2 Kings 2

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPHETIC MANTLE

2 Kings 2:1 to 2 Kings 3:27

The opening Chapter s of 2Kings relate how the mantle of prophetic authority literally and figuratively fell on the shoulders of Elisha who for some time had been the personal servant of the great prophet Elijah. The material contained in these Chapter s may conveniently be discussed under the following heads: (1) Elijah’s translation and Elisha’s commission (2 Kings 2:1-15); (2) Elisha and the sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2:16-25); and Elisha and King Jehoram (2 Kings 3:1-27).

SPECIAL NOTE CHRONOLOGICAL PROBLEM IN THE REIGN OF JEHORAM

According to 1 Kings 22:41, Jehoshaphat of Judah began to reign in the fourth year of Ahab. Ahab ruled twenty-two years (1 Kings 16:29), and hence, it would seem, must have died in the nineteenth year of Jehoshaphat. Ahaziah reigned two years (1 Kings 22:51) and therefore must have died at the earliest in the twentieth year of Jehoshaphat. But Jehoram is said to have begun ruling in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat. If the reasoning above be correct, it would mean that Jehoram began to rule before his father Ahab died or his brother Ahaziah reigned (2 Kings 31).

The solution to this chronological difficulty lies in the recognition of the following points:

1. During this period Judah and Israel used different systems of reckoning the regnal years of their kings. Israel used the nonaccession year system where the few months of reign prior to the first New Year of a king’s reign were counted as year one. In Judah those same months were called the accession year and not counted.

2. During this period the Israelite new year began in the spring; the Judaean new year in the fall.

3. All difficulties are erased if one recognizes that 1 Kings 22:41 is based on the Judaean system, and 1 Kings 16:29; 1 Kings 22:51 and 2 Kings 3:1 on the Israelite system of reckoning.

The following chart illustrates how all the relevant verses can be harmonized.

THE SYNCHRONISM OF ISRAELITE KINGS WITH THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT OF JUDAH

Reference

Judah

Israel

Notes

1 Kings 22:41

Jehoshaphat 1

Ahab 4

This synchronism is based on the Judaean system of counting where the accession year is ignored. Jehoshaphac’s absolute rule began in the fall of 870, Ahab’s fourth year ended in spring of 869 B.C.

1 Kings 16:29

Jehoshaphat 17

Ahab 22

Here the Israelite system of count is used. The accession year is counted as year 1. The twenty-second year of Ahab began in the spring of 853. The seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat ended in the fall of the same year. Ahab must have died late in 853 B.C.

1 Kings 22:51

Jehoshaphat 17

Ahaziah 1

By the Israelite system of counting, the few months from the death of Ahab to the spring New Year (852) would be counted as year 1 of Ahaziah. The few months he reigned after that New Year would be counted as year 2.

2 Kings 3:1

Jehoshaphat 18

Jehoram 1

The eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat began in the fall of 853. It must have been in the summer of 852 that Jehoram began to reign.

REVIEW OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I. FACTS TO MASTER

A. Important names to identify in relation to this chapter:

1. Elijah

2. Jehoshaphat

3. Elisha

4. Mesha

5. Jehoram

B. Important places to be identified in relation to this chapter:

1. Gilgal

2. Jordan

3. Moab

4. Bethel

5. Mt. Carmel

6. Edom

7. Jericho

8. Samaria

9. Kir-hareseth

C. Important numbers:

Number of the sons of the prophets who observed the miraculous crossing of the Jordan

Amount of wool Mesha was forced to render to Israel annually

Number of juvenile delinquents who confronted Elisha at Bethel

Number of kings who invaded Moab

Number of days it took the allied forces to make the trip around the Dead Sea

Number of swordsmen with whom Mesha tried to break through the allied lines

D. Words and phrases which should bring to remembrance key events in this chapter:

1. whirlwind

2. chariot of fire

3. bears

4. sons of prophets

5. My father, My father

6. pillar of Baal

7. mantle

8. jar of salt

9. trenches

10. double portion

11. baldhead

12. slingers

II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER

For what purpose did Elijah make his trip to Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho before his translation? Why did Elisha insist on accompanying him? How did the sons of the prophets know that Elijah would be translated that day?

