2nd Kings Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

• (a) Which was the place where the children of Israel were circumcised after they came over Jordan and had been forty years in the wilderness, (Joshua 5:9).

2:2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel." Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

2:3 The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?" He said, "Yes, I know it; hold your peace."

• (b) So called, because they are begotten anew as it were by the heavenly doctrine.
• (c) That is, from being your head any more: for to be as the head, is to be the master, as to be at the feet, is to be a scholar.
• (d) For the Lord had revealed it to him.

2:4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.

2:5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?" He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."

• (e) Not only at Bethel, but at Jericho and other places were there prophets, who had scholars, whom they instructed and brought up in the true fear of God.

2:6 Elijah said to him, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." They both went on.

2:7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.

2:8 Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground.

• (f) That is, of Jordan.

2:9 It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me."

• (g) Let your spirit have double force in me, because of these dangerous times: or let me have twice as much as the rest of the prophets: or if your spirit were to be divided into three parts, let me have two.

2:10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

2:11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

• (h) Thus God has left a testimony in all ages (both before the law, in the law and in the gospel).

2:12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

2:14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over.

2:15 When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

• (i) The Spirit of prophecy was given to him as it was to Elijah.

2:16 They said to him, "See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Let them go, please, and seek your master. Perhaps the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley. He said, "You shall not send them."

• (l) Because the fact was extraordinary, they doubted where he had gone, but Elisha was assured that he was taken up to God.

2:17 When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn't find him.

2:18 They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't go?'"

2:19 The men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land miscarries."

2:20 He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." They brought it to him.

2:21 He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.'"

• (m) Thus God gave him power, even contrary to nature, to make the water profitable for man’s use, which before was hurtful.

2:22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

2:23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldhead!"

2:24 He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths.

• (n) Perceiving their malicious heart against the Lord and his word, he asks God to avenge the injury done to him.

2:25 He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.