of Edora.

d So the kin^ of Israel went, and the kine of Jodtth, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven dayr journey: cmd there was no Water for the host, and for the cattle * that followed them.

10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

tbe IboUiaps of the mimkran tbnr young; and thus esms upon them in the midvt of their ionilte i Ctod ■ pn^ videncf orderiog theee oocuireooes, so as to make this iwiural efieot appear aa a divute cause. If the eonjeetun be eomot, the bnn vere prepared, by dieir loei^ to execute the eune of the pnnhett and Ood'e juadoe guided them to the spot, to paniaa the iu^ty that had Immi just oom-

Vsrsa3. B:ijniAmao:y6uimasti^BaaX[ He^liabad ^ wenUpt but be eontioued that of the cofou at Dan wkdBelb-ol.

T«rse4. H^aaiha^Mnw<cr}l%eorigiiiaIis'tp] noiUi^ ftf which the Septuagittt eouM make nothing \ aind tberefm retained the Hdmr word rtao^; but die Cbaldee hM -wiM «is ■marU gitiujf, "a dwep-tnaeler:" A^uila has wMftmMTftfet, and SifmmadhM 0»mif*rm^ ail lo dbs mMA ssnse. The original ainiifies one wno marka or branda. in«bab1y from the marking of she^ He fed many Hteep, Ac and bad dmn aU vutr/ud in a particular w^yt in oner to asoeitain bis property.

A kundnd tkmitand lomfta} The Chald** and ArMe have a kundrad thoutand ftU oxm.

Va«e7. Mjfpaoj^atlhf jMuM] We find that Jehodtapfa&t maintained tbe same friendlr intercourse vith the wn, aa he did vitfa tfae.^iA«r. See 1 Kinge, eimp. xxn. 4.

'WveeS. TTirvii^ tha wiidtmMa ^ S^dom.] Beeause }0 expected the king of Bdom to join ifaem, as we find ha did 1 and beinr tributary to Judah, he wai obliged to do it

Verse 9. Tney fitchtd a eampaaa tfmtom da^\ By taking a etrenitous ron(«, to go round the eouihero part of die Dead lea, ihey probably intended to surpriae die ofoab. ites: but, It appear^ their joomsy was ill planned, aa they at iMt gM into a country in which it was impoaaible to oMalniMler; aod they were brooe^l, ia eonseqoenee, to die wtmoet extremity.

■Verse 10. 7%«Loao AaA<aa«illhsBi.ffcnaMn^lo^ Aer} llat is, thiaisadiTjas jodgnantt God Ms judieMly blinded (m^ and psrmlBeif ustolshs this jornney to ots oeMustlon.

nesnsiant and coofldeattal aamanl. '«m iZ. TKavKfrd^fOit Loan f« wM Mm.] He haa tlis of preoheey.

Erophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the lOBD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

12 And Jehoshaphat said. The word of tbe LoBD is with him. So the king of lerael, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, i went down to him.

13 And Etiaha Eaid unto the king of Israel, ' What have I to do with thee? ■ get thee to • the prophets of thy father, and to the prophete of thy mother. And the kine of Israel said unto him, Nay; for the Lord hattt called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

14 And Elisha said, * As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward Uiee, nor see thee.

15 But now bring me a *muistrel. And it came to pass.when the mmstrel played, that *the hand of the Lord came upon him.

16 And he sakl, Thus saith the Loan, ' Make this valley Ihll of ditches:

17 For thus saith the Lord, Te shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and^our cattle, and your beasts.

IS And this is hut a light thing in tbe sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

fine <^ tUa impU^ to rtmambranee i but oak marcy fiiruai because (ne Lou hath called, &c. The AraU* haa, Ibeattchtheadotuttnaka mmtwnftf eur tranagraanana, fnU hm Inndnaaa toward lu. It ia very likely that some aueh words were sptdcan on ths occanon: bat these are tbe only vernona which make thia addition.

Verse 14. IF«r« U not Ikat I regard Oupnaanea tf JAoihaifika£\ He woriht|9ed tbe tiue God i Jefaorusww an idolater.

Verae 16. Brirxg me a mtnatrd.] A person who played on the haa-p. TTie rabbin^ and many Chrialiana, suppoae that Eliaha'a mind was considerably irritated and grieved by the bed behaviour of the young men at Beth-el, and their trarical end % and by lha presence of the idolatrous king of uraal i and, therefore, ulled far divine paalmody, that it might calm hia apirita, and render him more oeptible of ifae imiphetie influence. To be able to diaeena the voice of Ood, and the operation of hii hand, it ia oecesnry that the mind ha oalw- and the poMioiu all i% Aarmony, undw the direetion of raoaim; Ihu reason may be under the influence sf the divine Spirik

TV hand of the Loan eame upon fttm. J Tbe playing of the harper had the desired efiect: hia mind was calmeiT and the power of Ood descended upcn him. Tbe effect or music was generdly acknowledged in every civilixed nation. Cioaro, in hia Tuaoulon Gtueataona, lib. iv. aaya, that "Tba Pvifaagareana weraaoeuatomed to calm their mind% oikI aootne their paanoBa, by ainging and playing upon the harp." RyAagortai m^Uta auaa a eogwUtonum inlanr tUme, eaniu, Jdibuaqua ad tranquUliiatam (rcwluce&enl

I hare spoken elaewMre sf the heathen priests who endeavoured to imitate the true prophete i and were as aetuallu aiad wUh the devil, tiatt» othm waie uUi IA« /rwa God. The fbrmer were thrown into etaianl ^^Uatiana and conlortiona by the infloenoe ef the demons which posaeaaed then: wmle the /otter wete in a aiate ot tba utaaost aeieiii^ end oonpowre.

Verse 16. MUb Me v<a%>il of dUcAea.1 Tbe word Vni naeftuA maybe tranelated brook t as it is oy the FniraU and S^uaglni. There probably was a riser here^ but it wna now ory; and tbe proftbet deairoa that tbsy would enlarge the dumnel, and cut out varloiu canals bam it, and Assmrire, where water might be coUeeled for the

II flisiiin«H iifiliii niHij. nnil nf rtm i iitiln- and these were to bswide enough that the reflection of the em's rays off this water might be the means of eonfcaitdif^ sod dotnyinglhe Moabitaa.

Verae 17. VasAoffnof es* wind] Utere riuOl bono wM toeoneotTCpounLaodthereahallbenoaAoiMra; nod yet dtsmMafrarfeffliisriver, and all ths na»-madacmak, ihall be fillAl with water.

19 And ye ahall amite every fnwed citv, and every choice city, and ahall fell every food tree, and atop ail wells of water, and r mar every Eood piece or land witb atoneB.

^ ir And it came to paaa in the roornin?, when *the meat-ofierinf was oH'ered, that, oehold, there came water oy the way of Edom, aod the country was filled with water.

31 And when all the Moabttee heard that the kings were come ap to fisht againat them, they ' gathered all that were able to " put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

22 And they rose up early in the momiog, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side ax red as Mood:

23 And they said. This ia blood: the kings are " surely " slain, and they have smitten one another! now, therefore, Moah, to the ^il.

24 And when they came to the camp oflsraei, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, 80 that they fled before them: but << they went forward smiting the Moabites, even m their country.

25 And they beat down the citiea, and on every eood piece of land cast every man nis stone, and filled It } and they stopped all the wells of water.

Terae 19. ShaUfiU every gmtd fava] Eveiy tree by tvhich your snemieB may wan tbonauves for fonjfimticHU, &e. Bui Mirely fiuU treta ate not intended bare: for thia w positively aninst the lav of Ood, Deut. u. 19, 20. Whtn Hum $h£M hetuge a dfy—Aoa Aait not d^troy the trta Aert^—^or the tree ofihe fidd it man'r Hfe—mly tiu trtet untca thou knaweat that Vuy be not treetjm- vuat thou aAoZt tUatroy and cut themaomi.

