Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 2:10

And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if thou see me [when I am] taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be [so].

10. Thou hast asked a hard thing ] Because it was not Elijah’s to bestow. He knew that except for God’s strengthening power and comforting revelations his own heart would often have fainted. He therefore leaves the result to depend on God’s judgement. If He permit Elisha to behold the assumption, then it shall be for a token that the petition is granted, and Elisha counted worthy to be blessed as he desires.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

It would be better to omit the words when I am, which are not in the original. The sign was to be Elishas seeing the actual translation, which he did 2Ki 2:12.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. A hard thing] This is what is not in my power, God alone can give this; yet if thou see me taken away from thee, it shall be so. Perhaps this means no more than, “If thou continue with me till I am translated, God will grant this to thee;” for on the mere seeing or not seeing him in the moment in which he was taken away, this Divine gift could not depend.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

A hard thing, i. e. a rare and singular blessing, which I cannot promise thee, which only God can give; and he gives it only when and to whom he pleaseth.

If not, it shall not be so: this sign he proposed not without the instinct and direction of Gods Spirit, that hereby he might engage him more earnestly to wait, and more fervently to pray, for this mercy.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

10. Thou hast asked a hard thinganextraordinary blessing which I cannot, and God only, can give.Nevertheless he, doubtless by the secret directions of the Spirit,proposed to Elisha a sign, the observation of which would keep him inthe attitude of an anxious waiter, as well as suppliant for thefavor.

2Ki2:11-18. HE ISTAKEN UPTO HEAVEN IN ACHARIOT OF FIRE.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And he said, thou hast asked a hard thing,…. Not a common privilege, but what is rarely enjoyed, and difficult to obtain, few are so favoured of God:

nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee, but if not, it shall not be so; meaning, that if his rapture was visible to Elisha, and he was favoured with a sight of his assumption, and be an eyewitness of it, this would be a token both to Elijah that it was agreeable to the Lord to ask of him this favour for him, and to Elisha to expect it, otherwise not.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(10) Thou hast asked a hard thing.Because to grant such a petition was not in Elijahs own power, but in Gods only. And therefore in the next words the prophet connects the fulfilment of his followers wish with a condition depending entirely upon the Divine will: If thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee (Keil). If the Lord think thee worthy to witness my departure, thou wilt be worthy to win thy boon. Elijah thus disclaims power to fulfil the request. At the same time, it is implied that his departure will be something exalted above the perception of ordinary men (Thenius).

When I am taken.Literally, taken (participle pual, shortened form, as in Exo. 3:2; Isa. 18:2).

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

10. A hard thing It was a request which Elijah had no power to grant; but his own prayer to God might be largely instrumental in procuring it as a Divine gift to Elisha. The fervent prayer (Jas 5:16-17) that brought abundant showers from heaven (1Ki 18:42-45) might also bring gifts of the Spirit. The passage clearly shows that Elijah was to be somehow instrumental in procuring for Elisha his desire, and he may have prayed for Elisha after he had been translated, or even while he was being carried up into heaven. We may make requests of our departing friends before they leave us, and they may remember us, and pray for us in heaven; but after their departure we may not pray to them.

If thou see me taken from thee That is, at the moment when I am taken, not after I am gone. Here was no pledge to appear unto Elisha after his departure. The meaning is explained by what follows; Elisha saw the chariot and horses of fire, and Elijah carried up in a whirlwind, and this sight was to be to him a sign that what he had asked should be granted. Elijah was enabled by Divine inspiration to inform Elisha of this sign beforehand.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Ki 2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if thou see me [when I am] taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be [so].

Ver. 10. If thou see me when I am taken from thee. ] Vehemence is the way to speed both in earth and in heaven. If but the eyelids of Elisha fall, if his thoughts slacken, his hopes are dashed. a There must be fixedness and vigilancy in those that desire double graces.

a Bp. Hall’s Contemp.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)