Why did Elisha ask Elijah for a double portion of his spirit?

Did the sons of the prophets actually see the chariot of fire sweep Elijah away to heaven? Why did they wish to search for him?

Why did the Lord part the waters of Jordan first for Elijah and then for Elisha?

What was the purpose of the salt which Elisha poured into the noxious waters at Jericho?

Why did Elisha curse the forty-two young men at Bethel?

How would you evaluate the religious policy of Jehoram?

Why was Jehoshaphat so eager to accompany Jehoram on his campaign to resubjugate Moab? In what way did his presence prove to be a blessing to the Northern king?

How was it that God provided water to the allied kings in the wilderness of Edom?

Why did the Moabites so recklessly attack the camp of Israel?

Why did Mesha try to break out to reach the king of Edom?

Why did Mesha sacrifice his eldest son when his capital was under siege?

Did the Moabite campaign end in victory or defeat for the allies? Whose anger against Israel caused the termination of the battle?

Drawings by Horace Knowles from the British and Foreign Bible Society

2 Kings 2:1-5

I. ELIJAH’S TRANSLATION AND ELISHA’S COMMISSION 2:1-15

With the dramatic translation of Elijah, the prophetic mantle fell on Elisha. Though the spectacular departure of Elijah is surely one of the most wondrous events of the Old Testament, it is described in the most matter-of-fact way. After a final visit to the prophetic schools (2 Kings 2:1-5) and his final words with Elisha (2 Kings 2:6-10), Elijah was whisked heavenward in a chariot of fire and a great whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11-12). Immediately thereafter Elisha received his commissioning as Elijah’s successor (2 Kings 2:13-15).

A. ELIJAH’S FINAL VISIT TO THE PROPHETIC SCHOOLS 2:1-5

**TRANSLATION

(1) And it came to pass when the LORD was about to take up Elijah in a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went along with Elisha from Gilgal. (2) And Elijah said unto Elisha, Stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me unto Bethel. And Elisha said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they went down to Bethel. (3) And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel went out unto Elisha, and they said unto him, Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from your head? And he said, I also know that. Be silent! (4) And Elijah said to him, Elisha, stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they went to Jericho. (5) And the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near unto Elisha, and said unto him, Do you know that today the LORD will take your master from your head? And he said, I also know. Be silent!

COMMENTS**

Elijah’s miraculous ascension is introduced so matter-of-factly in 2 Kings 2:1 that one must conclude that this information was generally known already to the readers for whom the Book of Kings was intended. It is the author’s intention here to relate the exact details which surrounded the prophet’s dramatic departure.

After his call at Abel-meholah (1 Kings 19:21), Elisha had become the constant companion and faithful attendant of Elijah. The latter had no fixed residence, but wandered from place to place as the Spirit of God led him. In the course of their travels, the prophets had arrived at Gilgal, an ancient sanctuary near Shechem (2 Kings 2:1). Three times Elijah asked his attendant to remain behind. Elijah knew his days on earth were numbered, and he wished to spend these final days in solitude.[514] Under ordinary circumstances Elisha would have complied with the request of his master. But the younger prophet had a premonition if not a revelation that Elijah would shortly be departing from the earth, and he would not allow himself to be deprived of those final hours of fellowship and instruction (2 Kings 2:2). Three times in this narrative Elisha took a double oath that he would not leave the side of Elijah.

[514] It may also be that Elijah was testing the fidelity and affection of his attendant.

From Gilgal the two men of God proceeded to Bethel, the religious capital of the Northern Kingdom. Elijah may have had many reasons for wanting to visit this important city once more before leaving this earth. He may have had instructions to give to the community of prophets who were living there; he certainly would have delivered one last warning to the inhabitants of that city. When the two entered Bethel, the sons of the prophets there called Elisha aside and warned him of what their prophetic instinct assured them was imminent. Elisha was about to lose his master from your head, i.e., from his position as teacher and master. Elisha answered these students curtly. He knew what was about to transpire without being forewarned by this band of students. Keep still, he instructed them. Such a solemn event should not be the subject of idle chatter (2 Kings 2:3).

