2 Kings 2:2-6 NIV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 2:6

(6) 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 presentiment of the loss which threatens them. The Spirit has warned them all; they communicate their fears, but Elisha forbids them to give free course to their sorrow. A respectful silence, a resignation not... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 2:1-25

Elijah's Farewell to Elisha 2 Kings 2:9 I. We see here the last act of a great life. It is not perhaps what we should have expected from a man like Elijah the Tishbite. But, in truth, the greatest and the strongest men are not unfrequently the simplest and the tenderest; and Elijah, whose life had been passed in vehement speech and in heroic action Elijah is thinking, just like any humble peasant, of what he can best do for his, as yet, undistinguished follower. 'Ask what I shall do for thee... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 2:1-25

ELISHA2 Kings 2:1-25"He did wonders in his life, and at death even his works were marvelous. For all this the people repented not."- Sirach 48:14-15AT this point we enter into the cycle of supernatural stories, which gathered round the name of Elisha in the prophetic communities. Some of them are full of charm and tenderness; but in some cases it is difficult to point out their intrinsic superiority over the ecclesiastical miracles with which monkish historians have embellished the lives of the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Kings 2:1-11

2. Elijah’s Translation CHAPTER 2:1-11 1. From Gilgal to Jordan (2 Kings 2:1-6 ) 2. The divided Jordan (2 Kings 2:7-8 ) 3. Elisha’s request (2 Kings 2:9-10 ) 4. Elijah goes up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11 ) The time for Elijah’s departure had now come, and the LORD, whom he had served so faithfully, “would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind.” As Lord He graciously orders the time and the manner of the departure of His servants (John 21:18-22 ). His coming translation... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Kings 2:3

2:3 And the {b} sons of the prophets that [were] at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from {c} thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I {d} know [it]; hold ye 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. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Kings 2:5

2:5 And the sons of the prophets that [were] at {e} Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye 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. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 2:1-25

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 21:17-19) and to Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:3-17). But when God is about to take Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, both Elijah and Elisha are seen together (v.1). They are seen first at Gilgal, the place where the men of Israel were circumcised, speaking of the judgment of sin in the flesh. Elijah asked Elisha to... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 2:1-25

ELIJAH ’S TRANSLATION HIS LAST COMMISSION (2 Kings 1:0 ) The story of Ahaziah’s reign in the last chapter of 1 Kings and the first verse of this lesson is a close link between the two books. It indicates that the death of Ahab and the accession of his son gave occasion to the Moabites for this uprising, the first since their conquest by David (1 Samuel 8:2 ). “Baalzebub” (2 Kings 1:2 ), “the lord of the fly,” was the name under which the sun-god Baal was worshipped at Ekron, the city of the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Kings 2:1-11

2Ki 2:1-11 1. And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up [when Jehovah caused Elijah to go up, or ascend] Elijah into heaven [as into heaven] by a whirlwind [in the storm] that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal [Gilgal in Ephraim]. 2. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth [literally, "By the life of Jehovah and by the life of thy soul"], I will not leave thee. So... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Kings 2:2-6

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 was made is not said. But of what were the feelings of the school of the prophets, and of Elisha, on this departure of Elijah, we can only form conjectures. No doubt Elijah filled every hour, as the time drew on, in giving suitable instruction and consolation to those around him. There seems to... read more