Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

During the Shunammite‘s absence in Philistia, her dwelling and her grain-fields had been appropriated by some one who refused to restore them. She therefore determined to appeal to the king. Such direct appeals are common in Oriental countries. Compare 2 Kings 6:26; 2 Samuel 14:4; 1 Kings 3:16.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it came to pass, at the seven years end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines,.... Either hearing that the famine was over, or believing that it was, the time being expired the prophet fixed for it:

and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house, and for her land; which her nearest relations in her absence had seized upon, as heirs to them; or those in whose hands she had intrusted them refused, upon her return, to deliver them to her; or the king's officers had seized upon them for him, as forfeited to the crown by her going out of the land without leave; and now she needed a friend to speak for her to the king, which, in time past, she had no occasion for, and thought she never should, see 2 Kings 4:13.

Geneva Study Bible

(b) That is, to complain of them who had taken her possessions while she was absent.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land — In consequence of her long-continued absence from the country, her possessions were occupied by her kindred, or had been confiscated by the crown. No statute in the law of Moses ordained that alienation. But the innovation seems to have been adopted in Israel.

Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

When the woman returned to her home at the end of the seven years, she went to the king to cry, i.e., to invoke his help, with regard to her house and her field, of which, as is evident from the context, another had taken possession during her absence.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

Her house — Which having been forsaken by her, were possessed by her kindred.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 8:3 And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

Ver. 3. To cry unto the king for her house and for her land.] Which in her so long absence was seized on, either by the king’s officers, or by some of her kindred.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Which having been forsaken by her, were possessed by her kindred, or others, who had obtained them from the king, and now intended to keep the possession of them.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3.To cry unto the king for her house — During her long absence others had taken possession of her house and land, but whether it had been seized by public authority or otherwise does not appear. See Thomson’s note below. From 2 Kings 8:5 we learn that this woman’s son, whom Elisha had restored to life, accompanied her on this occasion.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 8:3. She went to cry unto the king for her house and land — Which, having been forsaken by her, were possessed by her kindred or others, who probably had obtained a grant of them from the king, and now intended to keep possession of them.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Lands, which others had seized. (Du Hamel)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

Cry unto the king for her house and for her land [ lits`oq (Hebrew #6817), to present a humble petition (cf. 2 Samuel 19:28); Septuagint, boeesai pros ton basilea, to complain to the king]. In consequence of her long-continued absence from the country, her possessions were occupied by her kindred, or had been confiscated to the crown. No statute in the law of Moses ordained that alienation; but the innovation seems to have been adopted in Israel.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) At the seven years’ end.—Omit the.

She went forth.—From Shunem to Samaria.

For her house and for her land.—Literally, with regard to her house, &c. She found them in the possession of strangers. The State may have occupied the property as abandoned by its owner; or, as is more likely, some neighbouring landowner may have encroached upon her rights. She therefore appealed to the king.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A. M. 3119. B.C. 885

6; 4:13; 6:26; 2 Samuel 14:4; Psalms 82:3,4; Jeremiah 22:16; Luke 18:3-5