This term applied to Joseph when he was 39 (Genesis 41:12), to Absalom as an adult (2 Samuel 14:21, 18:5), and to Solomon when he was 20 (1 Kings 3:7). 9. b. He was trusting in the Lord and leaving it in God’s hands. Elijah Taken to Heaven. Elisha knew that it had carried him to heaven, so he was hesitant to give permission for what he knew would be a futile mission. Elisha’s baldness must have been in striking contrast to Elijah’s hairy appearance.” (Dilday). of
HE IS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN IN A CHARIOT OF FIRE. Gilgal--This Gilgal (Jiljil) was near Ebal and Gerizim; a school of the prophets was established there. 13. 16-18. fifty strong men, let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master--Though the young prophets from Jericho had seen Elijah's miraculous passage of the Jordan, they had not witnessed the ascension. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. Elisha may have needed miraculous intervention to escape.” (Dilday), iii. They are the fire - their element - the passion, the driving force. 23, 24. there came forth little children out of the city--that is, the idolatrous, or infidel young men of the place, who affecting to disbelieve the report of his master's translation, sarcastically urged him to follow in the glorious career. “Bears are attested in the hill ranges until mediaeval times.” (Wiseman), ii. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. In compliance with their importunity, he gave them permission, but told them what the result would be. Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. (1-3) The awareness of Elijah’s coming departure. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. “Since forty-two of the boys were struck by the bears, the group may have been quite large and therefore dangerously out of control. Chapter 2. c. The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha: The succession of Elisha to the power and office of Elijah was apparent to others. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. All rights reserved. He took up also the mantle of Elijah--The transference of this prophetic cloak was, to himself, a pledge of his being appointed successor, and it was an outward token to others of the spirit of Elijah resting upon him. “Go up; go up into heaven, whither thou pretendest that Elijah is gone. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Nevertheless he, doubtless by the secret directions of the Spirit, proposed to Elisha a sign, the observation of which would keep him in the attitude of an anxious waiter, as well as suppliant for the favor. Books of Kings, two books of the Hebrew Bible or the Protestant Old Testament that, together with Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and 1 and 2 Samuel, belong to the group of historical books (Deuteronomic history) written during the Babylonian Exile (c. 550 bc) of … 2 Kings 2:2, NLT: "And Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay “Verse 24 does not say that the victims were killed. Elisha makes the water at Jericho wholesome. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. 2 Kings 18:1–25:30 = The last years of the kingdom of Judah; In David's old age, Adonijah proclaims himself his successor but Solomon's supporters arrange for David to proclaim Solomon as his successor, and so he comes to the throne after David's death. 2 Kings Trivia: The Second Book of Kings CHAPTER 2 . Go up, you baldhead: This both mocked Elisha because of his apparent baldness, and because of his connection with the prophet Elijah. These youths were from Bethel, and their mocking presence shows the continuing opposition to a true prophet in Bethel, the chief center of pagan calf-worship.” (Wiseman). (2) What Elisha did: Elisha took up his armor, “He cursed them in the name of the Lord.” This is not cursing for cursing or reviling for reviling (1 Pet. Compiled & Edited by BST & Crosswalk Staff, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 2 Kings 2:2, NASB: "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.' Did I not say to you, “Do not go”: Elisha knew that the mission would be futile and it was. bald head--an epithet of contempt in the East, applied to a person even with a bushy head of hair. Realizing this, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. b. Elisha didn’t need to persuade or convince them of this with words. And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Where is the God who carried Elijah away into heaven? But the phrase, "a double portion," was applied to the first-born [ Deuteronomy 21:17 ], and therefore Elisha's request was, simply, to be heir to the prophetic office and gifts of his master. ELISHA HEALS THE WATERS. b. d. Two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths: In response to the curse of Elisha, God sent two female bears and they mauled (literally, cut up) the young men. The water is bad, and the ground barren: At this time Jericho had a poor water supply. 2 Kings 2 – Elijah’s Ascension A. Elijah ascends to heaven. Top definition is 'The second of two Old Testament books telling the histories of the kings of Judah and Israel. Please let them go and search for your master: The sons of the prophets wondered if the chariot of fire had not merely taken Elijah to another place in Israel. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Kings are filled with energy, moving, leading, generating. The removal of Elijah was a type and figure of the ascension of Christ, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. They were followed at a distance by fifty scholars of the prophets, from Jericho, who were desirous, in honor of the great occasion, to witness the miraculous translation of the prophet. God’s blessing on his actions was enough to prove it. We need 2 cookies to store this setting.