2 Kings 2:14 - Exposition

And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him; and smote the waters —imitated, i.e; the action of Elijah ( 2 Kings 2:8 ), as Elijah had imitated the action of Moses at the passage of the Red Sea— and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? The present Hebrew text reads, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah, even he ?" the last two words being emphatic; but the emphasis scarcely appears to be needed. Hence the translators have very generally detached the two words from Elisha's question, and, attaching them to the succeeding clause, have rendered it, And when he also had smitten the waters ; but the position of the van conjunctive, after אַף־הוּא and before יַכֶּה , makes this division of the clauses impossible. It has therefore been proposed by some to read אֵפוֹא , "now," for אַף־הוּא , "even he" (Houbigant, Thenius, Schultz, Botteher, Dathe), and to translate, "Where now is the Lord God of Elijah?" Is he still here, with me, or has he withdrawn himself from earth with his prophet, and left me alone to my own unaided strength? This gives a good meaning, but is perhaps too bold a change. The LXX . had evidently our present Hebrew text before them, and, as they could make nothing of it, transcribed it into Greek characters, ποῦ ὁ θεὸς ηλιοὺ ἀφφώ ; they parted hither and thither: and Elisha wont over. God showed, i.e; that he was still with Elisha by enabling him to repeat Elijah's last miracle, and thus gave him an assurance that he would be with him thenceforth An his prophetic ministry.