2 Kings 2 Study Notes

2:1-25 The departure of the prophet Elijah is described in this chapter. There was a literary reason for bracketing the departure of Elijah within the references to the Moabite rebellion—it related Elijah’s departure to the successful Moabite rebellion. This account, with its overtones of God’s miraculous presence, would have reminded the reader that royal unfaithfulness, not any absence on God’s part, caused this loss of empire.

2:1 The route of travel from northerly Gilgal, through Bethel, and then to Jericho showed that this was not the well-known Gilgal near Jericho. The exact location of this Gilgal is unknown.

2:2 In this incident Elijah repeatedly urged Elisha to remain behind, perhaps to test his determination to be formally recognized as Elijah’s successor. Persistence was a key trait of faithful prophets.

2:3 The presence of godly sons of the prophets indicated that prophets of the Lord were still tolerated around Bethel, despite Bethel’s illegal worship. The conversations show that Elijah’s impending departure was common knowledge.

2:4-6 Again Elisha was urged to remain behind, again he insisted on following, and again the prophets—this time the prophets of Jericho—declared that Elijah’s departure was near. The repetition underscores the importance of these events.

2:7-8 God’s power was demonstrated again, in a very historic and traditional way, as Elijah miraculously made a path through the Jordan River, reminiscent of God opening the Red Sea when his people left Egypt (Ex 14:21-31) and opening the Jordan as Israel prepared to take the promised land (Jos 3:14-17). An audience of prophets was there to report this miracle to the people.

2:9-10 In an age of God’s miracles and power encounters, the identity of the next great miracle worker was important. The two shares was an indicator of the legitimate heir. Elisha’s renewed request for that position highlighted the importance of the role and that Elisha was the person to assume the role. Since this role had already been assigned to Elisha, this request was not arrogant. However, despite the fact that Elisha had already been designated as Elijah’s heir (1Kg 19:19-21), Elisha must still observe Elijah’s departure for this promise to be implemented.

2:11 Adding marvelous deed upon marvelous deed was additional evidence of God’s power for those who were willing to see (Is 6:9-10).

2:12 The words chariots and horsemen of Israel show that the value of the miracle-working men of God was more than just moral or didactic. They were channels for real power. These words would be repeated at Elisha’s death (13:14). In the case of Elisha, there were specifically military grounds for the phrase as in the examples of miraculous military assistance rendered by Elisha in the wars with Aram (6:8-7:20).

2:13-15 Elijah’s mantle showed that Elisha was the legitimate heir to Elijah. We should not attribute magic to the mantle any more than we attribute it to Moses’s staff (Ex 14:16); the mantle was a concrete symbol of God’s power to the watchers. The sons of the prophets recognized Elisha’s new role with proper deference.

2:16-18 The unsuccessful search for Elijah’s body confirmed that a miraculous work of God had occurred.

2:19-22 Elisha confirmed his role as a channel for God’s works by performing a miracle—one that demonstrated the practical benefits of God’s great acts.

2:23-24 In a context in which the destiny of the nation depended on its willingness to recognize God, and where the “man of God” (1:10) had replaced the apostate king as God’s representative, it is understandable that severe penalty came to those who mocked God’s chosen servant. God’s severity had a purpose. The word translated as boys is often used for mature men (Boaz’s “servant,” Ru 2:5), but the behavior of the group suggests they were young. In all likelihood the children were preteens or young teens. This passage is often overstated as if all the mockers were killed; mauled often connotes being wounded rather than killed.

2:25 Elisha lived at Samaria under the eyes of the unfaithful kings of Israel.