Melachim Bais 2:17

17 And when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore chamishim ish; and they searched shloshah yamim, but found him not.

Melachim Bais 2:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 2:17

And when they urged him until he was ashamed
To deny them any longer, being so very pressing and importunate:

he said, send;
lest they should think he had not the respect for his master he should have had; or was so fond of his office, that he did not choose he should be found alive if he could, and return and reassume it:

they sent therefore fifty men;
some one way, and some another:

and they sought three days, but found him not;
and then returned.

Melachim Bais 2:17 In-Context

15 And when the Bnei HaNevi’im which were watching at Yericho saw him from a distance, they said, The ruach Eliyahu doth rest on Elishah. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16 And they said unto him, Hinei now, there be among thy avadim chamishim anashim bnei chayil (fifty able-bodied men); let them go, now, and look for thy adon; perhaps the Ruach Hashem hath taken him up, and set him down [See Ac 8:39-40 OJBC] upon one of the harim, or in one of the geya’ot (valleys). And he said, Ye shall not send.

17 And when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore chamishim ish; and they searched shloshah yamim, but found him not.

18 And when they returned to him (for he tarried at Yericho), he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

19 And the anshei HaIr said unto Elishah, Hinei, now, the situation of this city is tov, as adoni seeth; but the mayim is ra’im, and ha’aretz (the land) meshakkalet (barren, unfruitful).