2 Kings 2:8

8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water. It divided {in two}, and the two of them crossed over on dry land.

2 Kings 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 2:8

And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together
Folded it up close together, in a position to smite with it; this is thought to be not his hairy garment, but a shorter robe, that was worn upon his shoulders; but the Greek version renders it by "melotes", and so in ( 2 Kings 2:14 ) , which, according to Isidore F12, was a goat's skin, hanging down from the neck, and girt at the loins; and being thus clothed, perhaps, may be the reason of his being called an hairy man, ( 2 Kings 1:8 ) ,

and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither;
just as Moses lifted up his rod, and the waters of the sea were divided for the Israelites:

so that they two went over on dry ground;
in like manner as the Israelites did through the sea.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Origin. l. 19. c. 24.

2 Kings 2:8 In-Context

6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, because Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." He said, "{As Yahweh lives} and {as your soul lives}, I will certainly not leave you!" So the two of them went on.
7 Then fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite [them] at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water. It divided {in two}, and the two of them crossed over on dry land.
9 After they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I may do for you before I am taken away from you." Then Elisha said, "Please let there come to me a double portion of your spirit."
10 He said, "What you ask is difficult. If you see me being taken from you, it will be so for you, but if not, it will not happen."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "here and here"
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