At Bethel Elijah again put Elisha to the test, instructing him to tarry at that place. Here he would not be companionless; here there was a great work to do. God had directed the old prophet to take a second journey, down the long rugged descent from the mountains of Ephraim to the Jordan valley and the city of Jericho. But Elisha would not be turned aside. He repeated the same oath he had earlier taken, and once again the master yielded. So the two men of God came to Jericho twenty miles distant (2 Kings 2:4). Once again the sons of the prophets called Elisha aside and shared with him their prophetic premonition. Once again Elisha administered a gentle rebuke to these impetuous students (2 Kings 2:5).

2 Kings 2:6-10

B. ELIJAH’S FINAL WORDS WITH ELISHA 2:6-10

**TRANSLATION

(6) And Elijah said to him, Stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on. (7) And fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood where they could watch afar off; and the two of them stood beside the Jordan. (8) And Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and smote the waters, and they were parted, so that the two of them passed over on dry land. (9) And it came to pass when they had passed over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, That I may have, I pray you, two portions of your spirit. (10) And he said, You have made a difficult request. If you see me taken from you, it shall be to you thus; but if not, it shall not be.

COMMENTS**

At Jericho, Elijah made his third and final attempt to separate himself from his faithful attendant. The Lord had directed the grand old prophet to go to Jordan. Perhaps Elisha should remain at Jericho where there was food and fellowship and shelter. But Elisha was staunch in his insistence that he would spend those last hours with his master regardless of where the Lord might lead (2 Kings 2:6).

As the two men of God left Jericho, they were followed by fifty of the prophetic students. Out of respect for Elijah’s desire for solitude at this moment, these students hung back and finally stopped altogether on a little hill where they had a commanding view of the Jordan valley. From this vantage point they would observe what took place. They watched with eager curiosity as the two prophetsthe master and his faithful attendantreached the bank of Jordan (2 Kings 2:7). There Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up so that it resembled a rod and with it smote the waters. Instantly the waters parted so that the two men walked across on dry land (2 Kings 2:8). The miracle is similar to one performed by Moses and for Joshua. It was intended that Israel should regard Elijah and Elisha as a second Moses and Joshua and should therefore yield them a ready obedience. In this time when true religion was in danger of being snuffed out, God granted to these two men an abundance of miraculous signs so as to substantiate His cause.

With his time on earth drawing very short, Elijah felt an earnest impulse to leave his faithful follower some parting gift as a sign of his appreciation and love. Whatever Elisha desired, if it were within the power, the older prophet would grant. Elisha’s request for a double portion (lit., double mouthful) of Elijah’s spirit has been interpreted various ways. It surely seems out of character for him, and contrary to the facts of his ministry, to think that Elisha was asking for twice as much spiritual and prophetical power as possessed by Elijah. It seems better to view the request as being for twice as much spirit as would be received by any other of the sons of the prophets. The double portion was the right of the eldest son who also had authority over members of the family once the father was gone. Asking for the double portion is equivalent to asking that he be regarded as Elijah’s successor.

It was a hard thing which Elisha asked of his master because it was not directly within the power to grant such a request. Had Elisha asked for a prophetic blessing, or for the mantle of his master, or some other possession, the request would have been easy. But only God could designate a man as spiritual leader of the nation. Elijah could do no more than leave this in the hands of God. If God should grant to Elisha the privilege of actually witnessing the translation of a man to heaven, this would be the sign that his request had been granted by the Lord (2 Kings 2:10). From this it would appear that the chariot and horses were not visible to the physical eye (cf. 2 Kings 6:17) except through special revelation.

2 Kings 2:11-12

B. THE EXODUS OF ELIJAH 2:11-12

**TRANSLATION

(11) And it came to pass as they were going, walking and talking, that behold a chariot of fire and horses of fire came between the two of them, and Elijah went up in a storm into the heavens. (12) Now Elisha was observing this, and he was crying, My father! My father! The chariot of Israel and its horses! And he did not see him anymore, And he took hold of his garments and tore them into two pieces.

