mh_parser/vol_split/12 - 2Kings/Chapter 7.xml

<div2 id="iiKi.viii" n="viii" next="iiKi.ix" prev="iiKi.vii" progress="65.16%" title="Chapter VII">
<h2 id="iiKi.viii-p0.1">S E C O N D   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iiKi.viii-p0.2">CHAP. VII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiKi.viii-p1">Relief is here brought to Samaria and her king,
when the case is, in a manner, desperate, and the king despairing.
I. It is foretold by Elisha, and an unbelieving lord shut out from
the benefit of it, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.1-2Kgs.7.2" parsed="|2Kgs|7|1|7|2" passage="2Ki 7:1,2">ver. 1,
2</scripRef>. II. It is brought about, 1. By an unaccountable
fright into which God put the Syrians (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.6" parsed="|2Kgs|7|6|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:6">ver. 6</scripRef>), which caused them to retire
precipitately, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.7" parsed="|2Kgs|7|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. 2. By
the seasonable discovery which four lepers made of this (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.3-2Kgs.7.5" parsed="|2Kgs|7|3|7|5" passage="2Ki 7:3-5">ver. 3-5</scripRef>), and the account which
they gave of it to the court, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.8-2Kgs.7.11" parsed="|2Kgs|7|8|7|11" passage="2Ki 7:8-11">ver.
8-11</scripRef>. 3. By the cautious trial which the king made of
the truth of it, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.12-2Kgs.7.15" parsed="|2Kgs|7|12|7|15" passage="2Ki 7:12-15">ver.
12-15</scripRef>. III. The event answered the prediction both in
the sudden plenty (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.16" parsed="|2Kgs|7|16|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:16">ver.
16</scripRef>), and the death of the unbelieving lord (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.17-2Kgs.7.20" parsed="|2Kgs|7|17|7|20" passage="2Ki 7:17-20">ver. 17-20</scripRef>); for no word of God
shall fall to the ground.</p>
<scripCom id="iiKi.viii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7" parsed="|2Kgs|7|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 7" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiKi.viii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.1-2Kgs.7.2" parsed="|2Kgs|7|1|7|2" passage="2Ki 7:1-2" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.7.1-2Kgs.7.2">
<h4 id="iiKi.viii-p1.11">Elisha Foretells the Relief of
Samaria. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p1.12">b. c.</span> 891.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.viii-p2">1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p2.1">Lord</span>; Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p2.2">Lord</span>, To morrow about this time <i>shall</i> a
measure of fine flour <i>be sold</i> for a shekel, and two measures
of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.   2 Then a
lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and
said, Behold, <i>if</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p2.3">Lord</span>
would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said,
Behold, thou shalt see <i>it</i> with thine eyes, but shalt not eat
thereof.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p3">Here, I. Elisha foretels that,
notwithstanding the great straits to which the city of Samaria is
reduced, yet within twenty-four hours they shall have plenty,
<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.1" parsed="|2Kgs|7|1|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. The king of
Israel despaired of it and grew weary of waiting: then Elisha
foretold it, when things were at the worst. Man's extremity is
God's opportunity of magnifying his own power; his time to appear
for his people is when <i>their strength is gone,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.36" parsed="|Deut|32|36|0|0" passage="De 32:36">Deut. xxxii. 36</scripRef>. When they had given
over expecting help it came. <i>When the son of man comes shall he
find faith on the earth?</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.18.8" parsed="|Luke|18|8|0|0" passage="Lu 18:8">Luke
xviii. 8</scripRef>. The king said, <i>What shall I wait for the
Lord any longer?</i> And perhaps some of the elders were ready to
say the same: "Well," said Elisha, "you hear what these say; <i>now
hear you the word of the Lord,</i> hear what he says, hear it and
heed it and believe it: to-morrow corn shall be sold at the usual
rate in the gate of Samaria;" that is, the siege shall be raised,
for the gate of the city shall be opened, and the market shall be
held there as formerly. The return of peace is thus expressed
(<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.11" parsed="|Judg|5|11|0|0" passage="Jdg 5:11">Judg. v. 11</scripRef>), <i>Then
shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates,</i> to buy and
sell there. 2. The consequence of that shall be great plenty. This
would, in time, follow of course, but that corn should be thus
cheap in so short a time was quite beyond what could be thought of.
