21The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?”
22He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.”
23He prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
21 The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?”
22 He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.”
23 He prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
KJVKing James Version
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest 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.
23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
Show all 3 translations
JPSJPS Tanakh (1917)
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them: 'My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?'
22 And he answered: 'Thou shalt not smite them; hast thou taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow those whom thou wouldest smite? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.'
23 And he prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands of Aram came no more into the land of Israel.
2 Kings 5:2(v23)The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
2 Kings 5:13(v21)His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done…
Genesis 48:22(v22)Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”
2 Kings 8:9(v21)So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood…
2 Kings 24:2(v23)Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon,…
Show all 27 cross-references
Romans 12:20-21(v22)Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his…
Deuteronomy 20:11-16(v22)It shall be, if it gives you answer of peace and opens to you, then it shall be that all the people who are found therein shall become…
2 Kings 2:12(v21)Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his…
2 Kings 6:8-9(v23)Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”…
2 Chronicles 28:8-15(v22)The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and also took away much…
Hosea 2:18(v22)In that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field, and with the birds of the sky, and with the creeping things of…
Luke 6:35(v23)But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most…
Luke 10:29-37(v23)But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to…
Proverbs 25:21-22(vv22–23)If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and…
Joshua 24:12(v22)I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your…
1 Samuel 24:4(v21)David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do…
1 Samuel 24:19(v21)For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me…
1 Samuel 26:8(v21)Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand today. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to…
2 Kings 13:14(v21)Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, “My…
2 Chronicles 28:15(v23)The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed…
Psalms 44:6(v22)For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
Hosea 1:7(v22)But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses,…
Matthew 5:44(v22)But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and…
Matthew 5:47(v23)If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
Luke 9:54-56(v21)When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them,…
Luke 22:49(v21)When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
1 Samuel 24:17-18(v23)He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you. You have declared today…
27 distinct cross-references across this passage (28 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn vv21, 23The wicked use reverent and grave words toward the…
The wicked use reverent and grave words toward the servants of God, when they think to have any commodity by them, though in their heart they cannot abide them.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv21–232Ki 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto…
2Ki 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite [them]? shall I smite [them]?
Ver. 21. My father, shall I smite them?] He calleth the prophet, "My father," either in a compliment, as Jer 3:4, or else in a sudden pang, which was soon over. See 2Ki 6:31.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv21–23Elisha had doubtless sent notice of his intentions to
Elisha had doubtless sent notice of his intentions to
the king of Israel, that he might accordingly prepare himself.
Read full note →
My father: now he gives him this title of reverence and affection, because of a great and present benefit he received from him; though otherwise he hated him, and would not hearken to his counsel.
Shall I smite them? the repetition of the question shows his great desire to smite them, and that with utter destruction.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv21–23And he prepared great provision for them,.... Or a…
And he prepared great provision for them,.... Or a great feast, as the Targum; so obedient was he to the prophet's orders:
and when they had eaten and drank; and refreshed themselves, which they needed, having marched all night and that morning from place to place:
Read full note →
he sent them away; that is, the king of Israel dismissed them:
and they went to their master; the king of Syria, but without the prophet Elisha they were sent to fetch:
so the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel; not as yet, or for some time; or rather the sense is, that the Syrians came not any more in small bodies, as troops of robbers making excursions, and carrying off booty in a private manner, and by surprise; but afterwards came with a large army in an open hostile manner, as follows.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn vv22–23Wouldest thou smite - It is against the laws…
Wouldest thou smite - It is against the laws of humanity, to kill captives, though thou thyself hast taken them with thy own sword and bow; which might seem to give thee some colour to destroy them; but much more unworthy will it be in cold blood to kill these, whom not thy arms, but God's providence hath put into thy hands. Set bread - Give them meat and drink, which may refresh and strengthen them for their journey. This was an action of singular piety and charity, in doing good to their enemies, which was much to the honour of the true religion; and of no less prudence, that hereby the hearts of the Syrians might be mollified towards the Israelites.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv21–23Verse 21. My father, shall I smite] This was…
Verse 21. My father, shall I smite] This was dastardly; the utmost he could have done with these men, when thus brought into his hand, was to make them prisoners of war.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn vv21, 232Ki 6:21-22. Shall I smite them? shall I smite…
2Ki 6:21-22. Shall I smite them? shall I smite them? — This repetition of the question shows his eager desire to fall upon them and kill them. Perhaps he remembered how God was displeased at his father for dismissing out of his hands those whom he had put it into his power to destroy, and he would not offend in like manner: yet such reverence has he now for the prophet, that he will not lift a hand against them without his permission. He answered, Thou shall not smite them — It is against the laws of humanity to kill captives, though thou thyself hadst taken them with thy own sword and bow, which might seem to give thee some colour to destroy them; but much more unworthy will it be in cold blood to kill these, whom not thy arms, but God’s providence hath put into thy hands. Set bread before them — Give them meat and drink, which may refresh and strengthen them for their journey. This was an action of singular piety and charity, in doing good to their enemies, which was much to the honour of the true religion, and of no less prudence; that hereby the hearts of the Syrians might be mollified toward the Israelites. Elijah had given a specimen of divine justice, when he called for flames of fire on the heads of his persecutors to consume them: but Elisha here gave a specimen of divine mercy, in heaping coals of fire on the heads of his persecutors to melt them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv21–23My father - A term of respect used by…
My father - A term of respect used by Jehoram in his joy at seeing an army of Syrians delivered up to him by the prophet. That the king’s character was not changed appears from 2Ki 6:31-32.
