2 Kings 2:22

22 Therefore the waters were healed till into this day, by the word of Elisha, which he spake.

2 Kings 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 2:22

So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the
saying of Elisha which he spake.
] In the name of the Lord; and not only they remained so unto the time of the writer of this history, but to the times of Josephus, as he testifies ^F19, and even to ours; for there is a spring now called Elisha's spring or fountain, of which Mr. Maundrell says ^F20,

``its waters are at present received in a basin about nine or ten paces long, and five or six broad; and from thence issuing out in good plenty, divide themselves into several small streams, dispersing their refreshment to all the field between this and Jericho, and rendering it exceeding fruitful.''

So some other travellers ^F21 say of it, that the water is very clear and cool, and issues in a copious steam. Pliny ^F23 gives it the name of "Calirroe", the beautiful stream, and speaks of it as hot, wholesome, and medicinal, and of great note.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 3.
F20 Journey from Aleppo p. 80.
F21 Egmont and Heyman's Travels, vol. 1. p. 331.
F23 Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 16.

2 Kings 2:22 In-Context

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,

21 he went out to the well of waters, and sent salt into it, and said, The Lord saith these things, I have healed these waters, and neither death, nor barrenness, shall be more in them. (he went to the well of water, or to the spring, and put the salt into it, and said, The Lord saith these things, I have healed this water, and no more shall there be death, or barrenness, in it.)

22 Therefore the waters were healed till into this day, by the word of Elisha, which he spake.

23 Forsooth Elisha went up from thence into Bethel; and when he went up by the way, little children went out of the city, and scorned him, and said, Go up, thou bald one! go up, thou bald one! (Go away, O bald one! go away, Baldy!)

24 And when he had beheld, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two bears went out of the forest, and rent (two and) forty children of them. (And when he had looked back, and beheld them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two bears went out of the forest, and tore forty-two of those children to death.)