Stop all mtU qfwat^] lo those hot countriea Uiia voaM lead aoooer thu Binr Aung elae to reduee an eneitiv.

£bra»ery good piece qftandwiAeloiue.] SudianMUtitiule of men, esch throwing « etone oa a good field aa they paaaed, would eorapleteiy deatroy iu

Terae 20. When the nuat-o_fMng vxu qfered] 'Om was the.fir8t of all oSwii^ | and waa generally made at sun-rising.

There eanwwator} Thia aupphr wm altogetbsr miraculouat foriharewu neither vltia dot r^in, nor any other LAiuial means by which it could be aupplied.

Verae 22. iSiw the maUr en the emer ride aa red a» UaxTl Thia ro^t have been an optical deception; I have aeen:ne like eight when there waa no reaam lo luapecl >upernatural agency. The Hoabitea bad new aeen that valley Kill of water, and therefore did not auapect that their eyea deceived thmn, but took it for the blood of &e eoafedemte hoat^ who ^iay thought might have fUlen into oonfuidon in the darkoeaa of inffii, and deatroyed each other, as the Midianitaa had formerly doae, Juogea vii. 22; and the PhiUsUnea Isiely, 1 Kings ziv. 22.

Verae 23. Tfurefort, Moab, to the epoil'] Hub tfa^ came on in a dieorderly mannner, and fell an easy prey to their eaemiea.

Verae 26. On every good pUce 4^ lmd\ On all culttnied ground t and aapeeially-idda that were ■own.

Onfy in JBp-AwvmA] Thia waa the royal city of the Hoabitea; and, aa we mm from Scripture, excMdingly strong; woe Isa. xvi. 7, U: an diat it ia probable the conbderaie armies could not.easily reduce it. Hie eliiuetn, wsare inftmnad, went about A4 mil. and amoie au dte Ben that appeared 00 it; while, no doubt, the beiiegliig army waa einployed in Mpping the foundatioaa.

Verae 26. Seiimhutuirtd men] llwae were, no doubt, the eftotee of all his troops; and, being afraid of bc^ng hemmed up, and pertiaps taken by hia.eneauBih whom hi found 00 the eve of j^aining pnssesiion of the city, he made « desperate aortie, in order lo nrnin the open oountry; and, Buppoaing that the quarter of the Bdooahes was weasast, or IMS carefully guarded, he endBSVoaiad to oudte his impreaaion there t but they were ao wannly received by the king of Edom, that they foiled in the attempt, and were driven back into ue ei^. Hence he waa led to that dMperate act mentioned in the following verae.

Verse 27. 7\>ok kU Meet eom] T%e rahbina aaoount for this horrible aaorifice in the following way:

Whan the king of Hoab found himaelf so harassed, and (be nml city on the point of hang taken, he called a couneil <tf hia aervanta, and asked them how it was these Israelitas oould perform such prodigies and that such miraeles wen wrought for tbemi His servanta answered, that it waa ewim to thaic pn^iiunr Abnbuo, who, having aa and felled all the good trees: ■ oi4y in ' Eir^aneeth left they the stones thereoTj howbeil the slingers went about it, and smote it

26 T And when the king of Moab saw Utat Cbe

battle was too sore for him, he took with hisa seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edwo: but they

27 Then ' he took bis eldest son, that shooli have reigned ifi his stead, and ottered him for «. burnt-ofiering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: ' and they departed from him, and returned to fAfurownlaiiiL

NOW there cried a certain woman ofthewivesofithesonsofthepro- AnarSC^ phets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant Pf-"' my husband ia dead; and thou knowest that tl^ servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor m come ^ to take unto him my twosoos to be boofanea.

<nly eon, he waa demanded by Jdwvah as a aaerifiea. Abnhaia inatantly lAayed, and offered his only aeofar* bmmtwiffifing: Aelaraelites, beiaghisffascen«iant^ throng^ hia merita, tlw helyJ)]esBed Ood wrought sikIi miracles 0 their befaalC "nie king of Moab answered, I also have sa only son; and 1 will go and ofier him to my mj. Itak he ollered him for a bwnt-oSering upon the ■wmSL

VpoaihewiL] noTxn'yfalhariSumah. HakSoLAicU Myi^ that the letter > mu, ia wantiiig m tlm •mttti, it muld be written r«nn cAomoA, to sonify a wall. bn> nan cbmuiA, signifies the sun, and this waadiegsdof Ihs king of Hoob: "And he offered hia first-bom soofar* bumt-offbring unto mm.'* This ia not very si^.

TTiere vaa great indignation] The Lord waa pteased with ttiem for drivuig thinga to sdcfo an extreouty t or the surrounding natims aeld them in abocnteatiaa en the aeoount; aitd Uiey «^ ae Mrrifled thscasehns at Ais most horrid saerifioe, that they immedialely raised d» aiege, and departed. In. oases of gnat eztiemi^ it was costomary, in various heathen ruttiona, to offar Atmnn aaeri/kee, or to demote to die iidb«al gioda the moat precious or excellent thing or peraon tbn poaeaaed. lUaww frequent among the Phaniciane, RomauM, and Oraafcir and it waa foe natural -fiuit of a religrana qraten. whlcfc had for the ofajeola o( ilawcrsl^ ornel and merwlfsidivimtiea. How diflarMtt die Ofanstfon ajaUm i Wilt thin that we shall bring down fin frean heaven and ihaBif them? YeknownotwhstiaaMieror nirityannsff i* Son of mania aoieonaalodMnr Mara lm% hat warn

Versel. JVoto Aere crisd a eeriatn mmuntl fliiaw^ mai^ according to the Chakfeet iandu, and the imbbiHk was the wifo of Obadiah.

8on» 1^ the prvphet*} inat ^rthn tmhmldey nehifma, "diaaplM of the pn^iheu ao the T^rgvm hare, ami m •11 other places where the wofda oeour 1 and properly tasL

T^oredUorie eonu] "Htis^ saya Jnr^ was Aftoran, BoA of Ahak «rtio lent money on twiry to Ofandiah, beeaaa bebadiiDtttedaysttf AhaKfedtheLord'aprophata. As T^rgym sqps, M bOROwed mfliMy t« feed oisaa pvpha^ beouise he woold UK Boppoet then out of Ae pnpe>9 « Ahab.

Th take unfo him «w two »ona to be ftondaun.] Children, acowding to the laws 4>f the Hebrew, ware oaaaidered the property <tf ifaw parent^ who had a right V dispose of them for the payment o( Aeir defata. ia coses of poverty, the 1a:w permittsd them, exyeaaty, tostf both themselves and their ohildien, Bzod. zxL 7. and Les^ uv. 39. It was by an eztanaon of this k«, aad W virtue of another, which authorixed them to sell the who could not make restitntioa, (Kxod. xxii. 3.) that eraditors were permitted to take the childreA of didr deters in payment Aldiouj^ the law has not detemnned aav thingpredaohr on this point! wasee thia pMH^ and by aeveral others, that thia custom was common among tSeHabrewB. Auitak refora to it very evkkntlr, 'iiAsan hs aay% Wl^^ e^ ereditora ia U,to uhom I ham satf yo«7 Behold, far your inigtiitim ys haae ttU yonrsrfsw, ehap. h 1. And our Lord nihidas M it, Mul xtSL M,

3 And Elisha said unto her. What iball I do ibr thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And ahe said, Thine handmaid hath not any thine in the house, save a pot ofoiL

3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; > borrow ■ not a Kw.

4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and ahalt pour out mto all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which ia full.