Though the king of Israel had just now threatened Elisha's life,
God promises to save his life and the life of his people; for
<i>where sin abounded grace doth much more abound.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p4">II. A peer of Israel that happened to be
present openly declared his disbelief of this prediction, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.2" parsed="|2Kgs|7|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. He was a courtier whom
the king had an affection for, as the man of his right hand, on
whom he leaned, that is, on whose prudence he much relied, and in
whom he reposed much confidence. He thought it impossible, unless
God should rain corn out of the clouds, as once he did manna; no
less than the repetition of Moses's miracle will serve him, though
that of Elijah might have served to answer this intention, the
increasing of the meal in the barrel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p5">III. The just doom passed upon him for his
infidelity, that he should see this great plenty for this
conviction, and yet not eat of it to his comfort. Note, Unbelief is
a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive
themselves of the favours he designed for them. The murmuring
Israelites saw Canaan, but could not enter in because of unbelief.
Such (says bishop Patrick) will be the portion of those that
believe not the promise of eternal life; they shall see it at a
distance—Abraham afar off, but shall never taste of it; for they
forfeit the benefit of the promise if they cannot find in their
heart to take God's word.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.viii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.3-2Kgs.7.11" parsed="|2Kgs|7|3|7|11" passage="2Ki 7:3-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.7.3-2Kgs.7.11">
<h4 id="iiKi.viii-p5.2">The Siege of Samaria Raised. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p5.3">b. c.</span> 891.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.viii-p6">3 And there were four leprous men at the
entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we
here until we die?   4 If we say, We will enter into the city,
then the famine <i>is</i> in the city, and we shall die there: and
if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us
fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall
live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.   5 And they rose
up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when
they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold,
<i>there was</i> no man there.   6 For the Lord had made the
host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of
horses, <i>even</i> the noise of a great host: and they said one to
another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of
the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
  7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left
their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it
<i>was,</i> and fled for their life.   8 And when these lepers
came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent,
and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and
raiment, and went and hid <i>it;</i> and came again, and entered
into another tent, and carried thence <i>also,</i> and went and hid
<i>it.</i>   9 Then they said one to another, We do not well:
this day <i>is</i> a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if
we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us:
now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
  10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and
they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and,
behold, <i>there was</i> no man there, neither voice of man, but
horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they <i>were.</i>
  11 And he called the porters; and they told <i>it</i> to the
king's house within.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p7">We are here told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p8">I. How the siege of Samaria was raised in
the evening, at the edge of night (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.6-2Kgs.7.7" parsed="|2Kgs|7|6|7|7" passage="2Ki 7:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>), not by might or power, but
by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, striking terror upon the
spirits of the besiegers. Here was not a sword drawn against them,
not a drop of blood shed, it was not by thunder or hailstones that
they were discomfited, nor were they slain, as Sennacherib's army
before Jerusalem, by a destroying angel; but, 1. <i>The Lord made
them to hear a noise of chariots and horses.</i> The Syrians that
besieged Dothan had their <i>sight</i> imposed upon, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.6.18" parsed="|2Kgs|6|18|0|0" passage="2Ki 6:18"><i>ch.</i> vi. 18</scripRef>. These had their
<i>hearing</i> imposed upon. For God knows how to work upon every
sense, pursuant to his own counsels as <i>he makes the hearing ear
and the seeing eye,</i> so he makes <i>the deaf and the blind,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.4.11" parsed="|Exod|4|11|0|0" passage="Ex 4:11">Exod. iv. 11</scripRef>. Whether the
noise was really made in the air by the ministry of angels, or
whether it was only a sound in their ears, is not certain; which
soever it was, it was from God, who both <i>brings the wind out of
his treasures,</i> and <i>forms the spirit of man within him.</i>
The sight of horses and chariots had encouraged the prophet's
servant, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.6.17" parsed="|2Kgs|6|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 6:17"><i>ch.</i> vi. 17</scripRef>.
