2 Kings2

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¹ Now when the Lord was about to to by a , and on their way .

² And to , , the Lord has me as . But , As the Lord , and as you , I will you. So they to .

³ And the of the were in to and to him, Do you the Lord will take your ? And he , , I it; .

⁴ to him, , , the Lord has me to . But he , As the Lord , and as you , I will you. So they to .

⁵ The of the were at drew to and to him, Do you the Lord will take your ? And he , , I it; .

⁶ Then to him, , the Lord has me to the . But he , As the Lord , and as you , I will you. So the of them .

⁷ of the of the also and at some them, as they were the .

⁸ Then his and rolled it and the , and the water was to the and to the , till the of them could go on .

⁹ When they had , to , I shall for you, I am you. And , let there be a of your on me.

¹⁰ And he , You have a ; yet, you me as I am being you, it shall be for you, but you do see me, it shall be so.

¹¹ And as they and , , of and of the of them. And by a into .

¹² And it and he , My , my ! The of and its ! And he him . Then he took of his own and them in .

¹³ And he the of had him and went and the of the .

¹⁴ Then he the of had him and the , , is the Lord, the of ? when he had the , the water was to the and to the , and .

¹⁵ Now when the of the were at him them, they , The of . And they to him and to the before him.

¹⁶ And they to him, , there with your . let them and your . It may be the of the Lord has and him into . And he , You shall .

¹⁷ But when they him he was , he , . They therefore . And for they him but did him.

¹⁸ And they came to him while he was at , and he to them, Did I to you, Do ?

¹⁹ Now the of the to , , the of this is , my , but the is , and the is .

²⁰ He , me a , and in it. So they it to him.

²¹ Then he to the of and in it and , the Lord, I have ; from nor shall come .

²² So the has been , according to the .

²³ He to , and while he was going on the , some of the and at him, , Go , you ! , you !

²⁴ And he , and when he them, he them in the of the Lord. And of the and of the .

²⁵ he on to , and he to .

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2 Kings 2

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 2. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Elijah divides Jordan. (1–8). Elijah is taken up into heaven. (9–12). Elisha is manifested to be Elijah's successor. (13–18). Elisha heals the waters of Jericho, Those that mocked Elisha destroyed. (19–25).

vv1-8

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 type and figure of the ascension of Christ, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Elisha had long followed Elijah, and he would not leave him now when he hoped for the parting blessing. Let not those who follow Christ come short by tiring at last. The waters of Jordan, of old, yielded to the ark; now, to the prophet's mantle, as a token of God's presence. When God will take up his faithful ones to heaven, death is the Jordan which they must pass through, and they find a way through it. The death of Christ has divided those waters, that the ransomed of the Lord may pass over. O death, where is thy sting, thy hurt, thy terror!

vv9-12

That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply, still exists as of old, and we are told to ask large supplies from it. Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his last hours, would be proper means for Elisha to obtain much of his spirit. The comforts of departing saints, and their experiences, help both to gild our comforts and to strengthen our resolutions. Elijah is carried to heaven in a fiery chariot. Many questions might be asked about this, which could not be answered. Let it suffice that we are told, what his Lord, when he came, found him doing. He was engaged in serious discourse, encouraging and directing Elisha about the kingdom of God among men. We mistake, if we think preparation for heaven is carried on only by contemplation and acts of devotion. The chariot and horses appeared like fire, something very glorious, not for burning, but brightness. By the manner in which Elijah and Enoch were taken from this world, God gave a glimpse of the eternal life brought to light by the gospel, of the glory reserved for the bodies of the saints, and of the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. It was also a figure of Christ's ascension. Though Elijah was gone triumphantly to heaven, yet this world could ill spare him. Surely their hearts are hard, who feel not, when God, by taking away faithful, useful men, calls for weeping and mourning. Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God. Christ bequeathed to his disciples his precious gospel, like Elijah's mantle; the token of the Divine power being exerted to overturn the empire of Satan, and to set up the kingdom of God in the world. The same gospel remains with us, though the miraculous powers are withdrawn, and it has Divine strength for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

vv13-18

Elijah left his mantle to Elisha; as a token of the descent of the Spirit upon him; it was more than if he had left him thousands of gold and silver. Elisha took it up, not as a sacred relic to be worshipped, but as a significant garment to be worn. Now that Elijah was taken to heaven, Elisha inquired, 1. After God; when our creature-comforts are removed, we have a God to go to, who lives for ever. 2. After the God that Elijah served, and honoured, and pleaded for. The Lord God of the holy prophets is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; but what will it avail us to have the mantles of those that are gone, their places, their books, if we have not their spirit, their God? See Elisha's dividing the river; God's people need not fear at last passing through the Jordan of death as on dry ground. The sons of the prophets made a needless search for Elijah. Wise men may yield to that, for the sake of peace, and the good opinion of others, which yet their judgment is against, as needless and fruitless. Traversing hills and valleys will never bring us to Elijah, but following the example of his holy faith and zeal will, in due time.

Key Words

takeH5927Hebrew

עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

ElijahH452Hebrew

אֵלִיָּה: Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites

heavenH8064Hebrew

שָׁמַיִם: the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)

whirlwindH5591Hebrew

סַעַר: a hurricane

ElishaH477Hebrew

אֱלִישָׁע: Elisha, the famous prophet

wereH3212Hebrew

יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)

fromH4480Hebrew

מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

GilgalH1537Hebrew

גִּלְגָּל: Gilgal, the name of three places in Palestine

saidH559Hebrew

אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)