5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were fliU, that she said unto her son. Bring me yet a resseU And be said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest

8 IT And ' it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to ' Shunem, where vas a great woman} and liba Qeonstrnined him to eat bread. And so it

where he mentiona the can of an insolvent debtor, fVnu- M»ucA OM he had not to pay, kU lord eommandMi rim to i« sou, tad hie warn, andhU chilpssm, and att that A« hadf vhioh ihowi that the oustom eontmuod among the Jews lo the very end ttf thsir repubUe. The Jtomans, Al/uniant, and AMiatiet, in ffenend, had the same authori^ over their children as the Hebrewn bad: thev sold them in time of poverty; and their creditorawized them ae they would a sheep or an oz, or any hmuehold good*. RonwiuM gave the lunans an abaolula potoer over their diiMren, which extended throu^ the whole course of their Kvciib IM (hem be in whatever ntuation (hey mighL They emn out them into pruon, beaty and tmphy Acm a* ttatta tn agneulture, tell them for ataver. or even take auay thdr Kvai — Dionyi. Rcdicam. lib. ii. pp. 96, 97.

Numa Pompiliiu first moderated thia law, by enacting dtai; if a eon married with the consent of hie father, he diould no longer have power to eel] him for debt.

th* emperoTB DioeUnan and Ma*imia» finfaade fiwnencobsaoldonaccotmtofddit: Obma oHmamHT^n Wttras ertditoribus, jura noK paUunttiT. VH. Ub. ob. ni C. de obligaL The ancient Alumiaiu had (he same right over their children aa the Roman*; but Solon reformed tfaia barbaroua custom. Vid. Pbttardi in Sbtou.

The pwqJe of Asia had the same custom, whid> Luculbu SBdesvomwt to dtael^ by moderatiiig the laws respecting

€horgiaiu mi? alienate didr diUren; and their erediton have a rig^t to sell the wivea and ohiMien of Hmr debtors, and thus exact the uttermost farthing of dieir debt Tbvemter, lib. iii. c 9. And we have reaaen to believe duu thia custom long prevailed among the inhabitants of the Briti^ isles. See Calmtt here.

In short, it appears to hava been the custom of all the iahabitanM of the earth. We have some remains of it yet in this eoontry, in the senaaleas and pemiciooa custom of dinnring a man into prison for ddit, though hii own indostry and labour be absolutely neceasaiy to discharge it: and these cannot be exercisea within the loadvome and oontagioua walls of a prison.

Verse 2. Save a pot qf oU] Oil was used as olimenL for anointing the body after bathing, and to anoint the dtaa. Some think that this pot of oil was what this widow bad kept for her burial; see Matt. xxvi. 12.

Terse 6. And the oU etayed.} White there waa a vessel to fill, there was oil sufScient; and it only ceased to flow when there was no vessel to receive it. Tliia is a good emblem of the grace of Ood: while there is an empty, hmging heart, there is a continoal overflowing fmntain or salvation. If we find in any place, or in any um^ that the oil ceases to flow, it is bectiuse there are no emp^ vessels Aere; no aouls hungering and thirsting for righteousness. We find fiuilt with the dispensations oi Ood's mercy; and aik why were the former days better than these? Were we as mud) in earnest for our salvation aa our,/»re/a<A(r< were for theirs, we should have etpial supplies; and as much reason to sing aloud of dtvine merey.

Terse 7. a>, »elitke oil, andpay thy (Wf] He does not hmi^ against the cruelty of his creditor, because the law and oiston of die country gave hin Aajtathoriiy oa iriiioh he acted: and, rather than permit a poor bRMrt vUnr lo Voi«W06 was, thai, as oft as he passed by. be turned in thither to eat breEtd.

9 And she s^ onto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of Gtod, which passeth by ua continually.

10 Let us maJte a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shalt be, when he cometb to us, that he shall turn in thither.

11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

12 And he said to Gehazi bur servant, Call this Shuoammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

13 And he said unto him. Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for ua with all this care; what m to be done for thee7 wouldest thou be spoken for to the kmg, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, 1 dweU among mine own people.

14 And he said, What then ia to be done for her? And Gehazi answered. Veri^ she hath no child, and her hosband ia old. >

haye her children sold, or that even a I^istine dtould BuBer loss who had given credit to a genuine Israelite, be wooldwM-kaniracM topeya debt, which, in the course of movidenML it wtw out of herpower to discharge.

Vene 8. EHiba patted to Skmem] This aty was in the tribe of Issadiar, to the aoath of the brook Kisnon, and at the foot of mount IVbor.

Wtere was a great woman] In Pirkey, Rob. BHexm; this woman is said to have been the sister of Abiabag, the Shunammit^ well known in the history of David. Instead of great woman, the Cbaldee has a woman xu-jM- sfn t the AnUc, a woman emiiient for jifety fare Uod. lliis made her truly great. Ver8e9. Thiaia aMy man iff'^Qodl lliat is, a ]>ro< phtL as the Chaldee ibterpreta it.

Which passeth by us amtinuaUy.'l It probably lay in his way to some school qf the propoeta that he usually attended.

Terse 10. Let lu make a little Aamber] See the note on Judges iii. 20. Aa the woman was convinced that Eli^ was a prophet, she knew Oiat be must have need of more privat^ than the general state of her house ooubt aflford; and, therefore, she proposes what ahe knew wonld be a great acquisition to him, aa he could live in this little chamber in aa much privacy as if he were in his own house, "nie bed, the table, the stool, and the candlestick, were really every thing he could need, by way of accommodation in such eireunutancea.

Terse 12. Qebazi his tervant) Thia ia the first time we hear of this very indiflerent character.

Terse 13. Wouldest thou be spoken for to the kingj Elisha must have had considerable influence with the king, &x>m die part he took in the late war with the Hoabitee. Jehonun had reason to believe that the prophet, under God was the sole cause of his success; and, therefbre, he cotdd have no dotdit that (he king wouki grant him any reasonable request.

Or to the attain qf the hottT] Aa if he bad said, Wdt thou that I shtmld procure thee and thy husband a place at court; or get any of thy^Hemb a post in the army?

/ dieetl among mine own people.'^ I am perfect^ satisfied and contented with my lot in life: I live on the best terms with my ne^bours, and am here encompassed with my kindred, and loel no disposition to change myoonnexions or place of abode.

How few are there lilfe this woman, on the earth! Wh» would not wish lo be recommended to the king's notice, or get a post for a relative in the army, &c 1 Who woold not like to change the country for the town; and the roi manners of the mhabltanta of the country for thep6lii conversation uid amusements of the court? Who f»1i contented with what he has aa not to desire more 1 trembles at theprospect of riches? or believes there are < snares in an elevated state, or in die company and eor^ sation of the great and honourable T How few are that will not sacrifice every thing t peace, donteMie r" thetr fi^ends, their conscience, and their God, for honours, grandeur, ani parade I

Tereel4. What Ihm (* to be domfir h*r7} Iti that the woman retired as soon as as had delivered the aasTU meatioaed in the preceding verse.

16 And he 8^. Call her. And when he had called her, she stood ia the door.

16 And he Baid, 'About this ■ seaaoD, accord- •iog to the time of life, thou alialt embrace a Bon. And she eaid, Na;, my lord, thou man of Gtod, • do not lie onto tlune lumdmaid.

17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that seaeoa that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

18 1[ And when the child was frown, it fell on a aay^ that he went out to his Ihther to the reapers.

19 And he said unto his father. My head, mj head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his

20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

aaS? 21 And she went up, and laid him juwjLOL iit> on th0 bed of the man of God, and

^g^kJiSS' shut the door upon him, and went out.

pin>*-'- 32 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of Gtod, and come again.

23 And he said. Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day 1 it t> neither new moon, nor aabbath. And she said, /( ahall be ■ well.

24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant. Drive and go forward; * slack not thy riding for me, except 1 bid thee.

23 So she went and came unto the man of God * to mount Carrael. And it came to pass, when the man of God" saw her afar off, that he said to Oehazt his servant, Behold, yonder t« that Shunammite;

20 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say

Vmw 16. TTwu thalt embrace a wn.] Thia nnmiue, ud the cjrcunuianen of dke partiM^ an not vary diHimilar to that reladvfl to Ibe Unh « Inu^ aod those of.Miraham and Sarah.

