2 Kings 5:24

And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) The tower.—Heb., the ’ōphel, the mound, on which the prophet’s house may have stood. There would be no window in the exterior wall from which Gehazi and his companions might have been observed approaching. Perhaps, however, a fortified hill, forming part of the system of defences surrounding Samaria, like the Ophel at Jerusalem, is to be understood. (Comp. 2Chronicles 27:3.) Elisha’s house lay within the city wall (2Kings 6:30, seq.). Keil explains the hill on which Samaria was built. (Comp. Isaiah 32:14, and Cheyne’s Note; Micah 4:8 : “And thou, O tower of the flock; O mound of the daughter of Zion.”) This note of place is also a note of historical truth.

Bestowed them in the house.—Stowed them away, laid them up carefully in the (prophet’s) house. LXX., παρέθετο.

Let the men go.—Before he “bestowed” their burdens in the house.

Benson Commentary

2 Kings 5:24. When he came to the tower — A safe and private place, which he chose for the purpose, and where possibly he hid and kept other things, which he had got by such like frauds and artifices. And let the men go — Before they came within sight of his master.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:20-27 Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base liar. The love of money, that root of all evil, was at the bottom of Gehazi's sin. He thought to impose upon the prophet, but soon found that the Spirit of prophecy could not be deceived, and that it was in vain to lie to the Holy Ghost. It is folly to presume upon sin, in hopes of secrecy. When thou goest aside into any by-path, does not thy own conscience go with thee? Does not the eye of God go with thee? He that covers his sin, shall not prosper; particularly, a lying tongue is but for a moment. All the foolish hopes and contrivances of carnal worldlings are open before God. It is not a time to increase our wealth, when we can only do it in such ways as are dishonourable to God and religion, or injurious to others. Gehazi was punished. If he will have Naaman's money, he shall have his disease with it. What was Gehazi profited, though he gained two talents, when thereby he lost his health, his honour, his peace, his service, and, if repentance prevented not, his soul for ever? Let us beware of hypocrisy and covetousness, and dread the curse of spiritual leprosy remaining on our souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The tower - Rather, "the hill," the well-known hill by Elisha's house. The hill interrupted the view in the direction taken by Naaman, and Gehazi dismissed Naaman's servants at this point lest they should be seen from his master's residence.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. in two bags—People in the East, when travelling, have their money, in certain sums, put up in bags.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The tower; a safe and private place which he chose for that purpose, and where possibly he hid and kept other things which he had got by such-like frauds and artifices.

He let the men go before they came within sight of his master.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when he came to the tower,.... Of Samaria, or which was near it; a fortified place, and where was a watch, to whom he could safely commit the money and clothes:

he took them from their hand; not willing they should go any further with him, lest the affair should be discovered to his master:

and bestowed them in the house; deposited them there in the hands of some person whom he could trust; or laid them out, or ordered them to be laid out, in the purchase of houses, lands, vineyards, &c. see 2 Kings 5:26.

and he let the men go, and they departed; to their master.

Geneva Study Bible

And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and {m} they departed.

(m) Naaman's servants.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. when he came to the tower] R.V. hill. The word (Heb., Ophel) is often used in connexion with the description of the wall of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 27:3; 2 Chronicles 33:14; Nehemiah 3:26-27; Nehemiah 11:21). From its use in Micah 4:8, of Mount Zion, the sense ‘hill’ rather than ‘tower’ appears well established. The margin of A.V., has here ‘secret place’ as also the LXX., but that seems to have come from connecting the word with a root of slightly different consonants (אפל instead of עפל). The question arises: What hill is meant? And it appears best to understand it of some eminence near the house of Elisha. All Samaria was hilly in character (see 1 Kings 16:24). The narrative by this allusion to a locality, as though it were well known, shews its historic character, and appears to go back in its early form to close upon the date of the events.

he took them from their hand] Though they were heavy enough for two men, yet he must contrive to carry them himself that he may attract less notice, and run no risk of being found out.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. - And when he came to the tower; rather, to the hill (Revised Version). Some well-known eminence at a little distance from the Damascus gate of Samaria must be intended. Here Gehazi stopped the slaves, and took the money from them. It was important for his purpose that they should not be seen re-entering the city, as that would have occasioned remark, and might naturally have led to inquiry. He took them - i.e., the bags - from their hand - i.e. from the hands of Naaman's servants - and bestowed them in the house; i.e. by himself or deputy brought them to Elisha's house, and there hid them away. And he let the men - Naaman's servants - go, and they departed. They hastened, no doubt, to rejoin their master. 2 Kings 5:24

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When Gehazi came to the hill (העפל, the well-known hill before the city) he took the presents from the bearers, and dismissing the men, laid them up in the house. בּ פּקד, to bring into safe custody.