The noise of horses and chariots terrified the hosts of Syria. For
notices from the invisible world are either very comfortable or
very dreadful, according as men are at peace with God or at war
with him. 2. Hearing this noise, they concluded the king of Israel
had certainly procured assistance from some foreign power: <i>He
has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the
Egyptians.</i> There was, for aught we know but one king of Egypt,
and what kings there were of the Hittites nobody can imagine; but,
as they were imposed upon by that dreadful sound in their ears, so
they imposed upon themselves by the interpretation they made of it.
Had they supposed the king of Judah to have come with his forces,
there would have been more of probability in their apprehensions
than to dream of the <i>kings of the Hittites and the
Egyptians.</i> If the fancies of any of them raised this spectre,
yet their reasons might soon have laid it: how could the king of
Israel, who was closely besieged, hold intelligence with those
distant princes? What had he to hire them with? It was impossible
but some notice would come, before, of the motions of so great a
host; but <i>there were they in great fear where no fear was.</i>
3. Hereupon they all fled with incredible precipitation, as for
their lives, left their camp as it was: even their horses, that
might have hastened their flight, they could not stay to take with
them, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.7" parsed="|2Kgs|7|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. None of
them had so much sense as to send out scouts to discover the
supposed enemy, much less courage enough to face the enemy, though
fatigued with a long march. <i>The wicked flee when none
pursues.</i> God can, when he pleases, dispirit the boldest and
most brave, and make the stoutest heart to tremble. Those that will
not fear God he can make to fear at the shaking of a leaf.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p9">II. How the Syrians' flight was discovered
by four leprous men. Samaria was delivered, and did not know it.
The watchmen on the walls were not aware of the retreat of the
enemy, so silently did they steal away. But Providence employed
four lepers to be the intelligencers, who had their lodging without
the gate, being excluded from the city, as ceremonially unclean:
the Jews say they were Gehazi and his three sons; perhaps Gehazi
might be one of them, which might cause him to be taken notice of
afterwards by the king, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.8.4" parsed="|2Kgs|8|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 8:4"><i>ch.</i>
viii. 4</scripRef>. See here, 1. How these lepers reasoned
themselves into a resolution to make a visit in the night to the
camp of the Syrians, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.3-2Kgs.7.4" parsed="|2Kgs|7|3|7|4" passage="2Ki 7:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3,
4</scripRef>. They were ready to perish for hunger; none passed
through the gate to relieve them. Should they go into the city,
there was nothing to be had there, they must die in the streets;
should they sit still, they must pine to death in their cottage.
They therefore determine to go over to the enemy, and throw
themselves upon their mercy: if they killed them, better die by the
sword than by famine, one death than a thousand; but perhaps they
would save them alive, as objects of compassion. Common prudence
will put us upon that method which may better our condition, but
cannot make it worse. The prodigal son resolves to return to his
father, whose displeasure he had reason to fear, rather than perish
with hunger in the far country. These lepers conclude, "If they
kill us, we shall but die;" and happy they who, in another sense,
can thus speak of dying. "We shall but die, that is the worst of
it, not die and be damned, not be hurt of the second death."
According to this resolution, they went, in the beginning of the
night, to the camp of the Syrians, and, to their great surprise,
found it wholly deserted, not a man to be seen or heard in it,
<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.5" parsed="|2Kgs|7|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Providence
ordered it, that these lepers came as soon as ever the Syrians had
fled, for they fled in the twilight, the evening twilight
(<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.7" parsed="|2Kgs|7|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), and in the
twilight the lepers came (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.5" parsed="|2Kgs|7|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), and so no time was lost. 2. How they reasoned
themselves into a resolution to bring tidings of this to the city.
