2 Re 6:2

2 Lasciaci andare fino al Giordano; ciascun di noi prenderà là una trave, e ci farem quivi un luogo dove ci possiam radunare". Eliseo rispose: "Andate".

2 Re 6:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 6:2

Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan
Which, according to Josephus F1, was fifty furlongs, or upwards of six miles, distant from Gilgal:

and take thence every man a beam;
by cutting down the trees that grew there; for Mr. Maundrell says F2, the banks of Jordan are beset with bushes and trees, which are an harbour for wild beasts; and another traveller F3 observes, that it is shadowed on both sides with poplars, alders and who speaks of their cutting down boughs from the trees when there:

and let us make us a place there where we may dwell:
near the banks of Jordan, which they might choose for the seclusion and pleasantness of the situation, or because Elijah was taken up to heaven near it, as Abarbinel thinks; from whence it appears that these scholars were far from living an idle life; for they were not only trained up in useful learning, but were employed in trades and manufactures, to which they had been brought up, and knew how to fell timber, and build houses:

and he answered, go ye;
he gave them leave, without which they did not choose to do anything.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 4.
F2 Journey from Aleppo p. 82, 83.
F3 Sandys's Travels, l. 3. p. 110.

2 Re 6:2 In-Context

1 I discepoli dei profeti dissero ad Eliseo: "Ecco, il luogo dove noi ci raduniamo in tua presenza è troppo angusto per noi.
2 Lasciaci andare fino al Giordano; ciascun di noi prenderà là una trave, e ci farem quivi un luogo dove ci possiam radunare". Eliseo rispose: "Andate".
3 E un di loro disse: "Abbi, ti prego, la compiacenza di venire anche tu coi tuoi servi". Egli rispose: "Verrò".
4 E così andò con loro. Giunti che furono al Giordano, si misero a tagliar legna.
5 E come l’un d’essi abbatteva una trave, il ferro della scure gli cadde nell’acqua; ond’egli cominciò a gridare: "Ah, signor mio! e l’avevo presa ad imprestito!"
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