Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 2

AND it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

a This he desires, Either, 1. That he being left alone, might better prepare himself for his great Change. Or, 2. Out of his Humility and Modesty: he desired no Witnesses of his Glorious Removal▪ and no Fame and Glory from it. Or, 3. Out of Indulgence to Elisha, that he might not be overwhelmed with Grief at so sad a sight. Or, 4. That he might trie his Love, and whet his desire to accompany him; it being highly convenient for God's honour, and the Churches good, (which Elijah sought above all things) that there should be Witnesses of so glorious a Translation.

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee: for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel : and Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

Which was truth, but not the whole truth: for he was to go a far longer Journey. But he was first to go to Bethel, as also to Iericho, to the Schools of the Prophets there, that he might comfort, and strengthen their hearts in God's Work, and give them his last and dying Counsels.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 1▪ [illegible: 1+ letters]6.

3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel▪ came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it, hold you your peace .

This was Revealed to some of the Sons of the Prophets, and by them to the whole Colledge.

Heb. from above thy head: Which Phrase may respect, either, 1. The manner of sitting in Schools, where the Scholar sate at his Masters feet, Deut. 33. 3. Act. 22. 3. Or, 2. The manner of Elijah's Translation, which was to be by a Power sent from Heaven, to take him up thither.

Do not aggravate my grief, nor divert me with any unseasonable Discourses; that I may digest my Sorrow, and prepare my self for so great a Stroke, and diligently attend all my Masters steps, lest he be snatched away from me whilst I am talking with you; and that I may beg and obtain some great Blessing from him, before his departure.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

To observe this great Event, Elijah's 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 satisfie their own curiosity, as that they might be Witnesses of it to others.

Marginal references: Heb. in [illegible: 1+ letters]ight, or over against &c.

¶ 9 And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

Either, 1. Double to what is in thee. Which it seems not probable, that he had confidence either to ask, or to expect. Or, rather 2. Double to what the rest of the Sons of the Prophe[illegible: 1+ letters]s ma[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1+ letters]eceive at thy Request upon this occasion. He allude [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] double portion of the First-born, Deut. 21. 17. But though Elisha desired no more, yet God gave him more than he desired or expected; and he seems to have had a greater portion of the Prophetical and Miraculous Gifts of God's Spirit, than Elijah had.

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 .

i. e. A rare and singular Blessing, which I cannot promise thee, which onely God can give; and he gives it onely when, and to whom he pleaseth.

This Sign he proposed, not without the instinct and direction of God's Spirit, that hereby he might engage him more earnestly to wait, and more fervently to pray for this mercy.

Marginal references: Heb. Thou hast done hard in asking.

11 And it came to pass as they still went on and talked, that behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire , and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven .

A bright Cloud formed into such a likeness, managed by Holy and Blessed Angels sent from Heaven to Conduct him thither.

Into the Third Heaven, being in the way so transformed and changed, as might make him meet to be admitted into those blessed Mansions.

Marginal references: Chap. 6. 17.

12 ¶ And Elisha saw it, and cried, My father, my father , the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof . And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

So he calls him for his fatherly Affection to him, and for his fatherly Authority which by his Office he had over him, in which respect the Scholars of the Prophets are called their Sons, as 1 King. 20. 35.

Who by thy Example, and Counsels, and Prayers, and Power with God, didst more for the Defence and Preservation of Israel, than all their Chariots and Horses, or other Warlike Provisions. The expression alludes to the form of Chariots and Horses which he had seen.

Marginal references: Chap. 13, 14

13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah, that [illegible: 1+ letters]ell from him , and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan.

God so ordering it for Elisha's comfort, and the strengthning of his Faith, as a Pledge, that together with Elijah's Mantle, his Office and Spirit should rest upon him.

Marginal references: Heb. lip.

14 And he took the mantle of Elijah, that sell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah ? and when he had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Who at Elijah's Request divided these Waters, and is as able to do it again; and hath given me his Spirit, and Office, and therefore I humbly beg, and confidently expect his Assistance in this matter.

But these words are by many rendred otherwise, and that agreeably to the Hebrew, even himself? or, even the same? (which words they joyn with the former, as an Emphatical Addition, or Repetition, which is usual in fervent Prayers. But they may be rendered without an Interrogation, thus, Surely he is, to wit, here present, and ready to help me. Or, surely he is the same; to wit, to me, that he was to Elijah, as able and willing to work for me, as for Elijah. Then the following words they render, as they are in the Hebrew) and he smote the water, and it was divided. By which Repetition it may seem, that he smote it twice, and that at the first smiting, the success did not answer his desire and expectation. Which God so ordered, partly to keep him in a modest and humble sence of his own Insufficiency, that he might not be puffed up with the great Gifts which he had now received; Comp. 2 Cor. 12. 7. And partly, to stir him up to a more lively Exercise of Faith and Prayer, which followed God's denial or suspension of his help, as it is here expressed; which also was attended with desired success.

15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho, saw him , they said , The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him .

Or, as it is in the Hebrew, And the sons of the Prophets who lived in Iericho, saw him over-against them, from [illegible: 1+ letters]ome Hill where they stood at a convenient distance, to observe the Event, ver. 7.

Heb. and they said, [illegible: 1+ letters]ither by Revelation; or rather, by the visible Effects of it which they saw.

Thereby testifying their Reverence and Subjection to him as Elijah's Successor, and their Master and Teacher.

Marginal references: ver. 7.

16 ¶ And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men , let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest peradventure the spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley . And he said, Ye shall not send.

Able to take such a journey.

