Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 5:20–end
Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were, Kg2 5:13. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base, lying, naughty fellow. Those that heard of Elisha at a distance honoured him, and got good by what they heard; but he that stood continually before him, to hear his wisdom, had no good impressions made upon him either by his doctrine or miracles. One would have expected that Elisha's servant should be a saint (even Ahab's servant, Obadiah, was), but even Christ himself had a Judas among his followers. The means of grace cannot give grace. The best men, the best ministers have often had those about them…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 5:23
in two bags--People in the East, when travelling, have their money, in certain sums, put up in bags.
Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 5:24
When he came to the tower - The Chaldee, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic understand the word עפל ophel, which we translate tower, as signifying a secret, dark, or hiding place. He was doing a deed of darkness, and he sought darkness to conceal it. He no doubt put them in a place little frequented, or one to which few had access besides himself. But the prophet's discerning spirit found him out.
John Gill on 2 Kings 5:24
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.
Keil & Delitzsch