Shall I smite them? shall I smite them? - The repetition of the words mean, “Shall I utterly smite them?” Compare similar repetitions with similar meanings in Gen 22:17; Luk 22:15.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary1859 · Public DomainOn vv22–23For thou. Hebrew, "Dost thou kill, &c.?" If those…
For thou. Hebrew, "Dost thou kill, &c.?" If those who have surrendered themselves in battle be often spared, though they might be slain by the strict laws of war, how much less ought these men to be treated with such severity? (Calmet) --- Sicut bellanti & resistenti violentia redditur: ita victo vel capto misericorida jam debetur. (St. Augustine, ep. 1. ad Bonif.) (Grotius) --- And water, all necessary provisions. (Worthington) --- These men were suffered to live that they might relate the wonders of God. (Theodoret, q. 20.)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv21–2321. Shall I smite them — Perhaps this question…
21. Shall I smite them — Perhaps this question was prompted by the remembrance of Ahab’s great mistake in not smiting the king of Syria when he had him in his power, and for which mistake he was so sternly rebuked by one of the prophets. 1Ki_20:35-43.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv21–2321. My father] The form of address is strange…
21. My father] The form of address is strange from the mouth of the king even though he be described (2Ki_3:2) as better than his father and his mother. It is however one more token of the great influence exercised in Israel by the prophets Elijah and Elisha. In the present instance Jehoram could hardly undertake to smite the prisoners brought into his hands by the prophet without Elisha’s consent, though his repeated question ‘Shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?’ shews how eager he was to destroy them.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv21–23(21) My father.—Comp. 2Ki_2:12; 2Ki_8:9 (“Thy son Ben-hadad”), 2Ki_13:14.
(21) My father.—Comp. 2Ki_2:12; 2Ki_8:9 (“Thy son Ben-hadad”), 2Ki_13:14.
Shall I smite them,? shall I smite them?—Or, May I smite? may I smite, my father? The repetition expresses the king’s eagerness to slay his powerless enemies. He asks the prophet’s permission. (Comp. 2Ki_4:7.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv21–23And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when…
And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father. In his joy at the deliverance of so large a force of the enemy into his hands, Jehoram forgets the coldness and estrangement which have hitherto characterized the relations between himself and the prophet, (2Ki_3:11-14 2Ki_5:8) and salutes him by the honorable title of "father," which implied respect, deference, submission. Compare the use of the same expression by Joash, (2Ki_13:14) and the employment of the correlative term "son" (2Ki_8:9) by Berthadad. Shall I smite them? shall I smite them? The repetition marks extreme eagerness, while the interrogative form shows a certain amount of hesitation. It is certain that the Israelites were in the habit of putting to death their prisoners of war, not only when they were captured with arms in their hands, but even when they surrendered themselves. When a city or country was conquered, the whole male population of full age was commonly put to death (Num_31:7; 1Sa_15:8; 1Ki_11:15; 1Ch_20:3, etc.) When a third part was spared, it was from some consideration of relationship. (2Sa_8:2) The Law distinctly allowed, if it did not even enjoin, the practice. (Deu_20:13) Jehoram, therefore, no doubt, put his prisoners of war to death under ordinary circumstances. But he hesitates now. He feels that the ease is an extraordinary one, and that the prophet, who has made the capture, is entitled to be consulted on the subject. Hence his question.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On v22Elisha answered
Elisha answered
Elisha was replying to the king of Israel's question.
Read full note →
Would you kill those whom you had taken captive with your sword and bow?
