ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:1–10:36 Elisha and Israel. Elijah’s ministry has been coming to a close since 1 Kings 19:15–18, where Elijah was told to anoint Elisha as his successor. The war with Baal worship will not end until Elisha has succeeded Elijah and Hazael and Jehu have appeared. Chapters 2–10 of 2 Kings tell of these events.

2 Kings 2:1–25 In these verses, the prophetic responsibility passes from Elijah to Elisha.

2 Kings 2:1–4 It is not clear why the Lord sends Elijah from Gilgal to Bethel, and then on to Jericho, but there are prophetic communities at all three cities (vv. 3; 5; 4:38), and Elijah is probably their leader. (Later, Elisha will be their leader.)

2 Kings 2:1 The idea of going up to heaven at the end of one’s earthly life does not appear often in the OT (compare Gen. 5:24). More common is the idea of “going down” to Sheol, the world of the dead (e.g., Job 7:9; see note on 1 Sam. 2:6). Other passages speak of the dead being “gathered to their people” (e.g., Gen. 25:7–8; 1 Kings 2:10). This does not mean, however, that OT believers had no hope for eternal life. Various passages describe a hope for continuing fellowship with God after death (2 Kings 2:11; Ps. 16:10–11; 17:15; 23:6; 115:17–18; Eccles. 12:7). In the NT, Jesus implied that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive and in God’s presence (Matt. 22:32); Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus (Matt. 17:3); and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus described Lazarus as being in Abraham’s presence immediately after death (Luke 16:22–25).

2 Kings 2:2 Bethel is identified with Jeroboam’s spiritual unfaithfulness in 1 Kings 12–13. Please stay here. It is never made clear why Elijah keeps trying to get Elisha to remain behind on the day when he is to inherit Elijah’s prophetic ministry. It is probably a testing of Elisha’s worthiness for the task.

2 Kings 2:3–4 keep quiet. It is disrespectful for the prophets to speak of Elijah’s death while he is still with them.

2 Kings 2:3 The sons of the prophets are not their physical descendants but groups of prophets usually affiliated with a more prominent prophet (see 1 Sam. 19:20; 2 Kings 4:38; 6:1). They must have received special revelations from God (see Deut. 18:18, 20; Jer. 14:14), though none of their prophecies are recorded in Scripture.

2 Kings 2:4–5 Jericho was in the Jordan Valley about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the Dead Sea. It was the first city conquered by the Israelites in Canaan.

2 Kings 2:6–8 The Jordan River runs along a short stretch of a geological fault that starts in the north in Syria and extends southward into Africa. This miraculous crossing of the Jordan recalls Moses leading Israel across the Red Sea (Ex. 14:15–31).

2 Kings 2:9 Elisha asks Elijah to give him what an eldest son in Israel would expect from his father: a double portion of the inheritance (see Deut. 21:15–17). In this case, however, the inheritance is not land but spiritual power.

2 Kings 2:10 You have asked a hard thing. It is unclear how Elisha’s request can be hard, since Elisha has been chosen by God to succeed Elijah.

2 Kings 2:11–13 chariots of fire and horses of fire. The divine army, last seen waging war on Ahab (1 Kings 22:1–38), has come for Elijah. Elisha took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. This is perhaps part of a mourning ritual (compare Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 13:30–31), but it also suggests leaving his old life behind, as he picks up the cloak of Elijah. Compare 1 Kings 19:19–21, where Elijah threw his cloak upon Elisha to symbolize his being called to be a prophet.

2 Kings 2:14 the water was parted . . . and Elisha went over. Elisha is Elijah’s true successor. Empowered by the Spirit, he is able to repeat Elijah’s parting of the waters (v. 8).

2 Kings 2:16 Please let them go and seek your master. The sons of the prophets do not fully understand what has happened. They wonder whether the Spirit of the Lord has simply caught Elijah up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley. They want to retrieve his body for burial.

2 Kings 2:19–22 the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful. Jericho was ideal for settlement because of a permanent spring which watered the land around it. Now, however, the water supply had become contaminated. (The city had been rebuilt under the shadow of Joshua’s curse; see Josh. 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34). The use of salt here is symbolic; the water was healed by supernatural means: Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water.

2 Kings 2:23–24 The city of Bethel played a key role in Israel’s rebellion against God (see 1 Kings 12:25–13:34). It is no surprise, therefore, to find young people from this city disrespecting a prophet of the Lord (?jeered at him). baldhead. Elisha might have been naturally bald, or perhaps some prophets shaved their heads. he cursed them. . . . And two she-bears . . . tore forty-two of the boys. Though this judgment may at first seem harsh, the group probably posed a physical threat to Elisha.