COMMENTS**

In God’s own good time the conversation of these two men of God was interrupted by the appearance of a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire. Literal fire is probably not intended, but rather the celestial glory that resembles earthly fire or at least brings the concept of fire to mind. The atmosphere was in turbulence at the moment the chariot whisked Elijah away up into the heavens where he was lost from sight (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha saw this stupendous sight and knew that his request for a double portion had been granted. At first sight of that heavenly chariot, Elisha had cried out in dazed wonder, My father, My father! The chariot of Israel and its horses! Because Elisha was the pupil of Elijah, and possibly because he regarded himself as the adopted son of this great prophet, Elisha addressed Elijah as father. Elijah himself was the chariot of Israel and its horsemen. He was the great protector of the nation. Later this same figurative form of address would be used of Elisha (cf. 2 Kings 13:14). When his friend and spiritual father disappeared into the clouds, Elisha tore his clothes in grief (2 Kings 2:12).

2 Kings 2:13-15

C. THE COMMISSIONING OF ELISHA 2:13-15

**TRANSLATION

(13) And he took up the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from upon him, and returned, and stood on the bank of the Jordan. (14) And he took the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from upon him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah, even He? And he smote the waters, and they parted asunder, and Elisha passed over. (15) And the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho opposite saw him and they said, The spirit of Elijah has rested upon Elisha. And they came to meet him and bowed down to him to the ground.

COMMENTS**

Sadly Elisha picked up the mantle that had fallen from the shoulders of Elijah as he swept heavenward, and walked back to the edge of Jordan (2 Kings 2:13). In imitation of the actions of his master, Elisha smote the waters with the mantle at the same time saying, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Elisha wondered if the all powerful God who had so blessed the ministry of Elijah was still with His people now that Elijah had departed. When the waters instantly parted, Elisha knew the answer to that question. By enabling him to repeat Elijah’s last miracle, the Lord gave assurance to Elisha that the divine power would be available to him throughout his prophetic ministry (2 Kings 2:14).

When the sons of the prophets saw Elisha returning from Jordan alone they concluded that the spirit of Elijah rested upon him. It is not clear on what ground they reached this conclusion. Perhaps they had witnessed the miracle which Elisha had performed at Jordan; or they may have inferred that the leadership had passed to Elisha because he was now wearing the mantle of his master. In any case, they came forth and bowed before him and thus acknowledged him as their master as they had previously recognized Elijah (2 Kings 2:15).

2 Kings 2:16-18

II. ELISHA AND THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS 2:16-25

With the departure of Elijah, Elisha became the father of the prophetic schools. The first official acts of the new leader of the sons of the prophets are related in the remaining verses of chapter 2. Here is recorded (1) his decision regarding a request made by the prophetic students (2 Kings 2:16-18); (2) his healing of the noxious waters at Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22); and (3) his cursing of the youths at Bethel (2 Kings 2:23-25).

A. THE REQUEST OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS 2:16-18

**TRANSLATION

(16) And they said unto him, Behold, we pray you, there are with your servants fifty men of strength. Let us go, we pray you, that we may seek your master lest the spirit of the LORD lifted him up and cast him down in one of the mountains or in one of the valleys. And he said, Do not send. (17) And they urged him until he was ashamed, and said, Send. And they sent fifty men, and they sought three days, and did not find him. (18) And they returned unto him (now he was waiting in Jericho), And he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Do not go?

COMMENTS**

The sons of the prophets, having been informed of the ascension of Elijah, were quite concerned about the well-being of their former master. They assumed that the Spirit of God had whisked Elijah away only to cast him down in some remote and barren place. Thus they requested that Elisha give permission for fifty of the more robust men among them to make a thorough search of the rocky ridges and ravines of the Transjordan territory. They could not bear the thought of leaving the old prophet in such a barren spot. Elisha knew that the effort would be futile and so he rejected the first petition made of him as leader of the prophetic band (2 Kings 2:16). The sons of the prophets, however, continued to urge Elisha to permit them to undertake the search until he was ashamed to refuse them any longer, and he reluctantly gave them the permission which they sought. Fifty men searched for three days, and of course found nothing (2 Kings 2:17). Elisha waited patiently at Jericho for the zealous young men to return from their futile mission. It was not because of vain pride, but because his veracity and wisdom to some extent had been questioned that Elisha reminded these young men of his previous advice to them (2 Kings 2:18).

