2 Kings 6:33

And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil [is] of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?

And while he yet talked {H1696} with them, behold, the messenger {H4397} came down {H3381} unto him: and he said {H559}, Behold, this evil {H7451} is of the LORD {H3068}; what should I wait {H3176} for the LORD {H3068} any longer?

While he was still speaking, the messenger arrived with this message from the king: "Here, this evil is from ADONAI. Why should I wait for ADONAI any longer?"

While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

And while he was yet talking with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of Jehovah; why should I wait for Jehovah any longer?

Commentary

2 Kings 6:33 captures a moment of intense despair and frustration from King Jehoram of Israel during a severe siege of Samaria by the Aramean (Syrian) army under King Ben-hadad. This verse immediately precedes God's dramatic intervention and deliverance through the prophet Elisha.

Context

The city of Samaria was enduring a horrific famine, so dire that people resorted to cannibalism (2 Kings 6:29). King Jehoram, upon hearing of this atrocity, tore his clothes, revealing sackcloth underneath, indicating deep distress and perhaps a superficial act of repentance. However, his immediate reaction was to blame the prophet Elisha for the calamity and send a messenger to execute him. While Elisha was speaking with the elders, aware of the king's murderous intent, the king's messenger arrived, followed quickly by the king himself, expressing his utter hopelessness.

Key Themes

  • Despair and Impatience: The king's cry, "what should I wait for the LORD any longer?" epitomizes a complete loss of hope and an unwillingness to endure God's timing. He sees no further reason to trust in divine intervention.
  • Attributing Calamity to God: Jehoram correctly identifies the source of the "evil" (Hebrew: ra', meaning misfortune or calamity) as coming from the LORD. This acknowledges God's sovereignty over circumstances, even distressing ones, but lacks understanding of God's redemptive purposes or ultimate deliverance.
  • The Sovereignty of God Amidst Crisis: Even in the face of human despair and horrific suffering, this passage sets the stage for God's miraculous deliverance. The king's impatience contrasts sharply with God's perfect timing, which is revealed in the very next verses through Elisha's prophecy of immediate abundance.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "this evil [is] of the LORD" uses the word "evil" (Hebrew: ra'). In this context, ra' refers to severe calamity, disaster, or misfortune, rather than moral wickedness. It highlights the king's belief that the siege and famine were a direct judgment or affliction orchestrated by God. This understanding is crucial for interpreting the king's subsequent question, as he perceives the suffering as God's doing and therefore questions the point of continued waiting or prayer.

Practical Application

King Jehoram's desperate cry serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. In times of extreme hardship, it's natural to feel overwhelmed and question God's presence or timing. However, this narrative encourages us to:

  • Cultivate Enduring Faith: Even when circumstances seem hopeless, God often works in ways we don't expect, and His deliverance can be sudden and dramatic. The Bible consistently calls us to wait patiently for the Lord.
  • Recognize God's Sovereignty: While God is not the author of moral evil, He does allow or orchestrate difficult circumstances for His purposes, which may include discipline, testing, or drawing people back to Him. Understanding this can shift our perspective from despair to seeking God's will within the trial.
  • Trust in His Promises: Just as God provided for Samaria the very next day, He remains faithful to His people. Our impatience should not lead us to abandon hope or trust in His divine plan.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 2:9

    Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

  • Isaiah 8:21

    And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

  • Psalms 27:14

    Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

  • Lamentations 3:25

    The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him.

  • Lamentations 3:26

    [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

  • Job 1:11

    But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

  • Isaiah 26:3

    Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.