Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 2:7
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
7. And fifty men ] It is not without surprise that we come at one single centre upon so large a body of men devoting themselves to a holy life in the service of Jehovah, while Ahab’s children are still on the throne of Israel. There seems also to have been, beside Jericho and Bethel, similar colleges at Gilgal and perhaps on Carmel. It would almost appear as though all those who were true adherents of the Lord had betaken themselves to this life of retirement, that they might escape from the evils which followed so thick in the train of the worship of the Baalim.
stood to view ] R.V. over against them, and similarly in verse 15. This rendering stands also as one margin of the A.V. The Hebrew word [ neged ] originally signifies ‘in front’ of anything; but since we are in front of anything which faces us, and it may be said to be in front of us, the adverb in the text has a double use. Here it refers to the position of the sons of the prophets as they stood looking towards the departing couple, while in the next chapter (2Ki 3:22) it is applied to the blood which the Moabites supposed they saw ‘on the other side’ of the valley. R.V. has ‘over against them’ in that verse also.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Fifty men of the sons of the prophets – We see by this how large were the prophetical schools. It is implied that the fifty were only a portion of the school of Jericho. They ascended the abrupt heights behind the town, from where they would command a view of the whole course of the river and of the opposite bank for many miles.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets] They fully expected this extraordinary event, and they could have known it only from Elijah himself, or by a direct revelation from God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Stood to view; to observe this great event, Elijahs translation to heaven, which they expected every moment, now when he had taken his last farewell of all the prophets; and whereof they desired to be spectators, not so much to satisfy their own curiosity, as that they might be witnesses of it to others.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off,…. To have a view, if they could, of the assumption of Elijah to heaven, and be witnesses of it:
and they two stood by Jordan; on the banks of it, even Elijah and Elisha.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) And fifty . . . went.Now fifty . . . had gone.
Stood to view.Taken their stand opposite, i.e., directly opposite the place where the two were standing by the brink of the river, yet at some distance behind. They wished to see whether and how the companions would cross the stream at a point where there was no ford.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Fifty men stood to view afar off What all they saw we are not told. They probably saw the waters of Jordan divided, and the two prophets pass beyond the stream; and possibly they beheld Elijah at the moment he was parted from Elisha; but they probably did not behold his ascension, for of that Elisha had only a momentary glimpse, and that by special grace of God.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
That sacred river Jordan, what miracles have been wrought upon it! Here it was that Joshua, as a type of the Lord Jesus, made so illustrious an appearance. See Jos 3 . Header! as the ark which was always considered a lively type and symbol of God’s presence, made to Joshua a dry and safe passage over Jordan; so to Elijah. Jordan itself is like the river of death. Jesus hath opened a safe and easy passage through it to all his followers. Here, according to the highly finished representation of the prophet, the ransomed of the Lord shall pass over. Jesus himself is the way; and by his finished redemption work he hath divided the waters hither and thither; so that the faithful will pass over as on dry ground. Isa 35:9-10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
Ver. 7. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets. ] These were all of one college, and these were strong men, 2Ki 2:16 able and active. In our days, the Jesuits – those locusts, Rev 9:3 – have maintained two hundred thousand scholars, besides the monks and friars of other orders, enough to make up a very formidable army, and such as may serve Antichrist for a sufficient reserve, cum res redierit ad Triarios, when he shall be worst put to it. Oxford is said to have had sometime thirty thousand students in it at once.
And stood to view afar off.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ki 2:7-11
2Ki 2:7-11
THE PROPHETS CROSSED THE JORDAN RIVER;
ELIJAH WAS TRANSPORTED UPWARD
“And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off; and they two stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 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. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof.”
“And Elijah took his mantle … and smote the waters” (2Ki 2:8). There is a great deal of symbolism in the events revealed here. The Jordan River, in all ages, has been a symbol of death, and it was fitting indeed that Elijah should pass over the Jordan just prior to his translation. Elisha also crossed over, but he returned. Elijah never returned. The Septuagint (LXX) refers to “his mantle” here as “his sheepskin.” This type of hairy clothing was worn by prophets of those ages. Great authority and respect were granted to wearers of the prophetic mantle, and Adam Clarke noted that, even in modern times, the royal robes of kings and rulers, “Were adorned with the skins of the animal called the ermine.”
“Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me” (2Ki 2:9). This did not mean that Elisha had dreams of eclipsing Elijah in the miracles, etc. which he would perform. The very words of this request are taken from Deu 21:17, where they refer to the double portion of a man’s inheritance which was always bequeathed to his heir, or to the firstborn. “Elisha was asking to be recognized as the `heir’ of Elijah in relation to the other prophets of that day.”
“Thou hast asked a hard thing” (2 Kings 10). This was hard, because it was a gift that Elijah could not confer. Only God could do such a thing, but the Lord revealed to Elijah that it would indeed be granted, provided that Elisha was present and viewed the translation itself.
“My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof.” This does not appear to be Elisha’s description of the chariots and horsemen of fire, but an evaluation by Elisha of the importance of Elijah in the spiritual history of Israel. “The Chaldee translates these words thus, `My master, my master! Thy intercession was of more use to Israel than horses and chariots.’ This is probably the sense of the passage.” Significantly, these same words were uttered upon the occasion of the death of Elisha (2Ki 13:14).
E.M. Zerr:
2Ki 2:7. The procedure of the great prophets was arousing the interest of the student prophets. Fifty of them followed at seeing distance as they arrived at the Jordan.
2Ki 2:8. Moses and Aaron used a rod in connection with their miracles. (Exo 7:17.) Jesus used clay in healing the blind man. (Joh 9:6-7.) Elijah used the mantle in forcing a passage across the Jordan. There was an important point in such performances. Had something been used that might have a physical or logical relation to the result desired and obtained, it might have been claimed that such was the cause. But since these things could have nothing to do with the actual problem the conclusion is clear, that the result was obtained through divine power.
2Ki 2:9. Elisha has persistently refused to separate from Elijah, and he was no longer asked to do so. Let us note that Elijah did not tell Elisha he could have anything he wanted. This kind of distinction was made in the case of Solomon at Gibeon. (1Ki 3:5.) Mathematically speaking, it would be impossible for one to receive more than all of another’s spirit. We are sure that Elisha received that since he was to take the place of Elijah. (1Ki 19:16.) The thought, then, is figurative. It was a desire to receive abundantly of the same spirit that had been possessed by Elijah. The request was an exalted one, and not one that looked for personal gain.
2Ki 2:10. A thing could be hard or difficult or unusual, yet not wrong or impossible. That which Elisha asked for was very rare, but was right, and was promised to him on condition. Previously, Elijah had designated certain places he expected to be and asked to be left alone. Now the attitude has been changed and Elisha was placed on his guard, to be always on the alert lest his master slip away from him. There is no explanation given for the change in Elijah’s attitude.
2Ki 2:11. Parted them means the fiery chariot separated the two prophets. Went up into heaven. The Old Testament uses the same original word for “heaven,” whether the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd heaven is meant. The connection in each case must be relied on to determine which is meant. It was the first heaven, or domain of the atmosphere that received Elijah as far as Elisha could see. From other considerations, however, we understand that he was taken to the 3rd heaven, the abode of God. (Mat 17:3 .) There is another important thought about this. Elijah had to leave the earth in order to get to heaven where God is. That disproves a doctrine among men that all the heaven there is to be is on the earth. The word translated fire is defined in the lexicon as having both a literal and figurative meaning. The case at hand means the chariot and horses were of a flaming or fiery appearance.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
fifty men: 2Ki 2:17, 1Ki 18:4, 1Ki 18:13
to view afar off: Heb. in sight, or over against
Reciprocal: 1Ki 20:35 – of the sons 2Ki 2:3 – And the sons 2Ki 2:15 – to view Amo 7:14 – neither Rev 11:12 – and their
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 2:7. Fifty men stood to view To observe this great event, Elijahs translation to heaven, which they expected every moment: and whereof they desired to be spectators, not to satisfy their own curiosity, but that they might be witnesses of it to others. Afar off As they were not permitted to accompany him to the place where he was to be taken up, as Elisha was, they looked after him as far as they could see, probably from some eminence that overlooked Jordan. They two stood by Jordan The rest, it is likely, being forbidden to go thither with them.