Do not tie] ^lU ii^ 1st diyvorda become true: orudie nbbiaa UBdontand it, Do not mode me by giving me a eon that ahall aoon be reqiovod tty death; but let me h&ve one that aboil Mirvive me.

Tone 16. Ifhen tin cfUid wtu grown} We know oot of what ngo he wa^ very likely/mr or ti*, it not more yeart: for ne could go oat to the reapers in thehsrveat field, eonverae, &c.

Teree 19. My head^ my htadi Probably affected by the cotip de aoUil, or sun afroitre; tnutik might, in bo young a subwct, lOon occasioa death.

Verae21. Laid him on Ike bed of Oie man of God\ She bad no doubt hoard that Elijah hacfniaed the widow b son of Sarepta to life; aad ahe believed that he who bad obtained ihia gift for her from God, oould obUuo bis restoration to life.

Verae 23. ffHurefore wSi thou go) She was a very •rwtent woman i ne would not haniaB the feelingi of her fcuabond bv informinEhim of the death of bia eon, till ahe bad tried the power of the protect. Though the religion of tfM true Ooa was not the religion of the stale, yet there were, do doubt, multitudea of the people who continued to woranip the true Gh>d alone; ana were in the habit of going, «• ia here intimatod, on now moont and tabbaih*, to oooault die prophet.

, Verso 24. Z>riM,afulfo7brieanf)ItiB euatomary in the fiaat for a aervant to walk atongeide, or drive the asa hia •Bater rides. Sometimee he walka behind^ and §[oads on -beaat t sod, when it ia to turn, he directa ita head the long pole of the goad. It ia probably to thia u that me wiae man alludea, when he aaya, " I have aervants on horaea, and prineaa ^ea^king at servant* oarth t" [on itMground.]

1 86. It ia well] How Btrow waa her fikilh in Ood, and ion to hia suthori^ 1 'niough the heaviest family ion tbatoould befiUl her and herhuabuid had nowlaken) yet, believing that it waa a diapena^on of provi-, which waa in itaelC neither untme not unkuid, ahe ^•i /tlaiMttwitfa Tne, widi my kiuband, and with my if't We may further remsA that, in bet day^ the Kir<iicurr«praftataA|/!mC*hRd not diagneedihe mire teii",i'>ii vt tha Ood of endlan rrrmpwisiiirL She bad no thy husliHUid? is it well with the child? And

27 And when she came -to the man of God to the hill, she caught ' him by the feet: but Ge> hazi came near to tburst her aw^. And the man of God said. Let her alone; for her soul

' vexed within her: and the Lobd hath hid it from me, and hath not totd me.

28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? ■ did I not say, Do not deceive roe 7

29 Then he eaid to Qehazi, ■ Gird up thy I<nna, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy wa^; if thou meet any man, *' salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not acain: and * laj my Bti^ uptm the face of the chud.

30 And the mother of the chSd said, ' A* the Lord liveth, and as thy soul Hveth, t will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face ofthe child: bat tkere toas neither voice, nor * hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying. The child is ' not awaked.

32 And when Elisha was come into the btnwe, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

33 He ( went in, therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Louu

34 And he went up, Etnd lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and ' he stretched himsetf upba the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

35 Then he returned, and walked m the house k to and fro; and went up, i and stretched himself upon him: and " the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened hie eyes.

doubta concerning the welforv of her child, even wilb re^ct to another world.

Verse 27. TJie Loan hath hid it Jrom me, tmd kaA not told meJ] In reference to thia point he had not now Ifaa discernment tptrite. lUa, aud the ^ pvvAtqf, were infiuencea which Ood gaveendBuqieDiiM,«s his infinite wiBdom Bftw good.

Terse 28. Idenrt a son qf my lord 7 I axpaeaed DO Buch wiah to thee: I waa contented and h^iy! and when thou didst promiae me a aon, did I not tay. Do m< deceive me 7 Do not mock me with a child w^ch dMdl grow up to be attractive and engaging { and ef vhoB I luall floon be deprived by death.

Terae 29. StdMit him not\ Make all the baate fltoo poaaibly canst, and layrayatajfon the lace of the diiMiha probably thought that it might be a case of mere tutpndml animation, or a twoon; and that, laying ibe staff as cbi face of the child, mi^tt act aa a ttuautlmu to excite ihs animal motions.

Verae 30. Ivnll not leavt thMt.] The pnmhet, k aaoMb had no deaign to accompany her; be intended to waft fW Oehazi'a reuira: bu^ aa the woman w«e well a— aeJ Al the child waa (ieiul, she waa determined not to return till ibk had brousfat the prophet with her.

Verae32. Btholc^ the Mid w dead] The prophet (ben saw that the body and apirit of the child were — j'mi'H

Terae 33. Prayedunto theLom.} He had no pnwsr hie own W which he could restore toe child.

Terse m. Lay upon chiid\ Endeavoured to oonwy a portion of hia own natural warmth to the body of the child; and probably endeavoured, bv blowing into A* child'a mouth, to innate the lungH, ana reatm mptraticn. He uees every namnl means to his power to raatorc liK white pranng to the Author of it to exert a miraculous oh fluence. natural means are in our power; those thai am Bupematuml belong to God, We should alw^ do ov own work, and beg of Ood to do hia.

TesaeSfi. Walked in Ouhmat to and firo^ Is order, an doubt, that he might recover that natuiaJ wanath wtuch waaahdorbed by Um cold body ctf the child; duathnmicht araitt, by taking it in hia arms, communicate more naiafc Calorie, or natuml heat, when oecumutatad in any paitiealar pan, will diffuae itself to alt bodies with which ft taam in contact, till their tsmperatursbeeqasl; aoatteaied body will give out ita onlorio to the aurrounding sir, or to eoe* tiguouB bodiea, till the tenpsnluR of all bs potftidf

36 And he called Gehazi, and aaid. Call this Shnoammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

37 Then she went in, and fell at hie feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and " took up her ■on, and went out.

\^mi*- 38 t And Elieha came again to jjjLOim. » Gileal; and there was a p dearth in i^S^'SZ' the uind; and the sons of the prow*-* phets were t sitting before him: and he B^d unto his servant. Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the eons of the prophets.

39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap fiill, and came and ■hred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.

40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eatine of the pottage, that they cried oat and said, O tlwu roan of Qod, there is ' deaft in the pot. And they could not eat ihere^.

41 But he said, Then bring meal. And ■ he cast it into the pot; and be said, Pour out for the people^ that they may eat And there was no t narm m the pot.

42 ^ And there came a man from " Baalshalisha, ' and brought the man of God bread of the firet-fruita, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn * in the husk thereof. And he

said, Give unto the people, that they may

43 And his servitor said, ■ What! should I set this before a hundred men 7 He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thns eaith the Lord, r They shall eat, and shall leave

44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, ■ and left thereof, according to the word of the

Now -Naaman, captain of the VasB' host of the king of Syria, was *f L^LiS" a great man ' with his master, and a^USS" ^ honoupqible, • because by him the p<*v^^ Lord had given ^ deliverance imto Syria: ha was also a mighty meui in valour, but he v>aa a leper,

«^a.liKed. The body of the pro[diet nve out its natural heai, or calorie, to the cold twdy of Ute child: the propbet, no doubt, continued in contact with the child till he eouldbear it no lon^; then covered up the child, rose up, and walked tmartiy oa ibe floor, till, by increasing the aueulation of the hiooi by aetiviiy ana strong and- quick rMpiration, be could again afibnl to eominunieate anolber portion ofhia natural neat. This ^pearato be the reaaon itf what ia raentioDed in the text.

