Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

2 Kings 2:2

Tarry here - Elijah’s motive in making this request is not clear. Perhaps he thought that so awful and sacred a scene as that which he was led to expect 2 Kings 2:9, should be kept as secret as possible.

The Lord hath sent me to Bethel - Elijah may have been directed to Bethel, because of the “School of the prophets” there, that the sight of him - if not his words - might console and encourage them before they lost him forever.

As the Lord liveth ... - This double oath, repeated three times 2 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 2:6, is very remarkable. The two clauses of it are separately used with some frequency (see Judges 8:19; Ruth 3:13; 1 Samuel 1:26, etc.), but it is comparatively seldom that they are united (see the marginal references).

Continues after advertising

See also 2 Kings 2:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Kings 2:2. _TARRY HERE, I PRAY THEE_] He either made these requests through _humility_, not wishing any person to be witness of the honour conferred on him by God, or with the desire to prove...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. ELIJAH'S TRANSLATION CHAPTER 2:1-11 _ 1. From Gilgal to Jordan (2 Kings 2:1)_ 2. The divided Jordan (2 Kings 2:7) 3. Elisha's request (2 Kings 2:9) 4. Elijah goes up to heaven in a whirlwind ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 KINGS 1:1 TO 2 KINGS 2:25. LAST DAYS AND ASCENSION OF ELIJAH: ELISHA ESTABLISHED AS HIS SUCCESSOR. Here we have perhaps a third Elijah narrative, in which the prophet is represented as playing a par...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THY SOUL. thyself. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13. down. Therefore Gilgal in 2 Kings 2:1 cannot be the well-known Gilgal near Jericho, but another between Tibneh and Shiloh. See 2 Kings 4:38. Gilgal. circl...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Tarry here_ Not only was Elijah himself conscious of some great event at hand but Elisha and the bands of prophets in Bethel and Jericho had an intimation that the departure of Elijah was very near....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    I. ELIJAH'S TRANSLATION AND ELISHA'S COMMISSION 2:1-15 With the dramatic translation of Elijah, the prophetic mantle fell on Elisha. Though the spectacular departure of Elijah is surely one of the mos...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO ELISHA, TARRY HERE, I PRAY THEE; FOR THE LORD HATH SENT ME TO BETHEL. AND ELISHA SAID UNTO HIM, AS THE LORD LIVETH, AND AS THY SOUL LIVETH, I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE. SO THEY WENT DO...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ELIJAH'S TRANSLATION TO HEAVEN The great service rendered to Israel by the prophet whose life is here closed was the stand which he made for the religion of Jehovah when its supremacy was threatened b...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TARRY HERE] Elijah may have wished to spare Elisha the awe-inspiring vision of his departure. THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS] see on 1 Kings 20:35....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE LAST KINGS OF *ISRAEL AND *JUDAH BOOK OF 2 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 2 GOD TAKES ELIJAH TO HEAVEN * God had promised Elijah that Elisha would continue his work (1 Kings 19:16). In this c...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SAID. — Not _spake_, as throughout the account in 2 Kings 1:2; a mark of different origin. TARRY HERE, I PRAY THEE. — This was said, not to test Elisha’s affection, nor from a motive of humility, that...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ אֶל ־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע שֵֽׁב...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    ELISHA 2 Kings 2:1 "He did wonders in his life, and at death even his works were marvelous. For all this the people repented not." - Sir 48:14-15 AT this point we enter into the cycle of supernatur...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FITTED TO SUCCEED HIS MASTER 2 Kings 2:1 We are at a loss whether to admire most the humility of Elijah or the pertinacity of Elisha. The humility of the former is very beautiful. An ordinary man wou...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    There is something pathetic and even weird in these final movement's of Elijah, as we see him accompanied by Elisha, and watched by the prophets. It would seem as though he tried to escape into loneli...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    It should seem that Elisha, as well as Elijah, had the knowledge of the great event about to be wrought. And indeed it was generally known, among the sons of the prophets. By what means the revelation...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It has been already remarked that the mission, or, at any rate, the proper ministry of Elijah closed with his own complaint against the children of Israel. God took him at his word. He pleaded against...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    And now we reach the end of the troubles and afflictions of this precious and faithful servant of God. And, if we do not find in his case the calmness of the ascension of Jesus, who, while blessing Hi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND ELIJAH SAID UNTO ELISHA, TARRY HERE, I PRAY THEE,.... Seemingly unwilling he should go with him, and be present at his assumption; which was either out of modesty, not affecting the spread of the...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said [unto him, As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Tarry here_ This he desires, either, 1st, That being left alone, he might better prepare himself for his great change. Or, 2d, Out of indulgence to Elisha, that he might not be overwhelmed with grief...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Elijah, taking his leaue of Elisha, with his mantle diuideth Iordan, 9 and granting Elisha his request, is taken vp by a fierie charet into heauen. 12 Elisha, diuiding Iordan with Elijahs mantle,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. His humility prompted him to make this request, for he did not know whether his translation to heaven was to...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    ELIJAH TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Though in 1 Kings 19:21 we read of Elisha following Elijah and becoming his servant, yet Elisha is not mentioned as identified with Elijah when Elijah later gave messages to Ahab (1 Kings 21:17) and t...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-8 The Lord had let Elijah know that his time was at hand. He therefore went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing. The removal of Elijah was a typ...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ELIJAH SAID UNTO ELISHA: this he desires, either, 1. That he, being left alone, might better prepare himself for his great change. Or, 2. Out of his humility and modesty; he desired no witnesses of...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Kings 2:2 Elijah H452 said H559 (H8799) Elisha H477 Stay H3427 (H8798) LORD H3068 sent H7971 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    SECTION 7. ELISHA ENTERS CANAAN TO TAKE POSSESSION OF IT FOR YHWH AND MOAB'S REBELLION AGAINST ISRAEL IS PUT DOWN WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES (2 KINGS 2:1 TO 2 KINGS 3:27). In our view the entry of Elish...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A. ELIJAH IS TAKEN AWAY BY YHWH INTO HEAVEN AND HIS SPIRIT COMES ON ELISHA WHO RE-ENTERS CANAAN (2 KINGS 2:1). In this remarkable account we have the first definite indication in Scripture that a man...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    The Elisha Miracles (2Ki 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 4:1 to 2 Kings 6:23), His Prophetic Involvement In The Victory Over Moab (2 Kings 3:1), And Further Subsequent

