2 Kings 2:12-25
2:12 a Elijah was Elisha’s spiritual father and personal mentor. Cp. the tribute given him at his death, 13:14 b.Summary for 2Kgs 2:13-15: 2:13-15 c Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and successfully parted the Jordan River. Elisha was indeed Elijah’s successor, as the other prophets recognized.
Summary for 2Kgs 2:16-18: 2:16-18 d The prophets searched the wilderness, perhaps to be certain that Elijah had not temporarily disappeared (cp. 1 Kgs 18:12 e). Elisha already knew that the search was pointless.
Summary for 2Kgs 2:20-22: 2:20-22 f Elisha used a new bowl (Deut 21:3 g) filled with salt (Lev 2:13 h; Ezek 43:24 i) to symbolize calling upon God to purify the people and the environment. Elisha made it clear that the Lord, not he or the salt, had purified this water.
2:23 j The group of boys could have been young adults; the Hebrew term has a wide range of meanings, at times being used of a young adult still unskilled in his profession, such as when Solomon petitioned the Lord for wisdom because he was young and inexperienced (1 Kgs 3:7 k). Joshua’s spies at Jericho were designated by the same term (Josh 6:22-23 l).
• To call someone baldy was disrespectful. The young men told Elisha to go away (literally go up), mocking Elisha’s God-given position as successor to Elijah.
Copyright information for
TNotes