Vene 36. TVu AUd meextd atom Hma\ That ia, it Kieezed ahundantly. When the oervoiu innueace began to acton the muscular system, before the circulation could Iw ia enrr part resurw, particular muscles, if not the lrtiol« body, would be throvn into strong contractions msA Bbivennga t and stmadation or aneesing would be a natural eonaequenoe; panioalarly as obatructions must havtt taken plaee ia iha hmd wad its veneU, because of Ibe d iaorder of which the child died. Host people, aa well «a philosoi^eTS and phyaicianif, have remaraed how beneficial sneezing are to the removal of obstructions in the bead— SUrnulataenta, says Pliny, (in his Hitl. NaL lib. xxviai. cap. 6.) graredinem eapitU emmdant; " Soeec- Inc relieves diswders of the head." ^Vorae 37. She went in, and/tU at hisfeetiFtir ean entar into dta feeliaga of this nobla woman. What auapansa roost iha have felt during the lima diat the projdwt vaa employed in the slow proeeas referred to abim; for slew in tu own nature it must have been, and aaoaedingly axlwietinx to the prophet himself.

Verae Come again to Oilgat] He had been there before, with his master, aahort time prior to his tranalatioo.

Stt on Ae great pot, and eetAe pottage for the oona of the jnofheUJl It was a time of aearthj and all mieht now stand in need of refreshment: and it appoara that the prophet was led to put forth the power he had firom God to make a plentiAil proviaioa for diose who were present ^nie ^ther of the eele^ated Dr. Young, author of The Night Tbaughit, preaching a charity sermon for the benefit of the eone if Ike clergu, took toe above words for ma text; nor could they be ma to be onappropriate.

Verse 39. Wild gourda} This is generally thought to be th>e eaiomintida, the fruit of a plant of the same names ■bout dte size of a large orange. It is brou^t hither from tbe I^evanti and ia oaea known by the name of biUor appis: both the seeds and the pulp are inteosely bitter, and ■vioUaMj purgative. It ranka MMng vagatable poisona, aa all inteaae bitters do) but judioOttuy en^^ye^ itis oi oonaidecaUe oaa in medieine.

Veraa4a TheniadaAjn ftajMC] Asifhabad asid, <■ Wehavebenndeadljmixiuni if waeMaf it washslt aU dia."

Vavae 41. BriMM hmoL] "nwugh diis migbt in some n^aamire, oomet tbs atroog acrid and purgauve quality;

yet it was only a miracle which could make a lapfal of this truit shred in pottages salutary.

TerBe42. Bread qf Ae Jtret-frvitsl This was an offaring to tlie prophet, as the flrat-frnits themselves vera an onering to God.

Com in the husk\ Probably parched com, or eorn to be pwehed; a very frequent food in the East Rill ear^ before they are ripe, parched on the fire.

Verse 43. T/au eaith the Loao, TTtey ehaU eat, and Aalt leave thereof.] It was God, not the prophet, who fed one hundred men with these tweniy loaves, &c. Ttds is aomething like our Lord's feeding the raullitode mira^ culously. Indeed, there are many things in this chapter similar to facts in our Lord's history: and this proMM might be more aptly ctnsidered a type of our Lord, uun most of the other parsons in the SeripUres, who have been thus honoured.

Verse 1. Naaman, captain if the hoe£] Of Naaman we know nothing more than is related here- JardU, and some others, say that he waa the man who ilreto the ftoi* at a venture, aa we term it, and slew Ahab: see 1 Kiiwa xxii. 34. and the notes there. He is not mentioned by a^iAu^ nor has he any leferMiealo diiabtsloni which ia very strange, aa H exists ia Ibe Chaides, SepAat^nt, and' St/riae.

King tf Syria] Tbe Hebrew is tntt •fjo tnelek Aram, king qf Aram; which ia followed by th» Chald** and Arabic. The Striae has lOOtt Adam} but, aa the Syriao t dolath, is the same element aa the Syiiac ^ riek, differing only in the pcaition of the dAaeritie point, it may have bMn originally Aram. The Siptuagtnt and Vuigate have iS^rnia; and this is a common meaning of the term in Scripture. If the king of Syria be meant, it must be Ben-hadadt and the contemporary king of Is* rael waa Jdioram.

A great man] He waa faeld in the hia|test esteem.

And AonauruNa] Had the peculiar tavour and oanfr denoe of his master t and was promoiad to dte bighaaC trusts.

Bad given deUveranee unto Syria] l%at aa tha raUnns state, by his slaying Ahab, king of Isiaalf ioflOiH sequence of whidi the Syrians got the victory.

A mtgJUymaninvalaur] ib was a cten^ and Mry etrong, according to Ibe Arabk. He bM, in « ward, aO the qnaliSoations of an able general.

But he waa a leper. Here waa a heavy lax upon hia grandeur: he waa afflicted with a disorder the most loathsome, and the most humiliating that could possibly disgnoa a human being. God often, in the course <^ bis providence, permits great defects to be asaoeiatad with grat eminence, that he ma; bide pride from tnao i «ad m him to think soberly <k bbnsdf and hia aegniianaCa

S And the Syrians had gone out by compaides, and had brousht away captive out of the land of Israel a Uttie maid; and * she waited on Naaman'B wife.

3 And she said unto her miEtrees, Would God my lord mere ^ with the prophet that it in Samaria! for he would t recover him of his leprosy.

4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thua and thus said the maid that ic of the land

5 And the king of Syria, said, Go to.jg^, and I will send a letter unto the king of^Israel. And he departed, and ^ took i with him ten talents of etlver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now, when this letter ia come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

7 And it came to paea. when the king of Israel had rend the letter, that he rent his aothes, and said, Am I ■> God, to kilt and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? Wherefore considcy, I pray

Vflm2. TJu SyrianM had gone mU by eompanieM\ tfrra gedudim, troop*. When one hundred, or too hundred men, go out by thenuelv^ to moke prey of whstever they can get, that is called, eayi Jarthx, Tin gedud, a troop. Thty had gone out in marauding parties; and, on ■uch ooeaaionf, they bring away grain, caiUe, and such of the inhabitant! u are proper to make alavea.

A Utile moid] Who, it appeara, had pious panota, who brought her up in the knowledge of the true God. Behold the goodaesB and the eeverity of the divine providence: aSectionala parent! are deprived of their promiaing dau^ter by a aet of lawlew beebooters, without the ■mafleat pro^tect that the abould have any lot in lifs but ttutt of mtaery, infomy, and wo.

Waited on NaamaiCa wifeJ\ Her decent, orderly behaviour, the eoitaequenc« of her aober and piooa educuioo, •Btitlad her to this place of diitinction i in vUeh her ktvitude waa at least easy, and her person safe.

If Ood permitted the pareota to be deprived of their pioui child by the hands of ruffian*, he did not permit the Uiild to be without a guardim. In auoh a oaas were even the &iher and mother to fnwke her, Ood would take her up.

Tma3. TToitU Gbtf mylortfl ^nMocAoZt, I widii or, u dto Chaldee, Syriai^ and Arabic have, "HaprnfuiauM 6a for my maater if he wer» with the propheif" Ac Here the mystery of the diviae providence b^ins to davelope itselC, By Um outivi^ aC this little audd, one Syriaa bmily at least, and that ooa of the nuM eoondanue in the Syrian empbm, is bnuitht to dis knowledge of the true God.

Tana 4. Titiu amd Ihui aaid the maUl So well had ttlia littia pious maid conduoted herself that her words are «r»dited; and credited so fiilly, that an embassy from the taut of Syria to the king of Israel ia founded upon them I Verse 5. T^u king ^ Syria taid\ He judged it the best mode of proceeding to send immsdiatety to the ktTig, mder whose control he supposed the prophet must be, itut be would order the prophet to cure his gvneral.

Six OuMMond pieces qf gold\ If sAateb m« here meant as the Arabic has it, then the »ix thoiuand shekda^ at II. 16«. M. will amount to 10,9261 1 and the whole, to 14,460i. 18t. sterling: betides Uw value of the tea otflanM, or dtangee of raimctU. "nUa was a prinedy preaeni, and shows us at oooe how high Naaman stood in the esteem of his master.

