Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 2

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

heaven = heavens, and elsewhere.

Elisha = my God [is] salvation. See his call (1 Kings 19:16 ) ten years before.

from Gilgal. The reverse route taken by Israel on entering the Land.

Verse 2

thy soul = thyself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . down. Therefore Gilgal in 2 Kings 2:1 cannot be the well-known Gilgal near Jericho, but another between Tibneh and Shiloh. See 2 Kings 4:38 . Gilgal = circle; and there may have been several such.

Verse 3

from thy head = from over thee: "head, "put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for himself".

Verse 7

men. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 9

double portion. See note on 2 Kings 2:15 .

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the gifts and operations of the Spirit of God.

Verse 10

nevertheless. The verse needs no italics.

see = clearly see.

Verse 11

a whirlwind. Not a fiery chariot, according to a certain hymn. Compare 2 Kings 2:1 .

Verse 13

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in 2 Kings 2:12 .

My father. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . The repetition = my revered, or beloved father.

Verse 14

the LORD God = Jehovah Elohim; or. Where is Jehovah the God of Elijah? After this the Hebrew text has ' aph hu = " even he". The Vulgate reads this as the end of the question. But the Massorites, by the accent ( athnach), throw it on to the next sentence, "and when even he smote the waters", &c.

they parted. The first of sixteen miracles. See note on 2 Kings 2:15 .

over. The 19th Seder ends here. See note on p. 366.

Verse 15

doth rest = hath rested. Compare 1 Peter 4:14 . Rest in "double portion" according to 2 Kings 2:9 . Seen in the fact that Elijah wrought eight miracles and Elisha sixteen, and all were parables in action.

Elijah's eight Miracles (1 and 2 Kings).

1. Shutting heaven (1 Kings 17:1 ).

2. Oil multiplied (1 Kings 17:14 ).

3. Widow's son raised (1 Kings 17:22-23 ).

4. Fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:38 ).

5. Rain (1 Kings 18:45 ).

6. Fire on 50 (2 Kings 1:10 ).

7. Fire on 50 (2 Kings 1:12 ).

8. Jordan (2 Kings 2:8 ).

Elisha's sixteen Miracles (2 Kings).

1. Jordan divided (2 Kings 2:14 ).

2. Waters healed (2 Kings 2:21 ).

3. Bears from wood (2 Kings 2:24 ).

4. Water for kings (2 Kings 3:20 ).

5. Oil for widow (2 Kings 4:1-6 ).

6. Gift of son (2 Kings 4:16-17 ).

7. Raising from dead (2 Kings 4:36 ).

8. Healing ofpottage (2 Kings 4:41 ).

9. Bread multiplied (2 Kings 4:43 ).

10. Naaman healed (2 Kings 5:10 ).

11. Gehazi smitten (2 Kings 5:27 ).

12. Iron to swim (2 Kings 6:6 ).

13. Sight to blind (2 Kings 6:17 ).

14. Smiting blindness(2 Kings 6:18 )

15. Restoring sight (2 Kings 6:20 ).

16. One after death (2 Kings 13:21 ).

Verse 20

cruse. Occurs only here.

Verse 21

cast the salt. Elisha's second miracle.

Verse 23

Beth-el. One of the seats of Israel's calf-worship (1 Kings 12:26-30 ).

little children = young men. Hebrew. na'ar. Used of Isaac (twenty-eight years old); Joseph (thirty-nine); Rehoboam (forty).

Go up, &c. An open insult, avenged by Elisha ' s God in a way suited for that dispensation, though not for this. "Go up" may have referred to Elijah's translation; and thus, a blasphemous insult outraging Jehovah's own act.

bald head. Baldness premature. Elisha lived fifty years longer (2 Kings 13:14 ).

go up, &c. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 .

Verse 24

bears. See 1 Samuel 17:34-36 .

children = progeny. Not the same word as 2 Kings 2:23 .