2 Kings 2 - Introduction
II. THE CLOSE OF THE HISTORY OF ELIJAH. HE IS SUCCEEDED BY ELISHA. (1-18) Elijah is miraculously taken away from the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE CLOSE OF THE HISTORY OF ELIJAH. HE IS SUCCEEDED BY ELISHA. (1-18) Elijah is miraculously taken away from the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS... WHIRLWIND. — The compiler has prefixed this heading to the following narrative by way of connection with the general thread of the history. It _seems_ to be indicated that the event happened in the beginning of the reign of Jehoram; but see Note on 2 Chronicles 21:12. WHEN TH... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Elisha might not witness his glorious ascension, but because Elijah was uncertain whether it was G... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS. — See Notes on 1 Kings 20:35; 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 19:20. There was a guild of prophets at Beth-el. CAME FORTH TO ELISHA. — Who probably walked a little way before his master, to announce his approach. AND SAID UNTO HIM. — The prophetic college had been divinely forew... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIJAH SAID. — The exact repetition of the language of 2 Kings 2:2 in this and the next two verses, appears to indicate that the narrative had originally been handed on by oral tradition, probably in the prophetic guilds at the local sanctuaries.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME. — _Drew near_. ANSWERED — _Said. _... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID UNTO HIM. — Syriac adds, “unto Elisha;” Arabic, as 2 Kings 2:4, and so three MSS. AND HE SAID. — LXX., “and Elisha said” — an improvement. “Not only Elisha, the intimate companion and future successor of Elijah, but all the disciples of the different ‘schools of the prophets,’ have the presen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIFTY... WENT. — _Now fifty_... _had gone._ STOOD TO VIEW. — _Taken their stand opposite, i.e._, directly opposite the place where the two were standing by the brink of the river, yet at some distance behind. They wished to see whether and how the companions would cross the stream at a point wh... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS MANTLE. — The hairy ’_addèreth,_ which characterised him as prophet. Zechariah 13:4, ’_addèreth sç‘âr_, “mantle of hair;” Syriac and Arabic, “head-dress” (wrongly). WRAPPED IT TOGETHER. — _Rolled it up._ Here only. (Comp. “my substance,” or “mass,” Psalms 139:16; “blue mantles,” Ezekiel 27:24,... [ Continue Reading ]
I PRAY THEE, LET... — Literally, And (i.e., well, then) _let there fall, I pray thee, a portion of two in thy spirit, unto me._ A DOUBLE PORTION. — The expression used in Deuteronomy 21:7 of the share of the firstborn son, who by the Mosaic law inherited two parts of his father’s property. Elisha a... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ASKED A HARD THING. — Because to grant such a petition was not in Elijah’s own power, but in God’s only. And therefore in the next words the prophet connects the fulfilment of his follower’s wish with a condition depending entirely upon the Divine will: “If thou see me when I am taken from... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS... TALKED. — Literally, _And it came to pass, they_ (emphatic) _were walking a walking and talking, i.e._, were going on farther and farther, talking as they went. Whither they went is not told; probably some height of the mountains of Gilead, Elijah’s native country, was the sce... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELISHA... CRIED. — Literally, _And Elisha was seeing, and he_ (emphatic) _was shouting._ (Comp. 2 Kings 2:10, “If thou see me taken away.”) MY FATHER, MY FATHER. — Expresses what Elijah was to Elisha. (See Note on 2 Kings 2:9.) THE CHARIOT (c_hariots — rèkeb_) OF ISRAEL, AND THE HORSEMEN THEREO... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH. — See 2 Kings 2:8, and comp. 1 Kings 19:19. The badge of the prophet’s office was naturally transferred to his successor. THE BANK. — Literally, _lip._ So χείλς is used in Greek (Herod. ii. 70).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH? — Has He left the earth with His prophet? If not, let Him now show His power, and verify the granting of my request (2 Kings 2:9). The words are a sort of irony of faith. Elisha “seeks” Jehovah as the only source of power. (Comp. Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 2:8, where the... [ Continue Reading ]
TO VIEW. — _Opposite, over against._ LXX., ἐξ ἐναντίας; Vulg., “e contra” (Deuteronomy 32:52). It is not clear whether these sons of the prophets are the fifty who “went and stood opposite afar off” (2 Kings 2:7), or not. On the whole, it seems likely that _all_ the guild residing at Jericho is mean... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID UNTO HIM. — After he had told them of the Assumption of Elijah (_Thenius_). FIFTY STRONG MEN. — See margin. Perhaps these were attendants on the members of the prophetic guild. (Comp. Elisha’s servant Gehazi, and the fifty sons of the prophets, in 2 Kings 2:7.) Their being “sons of va... [ Continue Reading ]
URGED HIM. — Genesis 33:11. TILL HE WAS ASHAMED. — Literally, _unto being ashamed._ The pronoun is not expressed in the Hebrew. “They pressed upon him, _‘ad bôsh,_” means “until he was embarrassed, disconcerted, put out of countenance.” (Comp. 2 Kings 8:11; Judges 3:25.) Thenius prefers “they carri... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE TARRIED. — _Now he_ (emphatic) _was abiding in Jericho_ (while they were searching). DID I NOT SAY. — Or, command. Elisha could now fairly remind them of his authority. So the phrase “Go not” is, in the Hebrew, imperative. (Comp. “Ye shall not send,” 2 Kings 2:16.) With these words, the hist... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN OF THE CITY. — Not “the sons of the prophets,” but the citizens make this trial of the prophet’s miraculous powers. THE SITUATION OF THIS (Heb.,_ the_) CITY IS PLEASANT (Heb.,_ good_). — Jericho, “the city of palms” (Deuteronomy 34:3), had a fine position, “rising like an oasis from a broad... [ Continue Reading ]
(19-25) Elisha, as prophet, heals the waters of Jericho, and curses the scorners of Beth-el.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW CRUSE. — _Vessel_; either _dish, bowl,_ or_ cup_ (_çĕlôhîth_); only here. (Comp. _çĕlâhôth_, 2 Chronicles 35:16 : and the Targum, (_çĕlûhîthâ_.) A _new_ one, because the holy purpose demanded an instrument uncontaminated by use. (Comp. Numbers 19:2; 2 Samuel 6:3.) SALT. — As an antiseptic, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPRING OF THE WATERS. — Now called _Aines Sultân_ (“the Sultan’s Fountain”), a fine spring of sweet water, which irrigates the neighbouring plain. THUS SAITH THE LORD. — Not the prophet’s own power, nor the natural virtues of the salt, but the D_ivine creative will_ was effectual to the healing... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT UP. — From Jericho, in the plain, Elisha goes now to visit the prophetic community established at Beth-el, the chief seat of the illicit _cultus_. BY THE WAY. — The way _par excellence_; the highroad leading directly up to the gates of the town. LITTLE CHILDREN. — _Young boys_ (or, _lads_). _... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TURNED BACK. — The boys were following him with their jeers. Thenius says, “The wanton young people, who had not courage to attack except in the rear, had stolen round him.” CURSED THEM. — “To avenge the honour of Jehovah, violated in his person” (_Keil_). (Comp. Exodus 16:8; Acts 5:4.) AND THER... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MOUNT CARMEL. — To cultivate the memory of his master in solitude. Elijah had often lived there (comp. 1 Kings 18), as its caves were well fitted for solitude and concealment. Elisha may have retired thither to prepare himself for his public ministry by prayer and fasting. (Comp. Matthew 4:1, _se... [ Continue Reading ]