Elisha uses this rhetorical question to rebuke the king and tell him not to kill these men. The words "sword and bow" are a metonym for war in which soldiers use swords and bows and arrows. This can be written as a statement. AT: "You would not kill men whom you had captured in war, so you should not kill these men." (See: Rhetorical Question and Metonymy)
Put bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink
Here "bread" refers to food in general. AT: "Give them food to eat and water to drink" (See: Synecdoche)
go to their master
This refers to the king of Aram.
So the king prepared much food for them
The king ordered his servants to prepare the food. He did not prepare the food himself. AT: "Then the king ordered his servants to prepare a lot of food for them" (See: Metonymy)
Those bands
"Those groups"
did not return for a long time into the land of Israel
This means that they did not attack Israel for a long time. AT: "stopped attacking the land of Israel for a long time" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
GEBible — Godless Engineer's Bible App
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv21, 23 The wicked use reverent and grave words toward the…
The wicked use reverent and grave words toward the servants of God, when they think to have any commodity by them, though in their heart they cannot abide them.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv21–23 2Ki 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto…
2Ki 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite [them]? shall I smite [them]?
Ver. 21. My father, shall I smite them?] He calleth the prophet, "My father," either in a compliment, as Jer 3:4, or else in a sudden pang, which was soon over. See 2Ki 6:31.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv21–23 Elisha had doubtless sent notice of his intentions to
Elisha had doubtless sent notice of his intentions to
the king of Israel, that he might accordingly prepare himself.
Read full note →
My father: now he gives him this title of reverence and affection, because of a great and present benefit he received from him; though otherwise he hated him, and would not hearken to his counsel.
Shall I smite them? the repetition of the question shows his great desire to smite them, and that with utter destruction.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv21–23 And he prepared great provision for them,.... Or a…
And he prepared great provision for them,.... Or a great feast, as the Targum; so obedient was he to the prophet's orders:
and when they had eaten and drank; and refreshed themselves, which they needed, having marched all night and that morning from place to place:
Read full note →
he sent them away; that is, the king of Israel dismissed them:
and they went to their master; the king of Syria, but without the prophet Elisha they were sent to fetch:
so the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel; not as yet, or for some time; or rather the sense is, that the Syrians came not any more in small bodies, as troops of robbers making excursions, and carrying off booty in a private manner, and by surprise; but afterwards came with a large army in an open hostile manner, as follows.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv22–23 Wouldest thou smite - It is against the laws…
Wouldest thou smite - It is against the laws of humanity, to kill captives, though thou thyself hast taken them with thy own sword and bow; which might seem to give thee some colour to destroy them; but much more unworthy will it be in cold blood to kill these, whom not thy arms, but God's providence hath put into thy hands. Set bread - Give them meat and drink, which may refresh and strengthen them for their journey. This was an action of singular piety and charity, in doing good to their enemies, which was much to the honour of the true religion; and of no less prudence, that hereby the hearts of the Syrians might be mollified towards the Israelites.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv21–23 Verse 21. My father, shall I smite] This was…
Verse 21. My father, shall I smite] This was dastardly; the utmost he could have done with these men, when thus brought into his hand, was to make them prisoners of war.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv21, 23 2Ki 6:21-22. Shall I smite them? shall I smite…
2Ki 6:21-22. Shall I smite them? shall I smite them? — This repetition of the question shows his eager desire to fall upon them and kill them. Perhaps he remembered how God was displeased at his father for dismissing out of his hands those whom he had put it into his power to destroy, and he would not offend in like manner: yet such reverence has he now for the prophet, that he will not lift a hand against them without his permission. He answered, Thou shall not smite them — It is against the laws of humanity to kill captives, though thou thyself hadst taken them with thy own sword and bow, which might seem to give thee some colour to destroy them; but much more unworthy will it be in cold blood to kill these, whom not thy arms, but God’s providence hath put into thy hands. Set bread before them — Give them meat and drink, which may refresh and strengthen them for their journey. This was an action of singular piety and charity, in doing good to their enemies, which was much to the honour of the true religion, and of no less prudence; that hereby the hearts of the Syrians might be mollified toward the Israelites. Elijah had given a specimen of divine justice, when he called for flames of fire on the heads of his persecutors to consume them: but Elisha here gave a specimen of divine mercy, in heaping coals of fire on the heads of his persecutors to melt them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv21–23 My father - A term of respect used by…
My father - A term of respect used by Jehoram in his joy at seeing an army of Syrians delivered up to him by the prophet. That the king’s character was not changed appears from 2Ki 6:31-32.
