2 Kings 7:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The king put the servant on whose arm he had leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him down in the gateway, so that he died, as the man of God had said he would, who spoke when the king came to him.

Berean Standard Bible:

Now the king had appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king had come to him.

American Standard Version:

And the king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the king^{H4428} appointed^{H6485} the lord^{H7991} on whose hand^{H3027} he leaned^{H8172} to have the charge of the gate^{H8179}: and the people^{H5971} trode^{H7429} upon him in the gate^{H8179}, and he died^{H4191}, as the man^{H376} of God^{H430} had said^{H1696}, who spake^{H1696} when the king^{H4428} came down^{H3381} to him.

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Commentary for 2 Kings 7:17

2 Kings 7:17 is a verse that captures a moment of fulfillment of prophecy within the broader historical context of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, during the reign of King Joram (or Jehoram). The verse itself is part of a narrative concerning a severe famine in the city of Samaria, which was besieged by the Arameans. Earlier in the chapter, a prophet named Elisha had predicted that the prices of food would normalize the next day, and indeed, the siege was lifted when the Lord caused the Arameans to hear the sound of a great army, leading them to flee and leave behind their camp with all its provisions.

The lord (or officer) mentioned in 2 Kings 7:17 was a man of high rank who had been skeptical of Elisha's prophecy and had mocked the idea that the Lord could bring relief. As a result of his disbelief, Elisha had prophesied that although the officer would see the abundance of food, he would not partake of it. True to the word of the Lord, the officer was in charge of the gate where the food supplies were to be brought into the city. In the chaos and rush of the starving people to get to the food, the officer was trampled to death at the gate, just as Elisha had foretold when the king had come down to confront him earlier.

This verse underscores several themes: the reliability and authority of the prophetic word, the consequences of disbelief and mockery towards divine promises, and the sovereignty of God over the events of human history. It also illustrates the political and social turmoil of the time, reflecting the desperation of the people and the instability of the king's authority. The fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy serves as a powerful narrative of divine intervention and judgment, emphasizing the importance of faith and trust in the words of the prophets in ancient Israelite society.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6485
   There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּקַד
   Transliteration: pâqad
   Pronunciation: paw-kad'
   Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7991
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלִישׁ
   Transliteration: shâlîysh
   Pronunciation: shaw-leesh'
   Description: or שָׁלוֹשׁ; (1 Chronicles 11:11; 1 Chronicles 12:18), or שָׁלֹשׁ; (2 Samuel 23:13), from שָׁלוֹשׁ; a triple, i.e. (as a musical instrument) a triangle (or perhaps rather threestringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great quantity) a three-fold measure (perhaps a treble ephah); also (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e. the highest); captain, instrument of musick, (great) lord, (great) measure, prince, three (from the margin).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8172
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁעַן
   Transliteration: shâʻan
   Pronunciation: shaw-an'
   Description: a primitive root; to support one's self; lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8179
   There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׁעַר
   Transliteration: shaʻar
   Pronunciation: shah'-ar
   Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7429
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָמַס
   Transliteration: râmaç
   Pronunciation: raw-mas'
   Description: a primitive root; to tread upon (as a potter, in walking or abusively); oppressor, stamp upon, trample (under feet), tread (down, upon).
   
9. Strong's Number: H4191
   There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּת
   Transliteration: mûwth
   Pronunciation: mooth
   Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
   
10. Strong's Number: H376
    There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִישׁ
    Transliteration: ʼîysh
    Pronunciation: eesh
    Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
    
11. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1696
    There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָבַר
    Transliteration: dâbar
    Pronunciation: daw-bar'
    Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3381
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרַד
    Transliteration: yârad
    Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
    Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.