CHAPTER II _Elijah, about to be taken up to heaven, goes in company with_ _Elisha from Gilgal to Beth-el_, 1, 2. _Thence to Jericho_, 3-5. _And thence to Jordan_, 6, 7. _Elijah smites the waters with his mantle; they divide, and he_ _and Elisha pass over on dry ground_, 8. _Elijah desires Eli... [ Continue Reading ]
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 the fidelity of Elisha, whether he would continue to follow and serve him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:3. _KNOWEST THOU THAT THE LORD_] Thus we see that it was a matter well known to all the sons of the prophets. This day the Lord will take thy master and instructer from thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:7. _FIFTY MEN OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS_] They fully expected this extraordinary event, and they could have known it only from Elijah himself, or by a direct revelation from God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:8. _TOOK HIS MANTLE_] την μηλωτην αυτου, _his sheep-skin_, says the _Septuagint_. The skins of beasts, dressed with the hair on, were formerly worn by _prophets_ and _priests_ as the simple insignia of their office. As the _civil authority_ was often lodged in the hands of such perso... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:9. _A DOUBLE PORTION OF THY SPIRIT BE UPON ME._] This in reference to the law, Deuteronomy 21:17: _He shall acknowledge the first-born, by giving him a DOUBLE_ _PORTION of all that he hath - the right of the first-born is his_. Elisha considered himself the only child or first-born o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:10. _A HARD THING_] This is what is not in _my_ power, God alone can give this; yet _if thou see me taken away from thee, it_ _shall be so_. Perhaps this means no more than, "If thou continue with me till I am translated, God will grant this to thee;" for on the mere _seeing_ or _not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:11. _A CHARIOT OF FIRE, AND HORSES OF FIRE_] That is a chariot and horses of the most _resplendent glory_, which, manifesting itself in _coruscations_ or _shooting rays_, seemed to be like blazing _fire_, or like the sun in his strength. Some think that this circumstance, know in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:12. _THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL AND THE HORSEMEN THEREOF._] The Chaldee translates these words thus: 'My master, my master! who, by thy intercession, wast of more use to Israel than horses and chariots." This is probably the _sense_. In the Book of _Ecclesiasticus 48:1_, c., the fiery ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:13. _HE TOOK - THE MANTLE_] The same with which he had been called by Elijah to the prophetic office, and the same by which Elijah divided Jordan. His having the _mantle_ was a proof that he was _invested_ with the authority and influence of his master.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:14. _WHERE_ IS _THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?_] The Vulgate gives a strange turn to this verse: _Et percussit aquas_, et non sunt divisae; _et dixu, Ubi est Deus Eliae etiam nunc? Percussitque_ _aquas, et divisae sunt huc et illuc_. "And he smote the waters, _but_ _they did not divide_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:15. _THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH DOTH REST ON ELISHA._] This was a natural conclusion, from seeing him with the _mantle_, and working the same miracle. This disposed them to yield the same obedience to him they had done to his master: and in token of this, _they_ _went out to meet him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:16. _FIFTY STRONG MEN_] Probably the _same fifty_ who are mentioned 2 Kings 2:7, and who saw Elijah taken up in the whirlwind. _CAST HIM UPON SOME MOUNTAIN_] Though they saw him _taken up_ _towards heaven_, yet they thought it possible that the Spirit of the Lord might have _descend... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:17. _TILL HE WAS ASHAMED_] He saw they would not be satisfied unless they made the proposed search; he felt therefore that he could not, with any good grace, resist their importunity any longer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:19. _THE WATER_ IS _NAUGHT, AND THE GROUND BARREN._] The barrenness of the ground was the effect of the badness of the water.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:21. _AND CAST THE SALT IN THERE_] He cast in the salt at the place where the waters sprang out of the earth. _Jarchi_ well observes here, "Salt is a thing which corrupts water; therefore, it is evident that this was a true miracle." What Elisha did on this occasion, getting the new... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 2:23. _THERE CAME FORTH LITTLE CHILDREN OUT OF THE CITY_] These were probably the school of some celebrated teacher; but under his instruction they had learned neither piety nor good manners. _GO UP, THOU BALD HEAD; GO UP, THOU BALD HEAD._] עלה קרח עלה קרח _aleh kereach, aleh kereach... [ Continue Reading ]