Verse 7. Am / God, to kitt and to make oUm] He ■Mke thus under the convietioD that Ood alone could cure (he leprosy I which, indeed, was universally aeknowledged: and most nam been as madb a maxim among the Syraxm as among the Itraelitra, for the disorder was equally Bre* Talent in both oouotries; and in both emially incurable. See the notes on LeviL xiii. aad ziv. And it was this that led the king of Israel to infer that the S^yrUn king soogfat aviarrsl with him, in desiring him to do a work which Oodonlyooulddo; and then declaring war apon him biy enmiw did not do it.

you, and sec how he seeketh a quarrel asainat

8 IT And It was ao, when Elisha the man of Grod had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king; saying. Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall. know that there is a prophet in IsrOeL

9 So Naaman came with his horaes and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the hoon of Elisha.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger onto him, saying. Go and " wash in Jordan seven times, and tny flesh shall come again to thee, ami thou shall be clean.

11 But Naaman was wroth, and went awav, and said, Behold, <■ I p thought. He will sorely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Loan his God, and 'strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

13 Are not ■ Abana and Fbarpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near^ and q>aka unto him, and said. My father, if the iwopbet

Terse 8. Let kim come now to «it] Do not be afflieted; the matter belongs to ne, as the prophet of the Most Hjgh: send him to me, and he shall Icnow that I am such.

Verse 9. Came with kie horeta and tcttt He cAariot} In very great pomp and stole. Closely inspeeie^ thia was preposterous enough t a leper sitting m tOtte, ana mU fecting It I

Verse 10. Sent a wwengtr] Did not coma out M speak widi him: he had got his orders from Ood, nd ha transmitted them to Naaman by his sorvaot.

WaA in Jordan seven timee] TTie waters of Jordn had DO Umdencv to remove this disorder; bat GoddMMe to make this me mean by which he wouid eon nay his healing power. He, who it the Author of life, health, and salnUioi^ has a rif^t to dispense, convey, aiid bbidtain ihm, by whatsoever means m pleasea

Verse 11. Naaman wot wroA] And why 1 Phshw the pro]Aet treated him without ceremony; and hrranss he appointed him an ezpenseless and simple mpde of cur*.

Bmold, 1 thottghi] Qad'e vtjm are not as our ways; He appoints that mode of cure which be knows to be beaL Naaman expected to be treated with great ceremoay; mi, instead of hambling himself before the LonPa poMiet, hi expeeted the prrobet of the Lord to hnmUe hiinaeif Man Aim/ AAoU; /fftoug-U; andwhatdidbetfahikl Hoar his words, for they are all very em^atio ^— 1. 1 dwuriir he would surely coma oitt to mb. Ha will ttever mta» his servant the medium of oommunicalian between ms aad himaelf. 2. And etand; present himself before me, and stand as a servant to hear the orders of his God. 3. Aied call on the name ^ Jehovah bib Ood: so that bodi fata Ood and himself sltMlmaar to do me servic* and hsMar. 4. And ttrikehio hand tmerOu^laeAt for can it be mh^ posed dutt any healing virtue can be canvmd wiftMi contact? Had he done these thbig^ thn lbs leper ajf^L have been recovered.

Verae 12. Are not Ahana and Pharpar\ At pnsnt these rivers do not exist by these names: and vbm tfacy arewe know not; nor whether they were the OnmU* and Chr^omee, Mr. Haundrel, who travelled over all this mKmd, could find no vestige of the names Ahama nd Pharpar. The river Barrady, he accurately describes: it has its source in Antilibanua \ and, after having plouifully watered the city of Damoscns and iha gardens^ dividing into three branehes, (one of which goes ttBtMn th» ci^, and the two others are distributed among the gartaw,) it is lost in the nurrinr country about five or si X leagues from Damasous. Two of these bwndiea wers, doohless, ealled in dw time of Eliriia, Ahana or Amon^ as many oopio* have it; and Pharpar. And in the nrae in wniefa tta* AroMc version was made, two ot these bnaAea w«n called t^>j>9t&r> Barda and TWo, for these an tlw names ay which diis version translaies those of the Hoct.

Mayinotieaehinth^andbeeloan?} Ma, far Ood has directed thee to Jordan i and, by iU waiei^ or Done^ shalt thou be cleansed. Abana and Pharpar may bs m Kood as Jordan; and, in respect to thy eleanstng^ tboaua- es diffinwiee is, Ood will Morcy his influMin hj tter, and not tiy the /«rm«r.

had bid Uiee do some great thin^, woiildest thou notlmve done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean 1

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and '■ his flesh came E^ain

unto the Sesh of a little child, and " he was clean., ^ «,,

15 1 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said. Behold, now I know that there if 'no God in all the«arai, but in Israel: now dierefore, i pray thee, take * a blessing of thy •ervant.

16 But he said, ' As the Loud Hveth, before whom I stand, ' I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

Had bid Am do nome great thing'] It the prophet bad ^fwinted ihee to do aomethiiw very difflcuU in iuel^ and vary cxp«uiM to tbe^ woulut ihou not have done ill Widi mueh greater reason riwuldM thou do what will oceavrliitU finu, lie no onierM^ and iaetuytobe perfarmed.

verse 14. TTun went he eurum] He felt the force of this reasoning; and made a trtal, probably expecting little success.

Liko unto Aejteth qf a littU AiUn The loathsome •curf was now entirely removed; his flesh assumed ihe appearance and health of youth; and the whole mass of his blood, and other juices, became purified, refined, and exalted 1 How mighty is God I What great things can he do by the simplest and feeblest of means 1

Terse IS. He returned to the man qf God] He saw diat the hand of the Lord was upon him: he felt gratitude for bis clesjising; and came bock to acknowledge, in the most public way, his obli^tion to God and his servant.

Stood btfore Aim] He was now truly humbled, and left all his stale behind him. It is often the ease that those who have least to value themselves on are proud and haughtyt whereas the most excellent of the eami are the most humble; knowing that they have nothing but what diey have received. Naaman, the Uper, was more proud ukI ^lictatorial than he was when eleanaed of his leprosy.

Tbere is no Ood in aUthe earth] Tlioee termed gods are no gods; the God of Israel is stde Ood in all the

TaJee a bltutng] Accept a present: take an expiatory gift. — An^ie. He desired to offer something fir hu aeanaing. He thought it right thus to aoknowleidre the lund from which he had received his healing; and thus honour the Lord by giving something to his servant.

Terse 16. I wiil receive none\ It was very common to tan presents to all great and official men; and, among mill, j/ropheta were always included: but, as it might have appeared to the Syrians that he had taken the oStreA preaenc as a remmwradoa fcr the oqra performed, be rensed; for, as God alone did the work^ he alone riunild have all the glpry.

Terse IT. Sum Atre not Aen, I pray Oiee\ This verse is nnderatood two different ways. 1 will give them both in a paraphrase; —

1. Shiul there not then be given unto Av tervant, [vix. Naaman,! two mulct' burden qf this Israefitith earth, that I may build an altar ^ith it i on which I may offer sacrificM to the Ood of tsraelt /Vr Ayservant, Ac

2. i^aatA«rena<frsfi^»cnto(Ay[Elisha'B]«snKin^|Clehnzi,] hro vadejf tmrden o^ this earA? the gold and silver which he brou|^t with him; and which ne esteemed as earth, or du^ in comparison of die cure he received. fbr Ay tervant [Naaman,] wiil henetforth, &c.