They feasted in the first tent they came to (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.8" parsed="|2Kgs|7|8|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>) and then began to think of
enriching themselves with the plunder; but they corrected
themselves (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.9" parsed="|2Kgs|7|9|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>):
"<i>We do not well</i> to conceal these good tidings from the
community we are members of, under colour of being avenged upon
them for excluding us from their society; it was the law that did
it, not they, and therefore let us bring them the news. Though it
awake them from sleep, it will be <i>life from the dead</i> to
them." Their own consciences told them that some mischief would
befal them if they acted separately, and sought themselves only.
Selfish narrow-spirited people cannot expect to prosper; the most
comfortable advantage is that which our brethren share with us in.
According to this resolution, they returned to the gate, and
acquainted the sentinel with what they had discovered (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.10" parsed="|2Kgs|7|10|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), who straightway
brought the intelligence to court (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.11" parsed="|2Kgs|7|11|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), and it was not the less
acceptable for being first brought by lepers.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.viii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.12-2Kgs.7.20" parsed="|2Kgs|7|12|7|20" passage="2Ki 7:12-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.7.12-2Kgs.7.20">
<h4 id="iiKi.viii-p9.11">Samaria Plentifully
Supplied. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p9.12">b. c.</span> 891.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.viii-p10">12 And the king arose in the night, and said
unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done
to us. They know that we <i>be</i> hungry; therefore are they gone
out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they
come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the
city.   13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let
<i>some</i> take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain,
which are left in the city, (behold, they <i>are</i> as all the
multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, <i>I say,</i> they
<i>are</i> even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are
consumed:) and let us send and see.   14 They took therefore
two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the
Syrians, saying, Go and see.   15 And they went after them
unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way <i>was</i> full of garments and
vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the
messengers returned, and told the king.   16 And the people
went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of
fine flour was <i>sold</i> for a shekel, and two measures of barley
for a shekel, according to the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p10.1">Lord</span>.   17 And the king appointed the lord
on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the
people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God
had said, who spake when the king came down to him.   18 And
it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying,
Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour
for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of
Samaria:   19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said,
Now, behold, <i>if</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.viii-p10.2">Lord</span>
should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said,
Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat
thereof.   20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people
trode upon him in the gate, and he died.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p11">Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p12">I. The king's jealousy of a stratagem in
the Syrian's retreat, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.12" parsed="|2Kgs|7|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. He feared that they had withdrawn into an ambush, to
draw out the besieged, that they might fall on them with more
advantage. He knew he had no reason to expect that God should
appear thus wonderfully for him, having forfeited his favour by his
unbelief and impatience. He knew no reason the Syrians had to fly,
for it does not appear that he or any of this attendants heard the
noise of the chariots which the Syrians were frightened at. Let not
those who, like him, are <i>unstable in all their ways, think to
receive any thing from God;</i> nay, a guilty conscience fears the
worst and makes men suspicious.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p13">II. The course they took for their
satisfaction, and to prevent their falling into a snare. They sent
out spies to see what had become of the Syrians, and found they had
all fled indeed, commanders as well a common soldiers. They could
track them by the garments which they threw off, and left by the
way, for their greater expedition, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.15" parsed="|2Kgs|7|15|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. He that gave this advice seems
to have been very sensible of the deplorable condition the people
were in (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.13" parsed="|2Kgs|7|13|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>); for
speaking of the horses, many of which were dead and the rest ready
to perish for hunger, he says, and repeats it, "<i>They are as all
the multitude of Israel.</i> Israel used to glory in their
multitude, but now they are diminished and brought low." He advised
to send five horsemen, but, it should seem, there were only two
horses fit to be sent, and those chariot-horses, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.14" parsed="|2Kgs|7|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Now the Lord repented himself
concerning his servants, when he saw that their strength was gone,
<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.36" parsed="|Deut|32|36|0|0" passage="De 32:36">Deut. xxxii. 36</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p14">III. The plenty that was in Samaria, from
the plunder of the camp of the Syrians, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.16" parsed="|2Kgs|7|16|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Had the Syrians been governed
by the modern policies of war, when they could not take their
baggage and their tents with them they would rather have burnt them
(as it is common to do with the forage of a country) than let them
fall into their enemies' hands; but God determined that the
besieging of Samaria, which was intended for its ruin, should turn
to its advantage, and that Israel should now be enriched with the
spoil of the Syrians as of old with that of the Egyptians. Here
see, 1. The <i>wealth of the sinner laid up for the just</i>
(<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.27.16-Job.27.17" parsed="|Job|27|16|27|17" passage="Job 27:16,17">Job xxvii. 16, 17</scripRef>) and
the spoilers spoiled, <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.1" parsed="|Isa|33|1|0|0" passage="Isa 33:1">Isa. xxxiii.
