2 Reyes 2

1 Elías llevado al cielo
Cuando el Señor
estaba por llevarse a Elías al cielo en un torbellino, Elías y Eliseo estaban en camino desde Gilgal.

2 Y Elías le dijo a Eliseo:
—Quédate aquí, porque el Señor
me dijo que fuera a Betel.
Eliseo respondió:
—Tan cierto como que el Señor
vive y que tú vives, ¡nunca te dejaré!
Así que descendieron juntos a Betel.

3 El grupo de profetas de Betel se acercó a Eliseo para preguntarle:
—¿Sabías que hoy el Señor
se llevará a tu amo?
—Claro que lo sé —contestó Eliseo—, ¡pero no digan nada!

4 Entonces Elías le dijo a Eliseo:
—Quédate aquí, porque el Señor
me dijo que fuera a Jericó.
Pero Eliseo le respondió de nuevo:
—Tan cierto como que el Señor
vive y que tú vives, ¡nunca te dejaré!
Así que continuaron juntos a Jericó.

5 Después el grupo de profetas de Jericó se acercó a Eliseo para preguntarle:
—¿Sabías que hoy el Señor
se llevará a tu amo?
—Claro que lo sé —contestó Eliseo—, ¡pero no digan nada!

6 Entonces Elías le dijo a Eliseo:
—Quédate aquí, porque el Señor
me dijo que fuera al río Jordán.
Pero una vez más, Eliseo respondió:
—Tan cierto como que el Señor
vive y que tú vives, ¡nunca te dejaré!
Así que siguieron juntos.

7 Cincuenta hombres del grupo de profetas también fueron y observaron de lejos cuando Elías y Eliseo se detuvieron junto al río Jordán.

8 Luego Elías dobló su manto y con él golpeó el agua. ¡El río se dividió en dos y ambos cruzaron sobre tierra seca!

9 Cuando llegaron al otro lado, Elías le dijo a Eliseo:
—Dime qué puedo hacer por ti antes de ser llevado.
Y Eliseo respondió:
—Te pido que me permitas heredar una doble porción de tu espíritu y que llegue a ser tu sucesor.

10 —Has pedido algo difícil —respondió Elías—. Si me ves en el momento en que sea llevado de tu lado, recibirás lo que pediste; pero si no me ves, no lo recibirás.

11 Mientras iban caminando y conversando, de pronto apareció un carro de fuego, tirado por caballos de fuego. Pasó entre los dos hombres y los separó, y Elías fue llevado al cielo por un torbellino.

12 Eliseo lo vio y exclamó: «¡Padre mío! ¡Padre mío! ¡Veo los carros de Israel con sus conductores!». Mientras desaparecían de su vista, rasgó su ropa en señal de angustia.

13 Entonces Eliseo tomó el manto de Elías, el cual se había caído cuando fue llevado, y regresó a la orilla del río Jordán.

14 Golpeó el agua con el manto de Elías y exclamó: «¿Dónde está el Señor
, Dios de Elías?». Entonces el río se dividió en dos y Eliseo lo cruzó.

15 Cuando el grupo de profetas de Jericó vio desde lejos lo que había sucedido, exclamaron: «¡El espíritu de Elías reposa sobre Eliseo!». Enseguida salieron a su encuentro y se inclinaron hasta el suelo delante de él.

16 —Señor —le dijeron—, usted tan solo dé la orden y cincuenta de nuestros hombres más fuertes buscarán a su amo por todo el desierto. Tal vez el Espíritu del Señor
lo haya dejado en alguna montaña o en algún valle.
—No —respondió Eliseo—, no los manden.

17 Pero ellos insistieron tanto que él, avergonzado, finalmente aceptó:
—Está bien —les dijo—, mándenlos.
Así que cincuenta hombres buscaron a Elías durante tres días, pero no lo encontraron.

18 Eliseo aún estaba en Jericó cuando los hombres regresaron. «¿Acaso no les dije que no fueran?», preguntó.

19 Primeros milagros de Eliseo
Cierto día, los líderes de la ciudad de Jericó fueron a visitar a Eliseo.
—Tenemos un problema, señor —le dijeron—. Como puedes ver, esta ciudad está situada en un entorno agradable, pero el agua es mala y la tierra no produce.

20 Eliseo dijo:
—Tráiganme un recipiente nuevo y pónganle sal.
Así que se lo llevaron

21 y Eliseo fue hasta el manantial que suministraba el agua a la ciudad, le echó la sal y dijo: «Esto dice el Señor
: “Yo he purificado el agua, ya no causará muerte ni esterilidad”».

22 Desde entonces el agua quedó pura, tal como dijo Eliseo.

23 Después Eliseo salió de Jericó y subió a Betel. Mientras iba por el camino, unos muchachos de la ciudad comenzaron a burlarse y a reírse de él. «¡Vete de aquí, viejo calvo! —gritaban— ¡Vete de aquí, viejo calvo!».

24 Eliseo se dio la vuelta, los miró y los maldijo en el nombre del Señor
. Entonces dos osos salieron del bosque y atacaron a cuarenta y dos de ellos.

25 De allí, Eliseo fue al monte Carmelo y finalmente regresó a Samaria.

2 Reyes 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

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)

Verses 1-8 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!

Verses 9-12 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.

Verses 13-18 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.

Verses 19-25 Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of the gospel; wickedness and evil have been changed into fruitfulness in the works of righteousness, which are, through Christ, to the praise and glory of God. Here is a curse on the youths of Bethel, enough to destroy them; it was not a curse causeless, for it was Elisha's character, as God's prophet, that they abused. They bade him "go up," reflecting on the taking up of Elijah into heaven. The prophet acted by Divine impulse. If the Holy Spirit had not directed Elisha's solemn curse, the providence of God would not have followed it with judgment. The Lord must be glorified as a righteous God who hates sin, and will reckon for it. Let young persons be afraid of speaking wicked words, for God notices what they say. Let them not mock at any for defects in mind or body; especially it is at their peril, if they scoff at any for well doing. Let parents that would have comfort in their children, train them up well, and do their utmost betimes to drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts. And what will be the anguish of those parents, at the day of judgment, who witness the everlasting condemnation of their offspring, occasioned by their own bad example, carelessness, or wicked teaching!

Chapter Summary

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.