Each of these interpretations has its difficulties. Wl^ Naaman Aould oak for tteo muM frurdm tarA, which he might have taken np any where on the eonflnes of the land, without any such liberw, is not easy to see. Astothe mrophepapermittion^ thou^ the boon was ever so small. It was not Ai* to give; only the king of Israel could give such a permission; and, what sort of an altar coulo be linild with two moles' burden of earth, carried from Soma-, ria to Damascusl If this be really the meaning of the vlliei^ the request was exceedingly foolish, and never could nave eOBoe from a person enjoying the right use of his reason. Hw second opinion, not without iu difficulties, •eama leas embamsaed than the former. It was natural for NaaoHU) to wish to give Bometbing to the prophet's •ervant, as ibs master had ra&ised his prssenu Again,

17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I

Eray thee, be given to thy servant two mule^ urden of eartfi? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other goda, but unto the Losd.

18 In this thing the IiOhd pardon thy servant. that when my master gootn into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and 'he Icaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the hoiiee of Rimmon, when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.

19 And he said unto him, Qo in peace. So he departed from him ■ a little way.

20 T[ But Gehazi, the servant of Eliaha the man of God, said. Behold, my master }iath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at

impressed vrith the vast importance of the cure he had received, to take away all feeling of obligation, he might call tieo, or ten talmtt qfaihser, tpr the name <k earth, as well as Habakkuk, chap. ii. 6. calls silver and gold Aiek day [ and by terms of this kind it has been frequently denominated, both by projAett and heathen writers. Tyrus heaped up silver as the duat, aaddne gold as the mirs <lf ihe atreeta." Zech. ix. 3. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem aa stones, 2 Chron. i. 16. Which is agreeable to the sentiments of the heathen: Xpssa; ng KOfis (r<i ""i apyvpoi. Gold and silver are only a certoiit kind qf earth. Abist. Eth, Nicomaeh.

Should it be said, the gold and silver could not be tvo muZes' burden; I answer, let the quantity that Naama]i brought with him be only considered, and it will be found to be as much, when put into two bags, as could be well lifted upon the backs of two mules; or aa those beasts could conveniently carry. The silver itself would weigh 233 lbs. 9 oz. 15i dwts.; and the gold 1140 lbs. 7 oz.lO dwts.: in the whole 1374 lbs. 6 oz. Bl dwts. Troy weight Should it be objected that, lakeu in this sense, there is no visible connexion between the former and latter clauses of the verse; I answer, that there is as much connexion between the words, taken in this sense, as in the other; for something must be brought in to supply both; besides, this makes a much more complete sense than the otiier; " Shall there not, I pray thee, be given to tliy servant two mules' burden of this silver andgold, [to apply it ss he may think proper: I r^ard it not,] for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, [for the cure be has now received; or by way of worship at a^ time;] but unto Jehovidi." lie reader may choose which of these interpretations he pleases.

Verse IS. In this Aing the Loan pardon Ay aervant"] It is useless to enter into the controversy concerning this verse. By no rule of right reasoning, nor by any tegitimate mode of inierpretanon, con it be stated that IVaamaD is asking pardon for offences which he may commit; or that he could ask, or the prophet grant, indxugtnce to bow himself in the temple of Rimmon; Ihua performing a decided act of hoTnaee, the very essence of that worwip^ which immediately before, he solemnly assured the prophet he would never pmclise. The original may legitimately be read, and ou^ht to be read, in uie past, and not in the future tense — " For this thing the Lord pardon tlqr servant, for that when my master math ookk into the house Rimmon, to worship there, and he hath lbaxkd upon mine hand, that I also HAva bowed myself in lite house of Rimmon; for my worshipping in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing." lliia in the translation of Dr. lAghifoiO, the most able llcbraiat in his time, in Christendom.

To admit the common interpretation is to admit, in effect the doctrine of indulgences; and, that we may do evU that good may come of it; that the end soiictifies the means; and, for political purposes, we may do imlawfiil acts.

Terse 19. And he aaid unto Aim] There is a moat singular and important reading in one of Dc Rossi's MSS. which he numbers 191. It has in the margin 'p that is, " read kV lo, not, instead of lo, to him." Now ttiis reading supposes that Naaman (fta ask permiMton tiim the prophet to worship in Rimmon's temple; to which the abet answers, NO; gain peaet; Hhoxw, maintain thy resolutions, be a consistent worshipper of the true Ood, and avoid all idolatrous practices. Another MS. No. 390, appears llrst to have written 'h to him, but corrected it innnediately by inserting an k almh after the i vau i and thus, instead of making it i6 iV«s it baa nude it tnS ^ whidi k no wonL hia hands that which he brought: bat, tu the liOBD liveth I will run aller Mm, and take aomewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw lUm running after him, he liehted down from the chariot to meet him, and ■ud, »/«aUwein

22 And he said, All u well. Mymasterhathsent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Epnraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, 1 pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said. Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two chuiges <^ garments, and laid them upon two of his servants: and tney bare them before him.

24 And when he came to the ' tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

S5 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him. Whence comeat thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went •* no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mioe heart with thee, when the man turned again from hie chariot to meet thee? Is it bl time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, ajid vineyards, Euid sheep, and oxen, aiuf meoservants, and maid-aervantsl

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman 'ehaU cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his praeace ' a l^jier a* whUe aa sdbw.

AND < the sons of the prophets said ^■ unto Elisha, Behold now, the am-v a. la place where we dwell with thee too strait for us.

Vent 20. My nuuUr hath epartd — IkU Syrian] He Ina neither taken anjr thing from him for himself nor permitted him togive any thing to me.

Terse 21. He Hghied down from the dtariol] He treat* «ven the prophet's servaiit vith t)ie proroundeBt respect, alixhta from nis chariot, and goes to meet him.

Terse 22. And he «ajrf] oi^ JuUom. Jt i» ptace; all it right 1\um was a common mode ot addicas and answer.

ITiere be eome to me from mouni JSpkraim.1 There wai probably a school of the prophets at this mount.

Terse 23. He — Ixnmd two lalenU iif silver] It required tvo serrantt to carry these tvo talents; fi>r, aceordins to 4he compatatlon above, each talent was about 120 lbs. weight.

Terao 24. IFAm he came to the tower} The Chaldee, Septuagint, Syriae, and Arabic, understand the word ^mhd, which we translate tower, aa signifying a secret, aark, or hiding-plaee. He was doing a deed of darkness, and he soueht darkikesi to conceal iL He, no doubt, put Ihem in a place little frequented t or one to which few bad «ecess beside himielf. But die profditf ■ discerning spirit {ound him out.

Tctk26. Went not miiuheaHvnAifhee] The Oiatdee gives thisagood turn, By thepro^etie spirit it was ^unm unto me, when the man retumeafrom his chariot to meet Sue.

Is it a time to receive numev] He gave him &rther •ffnotot this all-discerning profmetie spirit, io telling him what he desinied to do with the money: he intended to set ap a splendia establidkment t to have men and moid-servants { to ham oltv^ards and vineyards; and'^teepi and ■oxen. This, aa the Chaldee n-yUflu W thmi^tinhis heart to do.

Terae 27. TTie leprosy of Naaman — Aall cleave unto fhse\ Thou hast got muoa money, and thou shall have much to do with it Tbou hast got Naaman's silver, and thou shall have Naamu's leprosy. Qduzi ia not the last who has got mcHiey is an unlawful way; and has got ChuPi eum with iu

A Isper as white as snotp] moment the curse was pronounced, that moment the signs of the leprosy began to appear. Irie white shining spot, was the sini that the innetion had taken place. See Levit. xUi. 2. and the notes there, and at the end of the same chapter.

