2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:1 Elisha and Israel. Elijah’s ministry has been coming to a close since 1 Kings 19:15, where Elijah was told to anoint Elisha as his successor. The war with Baal worship will not end until Elisha has succeeded Elijah and Hazael and Jehu have appeared. Chapters 2 Kings 2:1 o... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:2 BETHEL is identified with Jeroboam’s spiritual unfaithfulness in 1 Kings 12:1. PLEASE STAY HERE. It is never made clear why Elijah keeps trying to get Elisha to remain behind on the day when he is to inherit Elijah’s prophetic ministry. It is probably a testing of Elisha’... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:3 KEEP QUIET. It is disrespectful for the prophets to speak of Elijah’s death while he is still with them. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:4 JERICHO was in the Jordan Valley about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the Dead Sea. It was the first city conquered by the Israelites in Canaan. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:6 The JORDAN River runs along a short stretch of a geological fault that starts in the north in Syria and extends southward into Africa. This miraculous crossing of the Jordan recalls Moses leading Israel across the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEl... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:9 Elisha asks Elijah to give him what an eldest son in Israel would expect from his father: a DOUBLE PORTION of the inheritance (see Deuteronomy 21:15). In this case, however, the inheritance is not land but spiritual power. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:10 YOU HAVE ASKED A HARD THING. It is unclear how Elisha’s request can be hard, since Elisha has been chosen by God to succeed Elijah. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:11 CHARIOTS OF FIRE AND HORSES OF FIRE. The divine army, last seen waging war on Ahab (1 Kings 22:1), has come for Elijah. Elisha TOOK HOLD OF HIS OWN CLOTHES AND TORE THEM IN TWO PIECES. This is perhaps part of a mourning ritual (compare Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 13:30), but... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:14 THE WATER WAS PARTED... AND ELISHA WENT OVER. Elisha is Elijah’s true successor. Empowered by the Spirit, he is able to repeat Elijah’s parting of the waters (v. 2 Kings 2:8). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:16 PLEASE LET THEM GO AND SEEK YOUR MASTER. The sons of the prophets do not fully understand what has happened. They wonder whether the SPIRIT OF THE LORD has simply CAUGHT Elijah UP AND CAST HIM UPON SOME MOUNTAIN OR INTO SOME VALLEY. They want to retrieve his body for bur... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:19 THE WATER IS BAD, AND THE LAND IS UNFRUITFUL. Jericho was ideal for settlement because of a permanent spring which watered the land around it. Now, however, the water supply had become contaminated. (The city had been rebuilt under the shadow of Joshua’s curse; see Joshu... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:23 The city of BETHEL played a key role in Israel’s rebellion against God (see 1 Kings 12:25). It is no surprise, therefore, to find young people from this city disrespecting a prophet of the Lord ( JEERED AT HIM). BALDHEAD. Elisha might have been naturally bald, or perhaps... [ Continue Reading ]