Shall I smite them? shall I smite them? - The repetition of the words mean, “Shall I utterly smite them?” Compare similar repetitions with similar meanings in Gen 22:17; Luk 22:15.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv22–23 For thou. Hebrew, "Dost thou kill, &c.?" If those…
For thou. Hebrew, "Dost thou kill, &c.?" If those who have surrendered themselves in battle be often spared, though they might be slain by the strict laws of war, how much less ought these men to be treated with such severity? (Calmet) --- Sicut bellanti & resistenti violentia redditur: ita victo vel capto misericorida jam debetur. (St. Augustine, ep. 1. ad Bonif.) (Grotius) --- And water, all necessary provisions. (Worthington) --- These men were suffered to live that they might relate the wonders of God. (Theodoret, q. 20.)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv21–23 21. Shall I smite them — Perhaps this question…
21. Shall I smite them — Perhaps this question was prompted by the remembrance of Ahab’s great mistake in not smiting the king of Syria when he had him in his power, and for which mistake he was so sternly rebuked by one of the prophets. 1Ki_20:35-43.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv21–23 21. My father] The form of address is strange…
21. My father] The form of address is strange from the mouth of the king even though he be described (2Ki_3:2) as better than his father and his mother. It is however one more token of the great influence exercised in Israel by the prophets Elijah and Elisha. In the present instance Jehoram could hardly undertake to smite the prisoners brought into his hands by the prophet without Elisha’s consent, though his repeated question ‘Shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?’ shews how eager he was to destroy them.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv21–23 (21) My father.—Comp. 2Ki_2:12; 2Ki_8:9 (“Thy son Ben-hadad”), 2Ki_13:14.
(21) My father.—Comp. 2Ki_2:12; 2Ki_8:9 (“Thy son Ben-hadad”), 2Ki_13:14.
Shall I smite them,? shall I smite them?—Or, May I smite? may I smite, my father? The repetition expresses the king’s eagerness to slay his powerless enemies. He asks the prophet’s permission. (Comp. 2Ki_4:7.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv21–23 And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when…
And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father. In his joy at the deliverance of so large a force of the enemy into his hands, Jehoram forgets the coldness and estrangement which have hitherto characterized the relations between himself and the prophet, (2Ki_3:11-14 2Ki_5:8) and salutes him by the honorable title of "father," which implied respect, deference, submission. Compare the use of the same expression by Joash, (2Ki_13:14) and the employment of the correlative term "son" (2Ki_8:9) by Berthadad. Shall I smite them? shall I smite them? The repetition marks extreme eagerness, while the interrogative form shows a certain amount of hesitation. It is certain that the Israelites were in the habit of putting to death their prisoners of war, not only when they were captured with arms in their hands, but even when they surrendered themselves. When a city or country was conquered, the whole male population of full age was commonly put to death (Num_31:7; 1Sa_15:8; 1Ki_11:15; 1Ch_20:3, etc.) When a third part was spared, it was from some consideration of relationship. (2Sa_8:2) The Law distinctly allowed, if it did not even enjoin, the practice. (Deu_20:13) Jehoram, therefore, no doubt, put his prisoners of war to death under ordinary circumstances. But he hesitates now. He feels that the ease is an extraordinary one, and that the prophet, who has made the capture, is entitled to be consulted on the subject. Hence his question.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v22 Elisha answered
Elisha answered
Elisha was replying to the king of Israel's question.
Read full note →
Would you kill those whom you had taken captive with your sword and bow?
Elisha uses this rhetorical question to rebuke the king and tell him not to kill these men. The words "sword and bow" are a metonym for war in which soldiers use swords and bows and arrows. This can be written as a statement. AT: "You would not kill men whom you had captured in war, so you should not kill these men." (See: Rhetorical Question and Metonymy)
Put bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink
Here "bread" refers to food in general. AT: "Give them food to eat and water to drink" (See: Synecdoche)
go to their master
This refers to the king of Aram.
So the king prepared much food for them
The king ordered his servants to prepare the food. He did not prepare the food himself. AT: "Then the king ordered his servants to prepare a lot of food for them" (See: Metonymy)
Those bands
"Those groups"
did not return for a long time into the land of Israel
This means that they did not attack Israel for a long time. AT: "stopped attacking the land of Israel for a long time" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
captive
sword
bow and arrow
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv21, 23 6:21 My father: Elisha had used this term of…
6:21 My father: Elisha had used this term of respect when addressing Elijah (2:12), as had Naaman’s servant when speaking to his master (5:13).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.