John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. But as one was felling a beam , etc.] Cutting down a tree, or a branch of it: the axe head fell into the water : into the waters of Jordan; or “the iron” f78 , the iron part of it, with which the wood was cut; that flew off from the helve into the water: and he cried, and said, alas, master! for it was borrowed : it grieved him to lose his axe, because he could do no more work, and the more because it was not his own, but he had borrowed it of his neighbour; and still more, because, as it seems, he was poor, and not able to pay for it, which, being of an honest disposition, gave him distress.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - There is that pleasantness in the converse of servants of God, whic can make those who listen to them forget the pain and the weariness of labour. Even the sons of the prophets must not be unwilling to labour Let no man think an honest employment a burden or a disgrace. An labour of the head, is as hard, and very often harder, than labour with the hands. We ought to be careful of that which is borrowed, as of ou own, because we must do as we would be done by. This man was s respecting the axe-head. And to those who have an honest mind, the sorest grievance of poverty is, not so much their own want an disgrace, as being rendered unable to pay just debts. But the Lor cares for his people in their smallest concerns. And God's grace can thus raise the stony iron heart, which is sunk into the mud of thi world, and raise up affections, naturally earthly.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 האחד259 מפיל5307 הקורה6982 ואת853 הברזל1270 נפל5307 אל413 המים4325 ויצעק6817 ויאמר559 אהה162 אדני113 והוא1931 שׁאול׃7592
