2nd Kings Chapter 6 verse 17 Holy Bible

2nd Kings 6 : 17 Bible Verse Songs

• My Prayer For You by Alisa Turner
• Hosanna by Beckah Shae
• 10,000 Armies by Influence Music + Jonathan Traylor
• Surrounded by Anthem Lights

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. If the prophet's servant was to be reassured, he must be made to see that help was at hand; he would not have found rest or peace in the mere assurance that God was nigh, and would keep his prophet from harm. His mental state required something like a material manifestation; and hence Elisha prays that he may be permitted to behold the angelic host, which everywhere throughout creation is employed at all times in doing the will of God, and accomplishing his ends (comp. Genesis 28:12; Genesis 32:2; Psalm 34:7; Psalm 68:17; Daniel 7:10, etc.). The prayer is granted. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. As the earthly force, which had alarmed Elisha's servant, was a force mainly of horses and chariots, so the heavenly force revealed to his eyes was made to bear the same appearance. But the heavenly chariots and horses were "of fire" - glowed, i.e. with a strange unearthly brightness (see the comment on 2 Kings 2:11).

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw.--Just as the Lord had opened Elisha's own eyes to see the like vision of unearthly glory when his master was taken away (2Kings 2:10; 2Kings 2:12). (Comp. also Numbers 22:31.)The mountain.--On which Dothan stood.Horses and chariots of fire.--Literally, horses and chariots, to wit, fire. Fire was the well-known symbol of Jehovah's visible presence and protective or destroying might, from the days of the patriarchs onwards (Genesis 15:17; Exodus 3:2; Exodus 13:21, seq., 19:16, seq.; Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:30; Isaiah 30:33; Isaiah 33:14). As fiery chariots and horses parted Elijah from Elisha (2Kings 2:12), so now a similar appearance surrounds and protects the latter. "It is a fine thought," says Thenius, "that on this occasion the veil of earthly existence was lifted for a moment for one child of man, so as to allow him a clear glimpse of the sovereignty of Providence." The form of the supernatural appearance was, no doubt, conditioned by the circumstances of the time. Chariots and horses were the strength of the Aramean oppressors of Israel; therefore, Jehovah causes His earthly ministers to see that He also has at His command horses and chariots, and that of fire. . . .