II KINGS 1; II KINGS 2:1-18 ELIJAH AND ELISHA

First an overview of these two chapters, in which the mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha, is in order.

Chapter 1 can be outlined as follows:

    A. Introduction: King Ahaziah's injury (vv. 1-2)

        B. Angel sends Elijah to relay message to the king (vv. 3-8)

            C. Group of 50 men sent and are killed (vv. 9-10)

            C'. Group of 50 men sent and are killed (vv. 11-12)

            C''. Group of 50 men sent and are spared (vv. 13-14)

        B'. Angel reassures Elijah and he gives message to the king (vv. 15-16)

    A'. Conclusion: King Ahaziah dies (vv. 17-18)

Notice the repetition of language three times in the center with a different result after the third time. This is similar to the plot of many folk tales and fairy stories. We will see it also in II Kings 2.

Chapter 2 appears to be a collection of three different tales held together with an inclusio noting travel details (from Gilgal in v. 1 and to Samaria in v. 25). The first two stories are especially interwoven:

    A. “Stay here,” “I will not leave you,” so they went to Bethel (v. 2)

        B. Company of prophets quiz Elisha and he tells them “keep silent” (v. 3)

    A'. “Stay here,” “I will not leave you,” so they went to Jericho (v. 4)

        B'. Company of prophets quiz Elisha and he tells them “keep silent” (v. 5)

    A''. “Stay here,” “I will not leave you,” so they went to Jordan (v. 6)

        B''. Company of prophets come also (v. 7)

            C. Elijah takes off his mantle and parts the Jordan River (v. 7)

                D. Transfer of God's Spirit (vv. 9-12)

            C'. Elisha puts on Elijah's mantle and parts the Jordan River (vv. 13-14)

        B'''. Company of prophets search for Elijah (vv. 15-18)

Note how verse 7 does double duty in concluding the parallel series that preceded it and also opening the chiasm that follows. The number “50” appears twice in Chapter 2 to tie this chapter into the previous one. The number “2” acts as the opening and closing to Section D.

A pair of short twinned miracles closes out this chapter. In both, Elisha speaks in the name of the LORD, and both begin with references to people in the respective cities. The first miracle (see post on Miracles of Knowledge for more comments) is positive in nature while the second (discussed in my post on II Kings 2:23-25) is negative.

1:1 The statements regarding Omri and his son oppressing Moab and Mesha's subsequent rebellion are confirmed by the Moabite Stone discovered in 1868. The rebellion can thus be put in the second year of Ahaziah's reign.

1:10,12 Almost identical wording is used by Jesus' disciples in Luke 9:54 when they wish to wipe out a Samaritan village that did not receive them. This is the only time in the Old Testament where a “man of God” (i.e., a prophet or holy man) uses the expression to refer to himself. (Hamilton)

Chapter 2 has parallels to Christ's last days: “tarry here,” “I will not leave you,” “double portion,” “in a 

little while you will not see me,” clothes rent in two, “my father,” “hold your peace,” resurrection, 

“receive spirit,” taking mantle, “after three days,” couldn't find master, healing water, mockers, “go up.”

 

2:8 Elijah returns to Gilead where he was born.

2:9 The expression “double portion” means the share due to an oldest son. It does not mean that Elisha wanted twice the spirit as Elijah possessed.

2:11-12 The traditional site of this event is the same area where John the Baptist performed his baptisms. “It is quite possible that John chose this baptismal site deliberately in order to hint that he was the eschatological Elijah.” (Riesner)

2:9-15 Provan explains that just as Elijah is pictured as a sort of new Moses, so Elisha his successor is characterized as a new Joshua. Similarities include the scenes where successors are chosen, followed by crossings of the Jordan.

2:14 The wording in Hebrew may infer that the first striking did not part the water. Emphasis needs to

be on God's actions, not Elijah's.

 

2:18 Elisha can't resist saying, I told you so.” But they did need to be reprimanded for not believing that their Elijah was gone forever. After all, they had been warned ahead of time that this event was going to happen that day (see verses 3 and 5); they recognized that Elisha now had Elijah's spirit; and Elisha had told them point blank that they were not going to find Elijah.

I see a lesson for us today in the behavior of the band of prophets. Why is it that even after reading Jesus' statements regarding the total unexpected nature of his Second Coming and the fact that his followers will be subjected to times of great tribulation before it occurs are prophetic experts still telling us that (a) we need not be surprised by his Coming if we just keep track of the various signs and tick them off our list as they occur and (b) we need not worry about any great tribulations on earth because Jesus will rapture us away before the rest of the population suffers? I think the simple answer is that we believe what we want to believe, the scenario which will be to our own personal benefit.