2 Kings 2:19-22

B. THE HEALING OF THE NOXIOUS WATER 2:19-22

TRANSLATION

(19) And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray you, the dwelling of the city is good as my master sees; but the waters are vile and the land miscarries. (20) And he said, Take for me a new vase, and put salt therein. And they took it unto him. (21) And he went out unto the spring of water, and cast there the salt, and he said, Thus says the LORD, I have healed these waters; no more shall death and miscarrying be from that source. (22) And the waters were healed unto this day according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

COMMENTS

Having heard of the recent miracle performed by Elisha, the civic authorities of Jericho came to the prophet to seek his aid in removing the one unfortunate drawback to their otherwise pleasant community. A bitter and poisonous spring of water gushed forth near Jericho which sent its waters in rivlets across the plain to the Jordan. Nothing could grow near this water; cattle drinking this water would abort (2 Kings 2:19).[515]

[515] Gray (OTL, p. 477) takes note of a recent hydrological survey in Israel in which it was discovered that certain springs there are affected by radio-activity which laboratory tests have demonstrated to cause sterility.

The prophet called for a new vase filled with salt (2 Kings 2:20). By this action the prophet intended to symbolically teach that impurity can only be cleansed by what is wholly pure and clean. This is the reason he called for a new vase, one that had never before been used and hence could not have been defiled. The salt must also have been emblematic of purity, for no other substance would be more inappropriate for purifying water which already contained too much salt. As he poured his vase of salt into the spring, Elisha uttered an oracle in the name of the Lord to the effect that never again would that spring produce death and miscarrying among people and stock (2 Kings 2:21). The waters of that spring were instantly and permanently made whole (2 Kings 2:22). The so-called Spring of the Sultan near the ancient ruins of Jericho may be the very spring referred to in this passage.

2 Kings 2:23-25

D. THE CURSING OF THE BETHEL YOUTHS 2:23-25

**TRANSLATION

(23) And he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up in the way, young men went out from the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, O bald one, Go up, O bald one. (24) And he looked behind him, and saw them, and cursed them, in the name of the LORD; and two she-bears went out from the woods, and tore among them forty-two lads. (25) And he went from there unto Mt. Carmel; and from there he returned to Samaria.

COMMENTS**

After a brief stay at Jericho, Elisha visited Bethel, probably to inform the sons of the prophets there about what had transpired in Transjordan. On the outskirts of the city the prophet was waylaid by a gang of ruffians[516] who viciously mocked him. They jeered Go up, and this may be an allusion to the recent rumor that Elijah had ascended to heaven. These unbelieving urchins were urging Elisha to imitate his master. They also ridiculed the premature baldness of the prophet when they addressed him as *O baldhead.

[516]* The unfortunate translation little children (KJV) has given a very wrong impression of this passage. The Hebrew literally means young men,

The juvenile delinquents continued to follow behind, hooting and jeering at this man of God who now was the official representative of God on earth! Having endured this mockery and potential personal danger as long as he could, the prophet turned and calmly cursed these hoodlums in the name of the Lord. This cursing consisted of pronouncing a negative prophecy against them. He may have said something like this: Thus says the Lord: May evil and calamity fall upon you! Under the Law of Moses, God’s ministers were required to curse the disobedient (Deuteronomy 27:14-26). Elisha had no way of knowing what would befall them as the result of his curse. That was left in the hand of God. In order to teach these young men a lesson, and at the same time vindicate His prophet in the eyes of the inhabitants of Bethel, God stirred up two she-bears to come out of a near-by woods and attack the offenders. These angry bears tore forty-two of these fellows. It is not said how far they were injured, whether fatally or not. But the punishment came from the Lord, not the prophet, and there can be no doubt that the Lord of all the earth did what was right (2 Kings 2:24). This frightening example of God’s wrath was no doubt intended to serve as an unforgettable lesson to that new generation which was growing up in contempt of God and true religion.

From Bethel, Elisha went up to Mt. Carmel where presumably another group of the sons of the prophets was located. The purpose of his trip was doubtlessly the same as for his trip to Bethel, viz., to share with these men of God his firsthand knowledge of the exodus of Elijah. Having completed this mission, the prophet returned to the capital at Samaria (2 Kings 2:25). Elisha did not choose to imitate the semi-ascetic life-style of his master, but stayed for the most part in the capital working with and through the various kings.