1</scripRef>. 2. The wants of Israel supplied in a way that they
little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the
power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. 3. The word of
Elisha fulfilled to a tittle: <i>A measure of fine flour was sold
for a shekel;</i> those that spoiled the camp had not only enough
to supply themselves with, but an overplus to sell at an easy rate
for the benefit of others, and so even <i>those that tarried at
home did divide the spoil,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.12 Bible:Isa.33.23" parsed="|Ps|68|12|0|0;|Isa|33|23|0|0" passage="Ps 68:12,Isa 33:23">Ps. lxviii. 12; Isa. xxxiii. 23</scripRef>.
God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall
fall to the ground.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.viii-p15">IV. The death of the unbelieving courtier,
that questioned the truth of Elisha's word. Divine threatenings
will as surely be accomplished as divine promises. <i>He that
believeth not shall be damned</i> stands as firm as <i>He that
believeth shall be saved.</i> This lord, 1. Was preferred by the
king to the <i>charge of the gate</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.17" parsed="|2Kgs|7|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 7:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), to keep the peace, and to see
that there was no tumult or disorder in dividing and disposing of
the spoil. So much trust did the king repose in him, in his
prudence and gravity, and so much did he delight to honour him. He
that will be great, let him serve the public. 2. Was trodden to
death by the people in the gate, either by accident, the crowd
being exceedingly great, and he in the thickest of it, or perhaps
designedly, because he abused his power, and was imperious in
restraining the people from satisfying their hunger. However it
was, God's justice was glorified, and the word of Elisha was
fulfilled. He saw the plenty, for the silencing and shaming of his
unbelief, corn cheap without <i>opening windows in heaven,</i> and
therein saw his own folly in prescribing to God; but he did not eat
of the plenty he saw. <i>When he was about to fill his belly</i>
God <i>cast the fury of his wrath upon him</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.20.23" parsed="|Job|20|23|0|0" passage="Job 20:23">Job xx. 23</scripRef>) and it came between the cup and
the lip. Justly are those thus tantalized with the world's promises
that think themselves tantalized with the promises of God. If
believing shall not be seeing, seeing shall not be enjoying. This
matter is repeated, and the event very particularly compared with
the prediction (<scripRef id="iiKi.viii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.7.18-2Kgs.7.20" parsed="|2Kgs|7|18|7|20" passage="2Ki 7:18-20"><i>v.</i>
18-20</scripRef>), that we might take special notice of it, and
might learn, (1.) How deeply God resents our distrust of him, of
his power, providence, and promise. When Israel said, <i>Can God
furnish a table? the Lord heard it and was wroth.</i> Infinite
wisdom will not be limited by our folly. God never promises the end
without knowing where to provide the means. (2.) How uncertain life
and the enjoyments of it are. Honour and power cannot secure men
from sudden and inglorious deaths. He whom the king leaned upon the
people trod upon; he who fancied himself the stay and support of
the government was trampled under foot as the mire in the streets.
Thus hath the pride of men's glory been often stained. (3.) How
certain God's threatenings are, and how sure to alight on the
guilty and obnoxious heads. Let all men fear before the great God,
who <i>treads upon princes as mortar</i> and is <i>terrible to the
kings of the earth.</i></p>
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