1. Some have tbou^t, because of tlw prophet's curse, Ths leprosy ^ Naaman shall deaee unto Que and thy gesdAr «Mi>, diat then are persona Mill alive who are dtis man's real deseendants. and afflicted with this hnrible di»- eaae. Mr. Maundret, when he was in Judea, made diligent inquiry eonoeming this; but could not ascertain the truth <rftbe suppoittioiL To me, it spears absurd: the denuaeinlion took place in the posterity of Oehazi, till it should baeome extinct; and, under the mfluence of this disorder, ttds must soon have taken place. The /or ever implies aa long as RM of bii posterity JmuU maaio. This is the ' import of die word ts/rv/ff MBam. It takea in dw whole extent or duration of the thing to which it is applied. Tt» Jbr sverat Gehaxi was till his poetehty became extinct. 2- The god Rimmon, roentiooed var. 18. we meet nidi nowhere else in the Scriptures, unless it be the same whiek Stephen calls Remphan. See Acta vii. 43. and the ooca there. iSTeUtn thinks that Atmmon is die same with a god of the Phceniciaos, borrowed uodovditedly from the Elim of the Hebrews, one of the names of the supreme God; which aitr^ntte became a god to the Pbteoicians. Hesyduus has the w<»d Pa/iat, Jttanas, whidi hs translates i i^urrot Ock, the most High God; which agrees very well with the Hebrew roi rtaunott, front nm ramah, to make high, or exatt. And all these agree widi the svN. Bs being the highest w most exalted, in what is called the solar system. Stmte diink Saturn u inicnted, and oihers Venus. Much may be seen on d)is tnlgea it Selden, Pe DOs Syris.

3. Let us not suppose that the offence of Gelmi was toe severely punished. 1. Look at the principle, eetdtmsmss.

2. PrUte tixid vanity: he wished to become a great man.

3. His lying, in order to impose OQ Nsaman: Behold, stem now there be come to me, &c. He, in effect, selis the con of Noiunan for so much money: for, if Naaman had not been cured, could he liave pretended to ask the silver and raiment? 6. It was an act of IhJift; he applied that to bis own use, which IVoaman gave him for his master. 6. Re dishonoured his master, by getting the money and raiaicat in his name; who bad before so solemnly refused iL 7. Be dosed die whole by lying to his master, d«iying that be had nme after Naaman, or that he bad receivied any thioc from nim. But was it not severe to extend the puniskmiiU ilf his crim^ to his innocent posterity? I answer, it does not appear that any of Gchazi's children. If he hailair prior to thi^ were smitten widi the leprosy: and aa to those whom tie might beget aflsr this time, their Iqn^ must be the necessary consequepee of their faeii^cngcar deied fay a leprous btner.

Reader, see die end of avarice and ambition: and see the truth of those words, " He that wiix be riA, shall fikll into temptation, and a snare, and into divers hurtful bnt^ which drown men in destruction and perdition." St. Ptttt.

4. We have already remarked im amarisUly stwtrs, and manifestly kind providence of God in this boainesi. 1. A marauding par^ wupermitied to spoil the confiMS of the land of Isfael. 2. They Invugbt away, to mknto captivity, a little maid, probably the hope of herfiidMrs house. 3. She became Naaman's propco^, and waitedos his wife. 4. She announced God and his pro|diet. 5- Nsaman, on tlie fiiith of her account, took ajoumey to Samaria. 6. Gets healed of his leprosv. 7. Is converted to tbe Lord; and, doubtless, brought at least his whole bmily u believe m the savins of dieir soulsl What was wwrt i» the parents of the little maid, was most kind to Aaaxaa, and hie family i and the psfento lost their child only a little time, that diey might again receive her with IwiMnr and glory tot ever. How true are the words of the pocCt—

" Bridal a AnMbw pnTidMH, ha Mia ■ laritlai ftoa"

And see die benefiu of a religious eduoaiion! Bad not dw little maid been brought up in the knowledge at dtetnto God, she had not been uie instranentofsogreata nlvatiib NOISS ON CHAPTER TL Teroe 1. TVu place U too etoai* for us.\ NocmAstanding dw general profligM^ of Imel, the snoels of as fimAieXM increased. Ihw wai^ no doubt, owing is m inlliitTOWi of Elisba>

2 Let UB go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every roan a beam, and let us make oe a place there, where we may dwelt And he answered, Go ye. _

3 And one najA, Be content, I pray thee, and ^o with thy servants. And he answered, I will

4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

5 But as one was felling a beam, the ^ axehead fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And 'he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

8 \ Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel witn his servants, saying, Tn such and such a place shall 6e my 'camp.

9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying. Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

11 IT Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore trouUed for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not ■how me which of us is for the king of Israel?

12 And one of his servants said, i None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that tlu>u aueakest in thy bed-chamber.

13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that X may send and fetch him. And it was told him, •ayinE, Behold, ^ u in " Dothan.

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a ■ great host: and they came by night, Bod compassed the city about.

15 ^ And when the "servant oC the man of

Tern 2. Every man a baam} Tlisy made a sort of log-' AoiuM* with their own hands.

Verse B. Ataa, matterl,/br U imm borromd.1 nrm V>K«r wan ^j"* AKah adoni. iww gfuml I Ah, sh, my matter; and it has been lou^t. It has lallen in, and i have ■ougrht it in vun. Or, it tooa botrowed; and, therefore, I am the more afflicted for ita lou; and, Jarshi tMm, I have nothing to repay it

Terae 6. £n eu^ dmm a Mdc\ This had no natmral tandeneqr to raiae the iron: it was only a sign, or oeremony, wbieh the prophet dioae to use cm the ooMauMO.

TTm iron tud awim.] "niis was s rsal miniole; Xot the gravnty of the metal muat have, for ever, kept it at the bottCMD of die water.

Vorao 6. Th* king tif Svria warred againtt Itradi This waa probably the aamo Ben-hadad who ia mentioned ver. 24. what was the real or ^rtttndad eauae of tins war, we cannot tell: bat we maj aay, in mmberlea* war eases, as Calmet wayw in thia: — " An ambitioiis and r««tka« prince always finda a aoffitieni? of reaaooi to eolour hia enierpriaei.'*

In mdt and nA a plsMi Hie Syrian king had observed, from the diapodtion of the Israelitirii army, in what direction it waa aboat to make its movamenta; wm, therefore, laid ambuacadea where be might aur prise it to the greatest advantage.

Varaed. BnsartthatOuiufamiutauekajdaea} EliAa most have had tfaia infbmution bf immsdiata revelation from heaven.

Verae 10. Sent to the plaee] To aee if it were ao. But the Vutgatt gives it quite a different turn: miM rex brad ad locum, et jtrceoecupavit euro. The king Of larael sent nreviously to the place, and took poaaeaaion of it; and thus ttM Syriana were diaappointed. Thia is very likely, thou^ it ia not upresaed in the Hebrew text. The pn^met knew (he Syriana marked anch a place: he tola (he king of larael; and he hastened and sent a parnr of troops to preoeoupyit; and thus the Syrians wom that dieir designs bad been detected.

Varae 13. SAM, be is in Dothan.] tiuM ia soppoaed to be die aame place as that mentioned in Gen. zovii. 17. It iBj sbont twelve miles from fl^naria.

God was risen early, and gone forth, beht^, « host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Ahu, my master I how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for p they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, uiat he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain toas ftill of 4 horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

18 IT And when they came down to him. Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And 'he smote them with blindness, according to- the word of Elieha.

19 And Elisha said tmto them, This is not the way. neither is this the city: • follow me, and I wiU bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Sfimaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of SamEiria.

21 And the king of Israel said unto EUshs, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them?

22 And he answered. Thou shalt not smite them: wouldeet thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? > Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

33 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they nEid eaten and. drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So ' the bands of Syria came no more into the kind

24JT And it came to pass aller this. that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered *j>» tot"* all his host, and went up, and besieged JSJ?1SS^ Samaria. ffP**—

Verse 14. He tent thither hortea] It ia atrange that he did not think that be who could penetrate hia aecrets, with respect to tlw laraelitiah army, could inform himself of all his macbinationa against his own life.

Verse 16. F\tr they that be with ut, are more, AoA What astoniahing intercourse had thia man with heaven 1 It aeenu the whole heavenly boat had it in commiaaion to help him.