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Kings 2:1 The account of Elijah's translation suggests: I. That the life of man is absolutely at the disposal of the Lord. (1) God knows when our work is done. (2) We are taken from a lower to a h...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Kings 2:1 (1) The Christian's work is finished before his removal, just as Elijah's was. The Elijahs are removed that the Elishas may take their place. (2) The Christian at death, like Elijah in hi...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Translation of Elijah. Faith of Elisha. Theological students and their unbelief. Elisha's miracle. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Elisha, Elijah. CONCLUSION: Those who know they are soon go...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Kings 2:1. _When the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven._ The LXX read, ως εις τον ουρανον, _as into heaven._ They mean to say, that he did not ascend higher than paradise, as in John 3:13. 2 Kin...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee._ TESTED The call that came to Elisha as he was ploughing at Abel-meholah was readily and gladly obeyed. There was no ten days’ tarrying between...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And it came to pass when the Lord would take up Elijah._ ELIJAH TRANSLATED I. In the glorious end of Elijah’s earthly life we see not simply the reward of one faithful man, but the Divine grace mani...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    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 ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    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

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH TO HEAVEN CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 2 Kings 2:1. ELIJAH WENT WITH ELISHA FROM GILGAL—Not the Gilgal in Judah, but the Gilgal (now Jilgil) in Ephraim, near Ebal and Ge...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 2:1 THE REMOVAL OF ELIJAH FROM EARTH, AND SOME EARLY MIRACLES OF ELISHA. The great prophet of Israel was to have a departure from earth as marv

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so it came to pass, when the LORD would take Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal (2 Kings 2:1). So the time is come when Elijah is going to depart the earth...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 2:19; 1 Kings 12:29; 1 Kings 12:33; 1 Kings 13:1; 1 Kings 13:2

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    ELISHA, THE PROPHET OF MIRACLES 2 Kings 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Elijah had lived a good life, and had rendered a faithful ministry. The time had come, however, for him to go to be with his Lord. As...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Tarry here — This he desires, either, That being left alone, he might better prepare himself for his great change. Or, Out of indulgence to Elisha, that he might not be overwhelmed with grief at so sa...

Continues after advertising