2 Kings 2:23-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 2:19-25

Elisha had, in this respect, a double portion of Elijah's spirit, that he wrought more miracles than Elijah. Some reckon them in number just double. Two are recorded in these verses?a miracle of mercy to Jericho and a miracle of judgment to Bethel, Ps. 101:1. I. Here is a blessing upon the waters of Jericho, which was effectual to heal them. Jericho was built in disobedience to a command, in defiance to a threatening, and at the expense of the lives of all the builder's children; yet, when it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 2:23

And he went up from thence unto Bethel ,.... From Jericho, which lay in a plain, to Bethel, situated on an hill, and therefore is said to go up to it; hither he went, to acquaint the sons of the prophets with the assumption of Elijah, to condole their loss of him, and to comfort and encourage them, and confirm his own authority among them as a prophet in his stead: and as he was going up by the way ; the ascent to the city: there came forth little children out of the city ; the word... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 2:24

And he turned back, and looked on them ,.... With a stern countenance, thereby reproving them, and in order to intimidate them, and make them ashamed, and cause them to leave off, but to no purpose; they repeated their mockeries with great vehemence: and cursed them in the name of the Lord ; moved thereunto, not from passion and a spirit of revenge, but by an impulse of the Spirit of God: and there came forth two she bears out of the wood ; which are fiercest, and especially when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 2:25

And he went from thence to Mount Carmel ,.... Where Elijah used to frequent, and where also there might be a school of the prophets; this, according to Bunting F1 Travels, &c.; p. 206. , was fifty six miles from Bethel: and from thence he returned to Samaria ; the capital of the kingdom of Israel; there to bear his testimony against idolatry, to reprove for it, and reclaim from it; this, as the same writer says F2 Ibid. , was thirty two miles from Carmel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 2:23

There came forth little children out of the city - These were probably the school of some celebrated teacher; but under his instruction they had learned neither piety nor good manners. Go up , thou bald head ; go up , thou bald head - קרח עלה קרח עלה aleh kereach , aleh kereach . Does not this imply the grossest insult? Ascend, thou empty skull, to heaven, as it is pretended thy master did! This was blasphemy against God; and their punishment (for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 2:1-25

THE REMOVAL OF ELIJAH FROM EARTH , AND SOME EARLY MIRACLES OF ELISHA . The great prophet of Israel was to have a departure from earth as marvelous as his life had been. Ewald's words, though not intended in an historical, but only in a literary sense, embody very forcibly what the humble believer may accept as the actual rationale of the occurrence related in 2 Kings 2:1-12 : "An earthly career which had no equal in the purity of its devotion to the service of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 2:14-24

The signs of a teacher sent from God. No man is entitled to assume the position of a teacher sent from God of his own mere motion, or without some external authorization. "How can men preach, except they be sent ?" ( Romans 10:15 ). Where an organization has been established by Divine agency, human authorization, the mission of those to whom the power of mission has been assigned, is sufficient. But where there is no such established Church system, the commission has to be given directly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 2:19-25

The historian passes to the record of some of Elisha's minor miracles, belonging to the time whereof he is writing, and helping to explain the position of dignity and respect which he is found to occupy in the next chapter ( 2 Kings 2:11-14 ). The miracles showed his twofold power, both to confer benefits and to punish. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 2:23

And he went up from thence unto Bethel. The ascent is steep and long from the Jordan valley to the highlands of Benjamin, on which Bethel stood, probably one of not less than three thousand feet. The object of Elisha's visit may have been to inform the "sons of the prophets" at Bethel ( 2 Kings 2:3 ) of the events that had befallen Elijah. And as he was going up by the way— i.e; by the usual road or pathway, for, in the strict sense of the word, roads did not exist in Palestine— there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 2:23-25

Ridicule. "And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going," etc. These verses lead us to consider ridicule in three aspects. I. AS INFAMOUSLY DIRECTED . 1. Directed against an old man on account of his supposed personal defects . "Go up, thou bald head!" This meant, perhaps, "Go up, as Elijah has gone, if thou canst; we want to get rid of thee." Though baldness of the bead is not always a sign of age, Elisha was undoubtedly far advanced in years. Nothing is... read more

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