They thought, either 1. That God had not finally taken him away from them, but onely for a time; comp. 1 King. 18. 12. which they heartily desired, and therefore easily believed; or that God had onely taken away his Soul, and that his Body was cast down into some place, which they desired to seek, that they might give it an honourable Bu[illegible: 1+ letters]ial.

Marginal references: Heb. sons of strength.; Ezek. 8. 3. Act. 8. 39.; Heb. one of the Mountains

17 And when they urged him, till he was ashamed , he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men, and they sought three days, but found him not.

i. e. To wit, to deny them any longer, lest they should think his denial proceeded from a neglect of his Master, or a contempt of the Sons of the Prophets, or a secret content he took in his Masters loss, that he might have his Honour and Power. Or, till they were ashamed, because he did so oft, and so obstinately deny their Request.

19 ¶ And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren .

Either it was so Originally, at least, as to that part of the City where the Colledge of the Prophets was; for it is not necessary to understand this of the whole Territory: or, it became so from the Curse of God inflicted upon it, either when Ioshua first took it; or afterwards, when Hiel Rebuilt it. Howsoever, upon the Prophets care, it grew exceeding fruitful, and therefore is commended for its Fertility by later Writers.

Marginal references: Heb. causing to miscarry.

20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse , and put salt therein . And they brought it to him.

Partly, that there might be no ground of suspition, that the Cure was wrought by any natural Vertue of any thing which was, or had been in the Cruse before, but onely by God's Power: and partly, that there might be no Legal Pollution in it which might offend God, and hinder his Miraculous Operation by it.

A most improper Remedy; for Salt naturally makes Waters brackish, and Lands barren. Hereby therefore he would shew, That this was Effected solely by the Divine Power, which could work either without means, or against them.

21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there , and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters, there shall not be from thence any more death , or barren land.

Which was in it self idle and ineffectual, considering both the quality of Salt, and the small quantity of it, and the place where it was put; the Fountain which quickly works out any thing which is put into it; See Levit. 11. 36. but was onely used as a sign of God's Presence and Power, which did the thing; compare Exod. 15. 25. 2 King. 4. 41. and 6. 6.

i. e. Hurt, or Danger, as death is oft used, (as 2 Cor. 11. 23.) to Men or Beasts, by drinking of it, as formerly.

23 ¶ And he went up from thence unto Bethel : and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city , and mocked him , and said unto him, Go up , thou baldhead , go up thou bald-head .

To the other School or Colledge of Prophets, to inform them of Elijah's translation, and his succession into the same office; and to direct, and comfort, and stablish them, as he saw occasion.

Or, children: or, young men: as this Hebrew word oft signifies, as Gen. 22. 5, 12. and 41. 12. 2 Chr. 13. 7. Isa. 11. 6. It is more than probable they were old enough to discern between good and evil, as their expression sheweth.

Bethel, which was the mother-City of Idolatry, 1 King. 12. 28, 29. Hos. 4. 15. and 5. 8. where the Prophets planted themselves, that they might bear witness against it, and dissuade the people from it; though, it seems, they had but small success there.

With great petulancy and vehemency, as the conjugaiton of the Hebrew Verb signifies; deriding both his Person and Ministry, and that from a prophane contempt of the True Religion, and a passionate Love to that Idolatry which they knew he opposed.

Go up into Heaven, whither thou pretendest that Elijah is gone. Why didst not thou accompany thy Friend and Master to Heaven? O that the same Spirit would take thee up also, that thou mightest not trouble us nor our Israel, as Elijah did!

So they mock his Natural infirmity, which is a great sin.

There petition shews their heartiness and earnestness, that it was no sudden nor rash slip of their Tongue, but a scoff proceeding from a rooted impiety and hatred of God and his Prophets.

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the Name of the LORD : and there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

Nor was this punishment too great for the offence, if it be considered, that these Children were grown up to some maturity: See on v. 23. that their mocking proceeded from a great malignity of mind against God; that they mocked not onely a man, and an ancient man, whose very Age commanded reverence; and a Prophet; but even God himself, and that most Admirable and Glorious Work of God, the assumption of Elijah into Heaven, which makes it in some degree resemble the sin against the Holy Ghost. That they might be guilty of many other hainous Crimes, which God and the Prophet knew; and were guilty of Idolatry, which by Gods Law deserved death; that the Idolatrous Parents were punished in their Children; and that, if any of these Children were more innocent and ignorant of what they said, God might have Mercy upon their Souls, and then this death was not a misery, but a real blessing to them, that they were taken away from that wicked and Idolatrous Education which was most likely to expose them not onely to Temporal, but to an Eternal destruction.

Not from any carnal or revengeful passion, but by the motion of Gods Spirit, and by Gods command and commission, as appears by Gods concurrence with him. Which God did, partly, for the terror and caution of all other Idolaters and prophane persons who abounded in that place; partly, to vindicate the Honour, and maintain the Authority of his Prophets; and particularly, of Elisha, now especially in the beginning of his Sacred Ministry. And this did beget such a confidence in Elisha, that he durst venture to go into Bethel after this was done; and such a terror in the Bethelites, that they durst not avenge themselves of him.

Possibly robbed of their Whelps, and therefore more fierce, Prov. 17. 12. Hos. 13. 8. but certainly acted by an extraordinary fury, which God raised in them for this purpose.

This Hebrew word signifies not onely young Children, but those also who are grown up to maturity, as Gen. 32. 22. and 34. 4. and 37. 30. Ruth 1. 5.

25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel , and from thence he returned to Samaria .

Partly, to decline the fury of the People of Bethel: partly, that he might retire himself from men, and converse more freely with God, and so fit himself more for the discharge of his employment: and partly, that he might visit the Sons of the Prophets who lived in that place or near it.

By the direction of Gods Spirit for the service which he did, chap. 3. 11, &c.