(8) Then the king of Syria warred.--Rather, Now the king of Syria (Aram) was warring, i.e., continually. The time intended cannot be the reign of Jehoahaz, for here the Syrians achieve nothing of importance. (Comp. 2 Kings 6:32.)
Such and such.--The compound Hebrew expression (p?loni 'almoni) means "a certain one, I will not mention which;" the Greek, ? ?????.
My camp.--Heb., tah?nothi; a difficult expression, found only here. Its form is anomalous, and probably corrupt. The Targum renders "house of my camp:" but the Syriac, "Set ye an ambush, and lurk;" the Vulg., "ponamus insidias:" and similarly the Arabic. This has suggested that the true reading is "hide ye," i.e., lie in ambush (t?h?b-, i.e., t?h?b?-: Thenius). It is, however, a more obvious change to read, "ye shall go down" (tinh?th-:Psalm 38:3). This agrees better with the construction, "Unto ('el) such and such a place shall ye go down," i.e., on a plundering incursion.
Verse 8-2 Kings 7:20. - PUBLIC MIRACLES or ELISHA (resumed). Verse 8. - Then the King of Syria warred against Israel. It may seem strange that, so soon after sending an embassy to the court of Samaria, and asking a favor (2 Kings 5:5, 6), Benhadad should resume hostilities, especially as the favor had been obtained (2 Kings 5:14); but the normal relations between the two countries were those of enmity (2 Kings 5:2), and a few years would suffice to dim the memory of what had happened. The gratitude of kings is proverbially short-lived. And took counsel with his servants - i.e., his chief officers - saying, In such and such a place (comp. 1 Samuel 21:2) shall be my camp; or, my encampment. תַּחְחֲנֹח appears to be "a noun in the form of the infinitive." It does not occur elsewhere.
6:8-12 The king of Israel regarded the warnings Elisha gave him, of danger from the Syrians, but would not heed the warnings of danger from his sins. Such warnings are little heeded by most; they would save themselves from death, but will not from hell. Nothing that is done, said, or thought, by any person, in any place, at any time, is out of God's knowledge.
Then the king of Syria warred against Israel,.... Proclaimed war against him; on what account, or how long it was after Naaman his general came with a letter of recommendation from him to the king of Israel, and had his cure, is not said:
and took counsel with his servants; his privy counsellors, or the general officers of his army:
saying, in such and such a place shall be my camp; in some covered hidden place, as the Targum; where he would lie encamped waiting in ambush, to fall upon the king of Israel unawares, as he and his forces should pass that way; the place, no doubt, was named by the king of Syria, though not recorded by the historian; or, as the words may be rendered:
the place of such and such a man; for, as Ben Melech observes, "peloni almoni" are used of persons whose names are either unknown or concealed.
Took counsel with.--Comp. 2 Chronicles 20:21.
Such and such.--The compound Hebrew expression (p?loni 'almoni) means "a certain one, I will not mention which;" the Greek, ? ?????.
My camp.--Heb., tah?nothi; a difficult expression, found only here. Its form is anomalous, and probably corrupt. The Targum renders "house of my camp:" but the Syriac, "Set ye an ambush, and lurk;" the Vulg., "ponamus insidias:" and similarly the Arabic. This has suggested that the true reading is "hide ye," i.e., lie in ambush (t?h?b-, i.e., t?h?b?-: Thenius). It is, however, a more obvious change to read, "ye shall go down" (tinh?th-: Psalm 38:3). This agrees better with the construction, "Unto ('el) such and such a place shall ye go down," i.e., on a plundering incursion.
and took counsel with his servants; his privy counsellors, or the general officers of his army:
saying, in such and such a place shall be my camp; in some covered hidden place, as the Targum; where he would lie encamped waiting in ambush, to fall upon the king of Israel unawares, as he and his forces should pass that way; the place, no doubt, was named by the king of Syria, though not recorded by the historian; or, as the words may be rendered:
the place of such and such a man; for, as Ben Melech observes, "peloni almoni" are used of persons whose names are either unknown or concealed.