2 Kings 7:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, &c.— Saladine's army, which was defeated by Baldwin IV. near Gaza, being in like manner vigorously pursued till night came on, and as far as a certain standing water surrounded with reeds twelve miles off, were continually cut off in great numbers. To fly therefore with greater expedition, they threw away their arms and clothes, and abandoned their baggage, and by this means some of those who were strongest, and had swift horses, escaped; the rest were killed or taken. Those who had escaped as far as the above-mentioned fenny place, if they had any thing of weight still remaining, such as coats of mail, or greaves of iron, threw them among the reeds, or still farther into the water itself, that they might move quicker, and that the armour, being concealed in the water, might neither be of any after-service to the Christians, nor be kept by them as trophies of their victory. But in vain; for those who closely pursued them, diligently searched the place that night and the following day, and with proper instruments quickly found what they had concealed in it; and we have been informed, says the author of the Gesta Dei, by people of credit who were eye-witnesses, that a hundred coats of mail were drawn out of that place in one day, besides iron boots, and things which, though of less weight, were both useful and valuable. The historian then mentions how miserable these naked fugitives were harassed with incessant rains and unusually cold weather, which began the next day and continued ten days together. The Syrians, struck with a panic, left in like manner, in the road to Jordan, many of their garments, and of their vessels or arms, as I suppose that word means, just as Saladine's army did; for the original word here כלים kelim is known to signify arms as well as vessels; and the rest, perhaps, were thrown into the river. The horses and asses which were left in the camp, according to the seventh verse, were doubtless the beasts of burden used by them for the carriage of their tents and provisions, which their terror made them leave behind; and as the troops of the Syrians seem to have been horsemen, (see chap. 2 Kings 6:15.) it is no wonder that they made no use of these heavier moving animals in their flight, but left them. Observations, p. 353.