He took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water— He did this that no signs of violence might appear upon him; for had the murder been in the least suspected, Hazael could not so easily have acceded to the throne; because, according to the account of Josephus, Ben-hadad was a man of such reputation among the people of Syria and Damascus, that, as his memory was celebrated among them with divine honours, his death, no doubt, had it been known to have been violent, would have been fully revenged upon the murderers. History makes mention of other princes who have died in the same manner. The emperor Tiberius, according to Suetonius, was in his last sickness choked in his bed by a pillow crammed into his mouth, or, as Tacitus has it, was smothered under a vast load of bed-clothes; and king Demetrius, the son of Philip, as well as the emperor Frederick II. was hurried out of the world in the same way. See Calmet, and Joseph. Antiq. lib. ix. c. 2.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, We have here,
1. The advice of Elisha to his kind hostess at Shunem. He warned her to remove betimes to some neighbouring country, because of the approaching famine; and, Philistia being near, she there fixed her abode. Note; (1.) Men's sins provoke God's judgments, and his own unfaithful Israel shall feel the scourge heavier than even their idolatrous neighbours. (2.) The prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself.
2. As soon as the famine was over, she hasted home, and, to her grief, either found her land seized by the officers for the crown, as forfeited for her leaving the kingdom; or the person entrusted with it refused to give up possession. For want of a friend with the king, which once she thought she should never need, see chap. Exodus 4:13 she is constrained to apply to him herself for redress; and so providence graciously ordered it, that at this very instant he was discoursing with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, about his miracles, and this very woman and her son were the subject, who now opportunely appear to confirm his narrative. Gehazi's being still Elisha's servant shews that this event preceded the cure of Naaman, and the siege of Samaria. Note; (1.) A strange coincidence of events, exactly suited to accomplish our desires, proves often to a demonstration the finger of an overruling Governor. (2.) God can raise us up friends, in our difficulties, where we least expected them.
3. The king, having heard from the woman herself the confirmation of Gehazi's report, orders an officer to put her in possession of her estate, and see that every farthing of the profits of it, from the day when she left it, be faithfully accounted for. Note; (1.) If the ears of kings are open to the cries of the oppressed, how much more will the King of kings hear their prayers and help them. (2.) The glory of a government is the righteous and impartial administration of justice.
2nd, What brought Elisha to Damascus is uncertain; what he did there, we are informed.
1. He is consulted by Ben-hadad concerning the event of his sickness. The king of Syria was no sooner apprized of his being there, than the report of his former miracles weighed more with him than all his idol gods, and he places greater confidence in the prophet of the Lord, than in all the priests of Damascus. With great respect he addresses him, sends his prime minister to be his messenger, and orders a magnificent present, as a token of his regard. Note; (1.) Sickness and death pay no compliments to crowned heads. (2.) Many on their death-beds send to God's ministers, who, all their lives long, paid little or no regard to them. (3.) The sinner that lieth sick is usually more solicitous to know, Shall I recover? than to inquire, What shall I do to be saved?