But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him. The latter clause of 2 Kings 6:33, which contains the king's impatient exclamation, enables us to account for the impetuous order he issued for the beheading of Elisha. Though Jehoram was a wicked king, and most of his courtiers would resemble their master, many had been won over, through the prophet's influence, to the true religion. A meeting, probably a prayer-meeting, of those was held in his house, probably the school of the prophets (2 Kings 6:1-2), and them he not only apprised of the king's design against himself, but disclosed to them the proof of a premeditated deliverance.
Shut the door, and hold him fast at the door - because the messenger would be sent immediately by the king, who would revoke the rash and inconsiderate order.