2 Kings 2:18

18 And they turned again to Elisha; and he dwelled in Jericho. And he said to them, Whether I said not to you, Do not ye send (them out)? (And they returned to Elisha, who had stayed in Jericho. And he said to them, Did I not say to you, Do not ye go?/Do not ye send them out?)

2 Kings 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 2:18

And when they came again to him, for he tarried at Jericho,
&c.] Waiting their return to hear the report they made: which when they had,

he said unto them, did I not say unto you, go not?
assuring them it would be fruitless, and to no purpose; though this search of theirs served both to confirm the assumption of Elijah, and the truth of Elisha being a prophet of the Lord.

2 Kings 2:18 In-Context

16 And they said to him, Lo! with thy servants be fifty strong men, that may go, and seek thy lord, lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him, and hath cast forth him in one of the hills, either in one of the valleys. And Elisha said, Do not ye send. (And they said to him, Lo! among thy servants be fifty strong men, who can go, and search for thy lord, for perhaps the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and thrown him forth onto one of the hills, or into one of the valleys. And Elisha said, Do not ye go.)

17 And they constrained him, till he assented to them, and said, Send ye (them out). And they sent (out the) fifty men; and when they had sought him by three days, they found him not (and after they had looked for him for three days, they still could not find him).

18 And they turned again to Elisha; and he dwelled in Jericho. And he said to them, Whether I said not to you, Do not ye send (them out)? (And they returned to Elisha, who had stayed in Jericho. And he said to them, Did I not say to you, Do not ye go?/Do not ye send them out?)

19 Therefore the men of the city said to Elisha, Lo! the dwelling of this city is full good, as thou thyself, lord, seest; but the waters be most evil, and the land is barren.

20 And he said, Bring ye to me a new vessel, and put ye salt into it. And when they had brought it to him,