2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:2

TArry here] this is spoken by Elias to make Elisha so much the more desirous of going along with him, that he might be a witnesse of his taking up into heaven, which the Church was to bee certified of in all ages, for divers ends.

2 Kings 2:3

The Sonnes] see upon 1 King. 20. 35 [knowest thou] this was by Gods spirit revealed to some of those Prophets, and peradventure to the whole Colledge.

2 Kings 2:9

Be upon me] seing thou hast consecrated mee to be thy successor, and conductor of the Prophets, mediate towards God for me, that he may grant me gifts and the conduct of his spirit, which thou hast had in great eminence (as Numbers 11:25) even twice as much as any ordinary Prophet; to the end that I may be capable of that degree of superiority, having a larger portion of gifts then ordinary.

2 Kings 2:10

A hard] a rare and singular thing, which is not ordinarily promise; nor can be obtained but by very fervent, and instant prayer, see 1 Peter 4:18 [if thou see me] I give thee this for a signe, to shew thee whether thy desire and my prayer have been heard. The sense is, if God permits thee to see me goe up into heaven, he will also grant thee that gift which thou desirest. To raise Elisha his attention so much the more, to mark this great miracle with all its circumstances so much the better.

2 Kings 2:11

A Charet] or the likenesse of a charet, [went up] was ravished up into heaven, and in an instant transformed out of all qualities and conditions belonging to this mortall and earthly life, and clothed with eternall and spirituall, without passing by the way of death, as Enoch, Genesis 5:24. Both examples being as it were a prelude of Christs glorious ascension into heaven, see 1 Cor. 15 51. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 [by a whirlewind] wrapped up in a fold of clouds and darknesse, which did presently take him out of sight.

2 Kings 2:12

The Charet] as thou hast been the Lords faithfull warrier, for the safety of his Church, so now art thou carried into his Kngdom of glory; as it were upon a tryumphall Charet: [rent them] to shew that he was grieved, and much moved.

2 Kings 2:14

Where is] I shall see now whether God hath heard me concerning the gift of that portion of spirit which I desired of him, in trying to doe the same miracle as Elias did; words of invocation, and faith, rather then of doubt and diffidence.

2 Kings 2:15

They said] may bee by revelation; or by some splendor, majesty, or divine manner of moving which they perceived in him: [the spirit] God hath by a firme and lasting grace, conferred the same gifts of his Spirit upon him, as Elijah had, as Numbers 11:25.

2 Kings 2:16

Lest peradventure] for it is likely that Elijah had often been ravished so, and divinely transported, and afterwards sound againe, see 1 Kings 28. 12.

2 Kings 2:17

Till he was] being overcome with their importunity, he could not gain-say them: [send] to assure them that Elijah was no more upon earth, and by this meanes bring his owne ministery into so much the more esteeme.

2 Kings 2:19

The ground barren] the Italian hath it, the land disinhabited, by reason of frequent sicknesses, abortive births, sudden deaths, &c. Others say, that hereby is meant the barenesse of the plants, and their corruption.

2 Kings 2:20

A new] for feare of some legall uncleannesse, and also for reverence of Gods power, which shewed it selfe in this miracle.

2 Kings 2:21

And cast] not because there was any naturall power in the salt, to work any such effect; especily, there being but such a little quantity of it: but onely by the will of God, who makes use of any thing he pleaseth for a signe or token of his power; to shew by the weaknesse of the signe, though it have some relation to that effect, that the vertue proceedeth immediately from him, see Exo. 15. 25. 2 King. 4. 41. and 6. 6.

2 Kings 2:23

Mocked him] not onely through a childish kinde of wanton boldnesse in regard of his person; but through a kinde of prophane impietie towards his ministery, they being bred up in Idolatry, which Elisha’s prophetick spirit did very well perceive, and therefore hee caused them to taste the punishment thereof.

2 Kings 2:25

He went] being driven out of one place into another, by the motion of the propheticall spirit which was now most evident, and to be acknowledged for a Prophet, and to visit the Colledges of the Prophets.