2 Kings 2:11-21

11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared ¹a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a ^[a]whirlwind to heaven.

12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "²My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then ³he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" And when he also had ⁴struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

15 Now when ⁵the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite * him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16 They said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps ⁶the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send."

17 But when ⁷they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him.

18 They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go '?"

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful."

20 He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.

21 He went out to the spring of water and ⁸threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.' "

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2 Kings 2:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 2

This chapter relates, how that Elisha accompanied Elijah to several places, and on the other side Jordan Elijah was taken up from him to heaven, which occasioned great lamentation in him, 2Ki 2:1-12, but having the mantle of Elijah, he divided the waters of Jordan, and passed over, 2Ki 2:13,14, and the sons of the prophets at Jericho, perceiving the spirit of Elijah on him, showed him great respect, and proposed sending men to seek his master, which they did in vain, 2Ki 2:15-18, when he healed the waters at Jericho, at the request of the men of it, 2Ki 2:19-22, and the chapter is concluded with the destruction of forty two children at Bethel by bears, who mocked him, 2Ki 2:23,24.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 8

1. 2 Kings 6:17
2. 2 Kings 13:14
3. Genesis 37:34; Job 1:20
4. 2 Kings 2:8
5. 2 Kings 2:7
6. 1 Kings 18:12; Acts 8:39
7. 2 Kings 8:11
8. Exodus 15:25, 26; 2 Kings 4:41; 2 Kings 6:6

Footnotes 8

[a]. Or "windstorm"
[b]. Lit "chariot"
[c]. Lit "him"
[d]. Lit "causes barrenness"
[e]. Lit "there"
[f]. Lit "there"
[g]. Lit "healed"
[h]. Lit "barrenness"