while he, &c.] While Elisha was speaking to the elders. he said] The messenger, in the kings name, uttering the kings words: or the king himself, who had prevented the messenger. this evil] This famine, and the effects thereof, as, mothers eating their children. what should I wait, &c.] A speech of diffidence and despair. It seems that Elisha had made promise of succour from the LORD, which made king Jehoram to wait some while: but when he saw the great extremity of the famine, in distrust and despair he said, What should I wait, &c.