Melachim Bais 2:2

2 And Eliyahu said unto Elishah, Tarry here, now; for Hashem hath sent me to Beit-El. And Elishah said unto him, As Hashem liveth, and as thy nefesh liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beit-El.

Melachim Bais 2:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 2:2

And Elijah said unto Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee
Seemingly unwilling he should go with him, and be present at his assumption; which was either out of modesty, not affecting the spread of the honour and glory to be conferred upon him; or to prevent the grief of Elisha at his departure, or to try whether Elisha knew any thing of it, and what affection he had for him:

for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel;
to give some comfort and some instruction and advice to the college of prophets there:

and Elisha said unto him, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I
will not leave thee;
being determined to see the last of him, and to have the benefit of his company and conversation, his heavenly discourse, and instruction from him as long as he could, and in hope of receiving a blessing from him at parting:

so they went down to Bethel;
together, which, according to Bunting {h}, was six miles.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Travels p. 205.

Melachim Bais 2:2 In-Context

1 And it came to pass, when Hashem would take up Eliyahu into Shomayim in a se’arah (storm wind, whirlwind), that Eliyahu went with Elishah from Gilgal.

2 And Eliyahu said unto Elishah, Tarry here, now; for Hashem hath sent me to Beit-El. And Elishah said unto him, As Hashem liveth, and as thy nefesh liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beit-El.

3 And the Bnei HaNevi’im that were at Beit-El came forth to Elishah, and said unto him, Doest thou have da’as that Hashem will take away thy adon from over thy rosh hayom? And he said, Yes, I have da’as; be silent.

4 And Eliyahu said unto him, Elishah, tarry here, now; for Hashem hath sent me to Yericho. And he said, As Hashem liveth, and as thy nefesh liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Yericho.

5 And the Bnei HaNevi’im that were at Yericho came to Elishah, and said unto him, Doest thou have da’as that hayom (today) Hashem will take away thy adon from over thy rosh? And he answered, Yes, I have da’as; be silent.