4193 - The Bands of Syria

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 30, 1913

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 38

4193 — The Bands of Syria

In 2 Kings 6:23 it says, “The bands of Syria came no more to the land of Israel;” but in the 24th verse it says Ben-hadad went up and besieged Samaria. Was not Samaria a part of the land of Israel?

Yes, it was. But it was evidently some years after. The bands of Syria were those marauding, plundering bands which had been in the habit of ravaging the profitable territory, evidently, of the countries around. See 2 Kings 5:2. Just as long as the kindness was remembered, and the influence of that feast, why, these plundering bands came no more; but some years after that, Ben-hadad went up with a regular host and besieged Samaria. That is the obvious meaning, it seems to us, of the scripture.