2 Kings 7:14

2Ki 7:14 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

Ver. 14. Two chariot horses.] With their riders.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ki 7:14-16. They took therefore two chariot horses — It is probable the king would venture no more than two horsemen, whom he thought sufficient: and these took two of his own horses to make the discovery. They went after them unto Jordan — Finding the camp empty, as the lepers had related, they followed them as far as this river. All the way was full of garments, &c., cast away in their haste — Hebrew, בחפזם, bechaphezam, in their fear, trepidation, or consternation, wherewith God had struck them. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, &c. —

They found such store of provisions in the tents of the Syrians, that it made this sudden change in the price of corn, according to Elisha’s prediction.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Or, two horses of the chariot, which were accustomed to draw in the chariot.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 14. They took - two chariot horses] They had at first intended to send five; probably they found on examination that only two were effective. But if they sent two chariots, each would have two horses, and probably a single horse for crossing the country.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(14) Two chariot horses.—Literally, two chariots (of) horses, i.e., teams for two chariots, or two pairs of horses. The chariots and their drivers are implied, not mentioned. Two chariots were sent, so that if attacked they might make a better resistance; or perhaps in order that, if one were captured by the enemy, the other might escape with the news.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14. two chariot horses] R.V. two chariots with horses. Each chariot had its pair of horses, so that there were four horses, and probably two or three people in each chariot. If anything happened to one chariot, the other might come to the rescue, or, at all events, have a chance of escaping to the city.

after the host of the Syrians] The spies were not content with searching the camp. For the king’s misgivings had no doubt communicated themselves to the messengers. So they went on the way where scattered property of all kinds shewed that the Syrians had taken their flight.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They took therefore two chariot horses,.... Not five, but two only, and those the best, that drew in the king's chariot perhaps, and so were better fed, and fitter for this expedition:

and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, go and see; whether they are fled or not.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Two chariot horses - Translate, “two horse-chariots.” They dispatched i. e. two war-chariots, with their proper complement of horses and men, to see whether the retreat was a reality or only a feint. The “horses” sent would be four or six, since chariots were drawn by either two or three horses.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Horses. Hebrew, "chariot horses," or two chariots with (each) two horses, as it was customary to go to war, and to travel on chariots. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Two chariot horses, or, two chariots of horses; or rather, two chariot horses, as divers render the words, i.e. horses which belonged to the king’s chariots. For single horses seem much more proper for this service than chariots and horses. And whereas it was moved by the king’s servant, that all the five horses should be sent, it seems it was thought by the king and others that two were sufficient for that purpose.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

14. Two chariot horses — Literally, two chariot of horses; that is, two span of horses; horses enough to accompany two chariots. Instead of five, as the servants proposed, the king sent four.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They took therefore two chariot horses; literally, two chariots of horses; i.e. two chariots, with the accustomed number of horses, which (with the Israelites) was two, though with the Assyrians and Egyptians it was frequently three. The employment of chariots instead of horsemen is remarkable, and seems to indicate that with the Israelites, as with the Egyptians, the chariot force was regarded as superior to the cavalry for practical purposes. And the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see. The advice of the king"s "servant" was taken; a couple of chariots were sent out to reconnoiter.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Go and see

The implicit information about what the king wanted them to see may be stated clearly. AT: "Go and see if what these lepers have said is true" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

They went after them to the Jordan

"They followed the path the Aramean army took all the way to the Jordan River"

all the road was full of clothes and equipment

This is an exaggeration that means the men saw these items scattered along the road as they traveled. AT: "there were clothes and equipment all along the road" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

translationWords

chariot

Jordan River

messenger

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.