And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
Ver. 7. He rent his clothes.] As apprehending it to be blasphemy, and deeply detesting such an impiety. Meanwhile he never thought of Elisha, who was better known and more regarded abroad than at home.
See how he seeketh a quarrel.] This troubled Jehoram more than the blasphemy, whatever he pretended. This Benhadad who wrote the letter, was he who slew Ahab at Ramothgilead, 1 Kings 22:35 ; 1Ki 22:37 who besieging Samaria, brought it to that extreme famine, 2Ki 6:24-25 and afterwards at Ramothgilead wounded this Jehoram. 2Ki 8:28-29