Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
2 Kings 6:1-7
Elisha Causes An Axe Head To Float (2 Kings 6:1).
This seemingly trivial incident is probably intended by the prophetic author to lay emphasis on an important fact. Just as the axe head was borrowed or begged, and, on being lost, was recovered by Elisha, so the power of Israel was ‘borrowed' (or ‘begged') from YHWH (2 Kings 2:12), and having been lost was now being recovered by Elisha. It was also a reminder to the group of prophets that although the truth appeared to have sunk to the bottom in Israel, yet its cutting edge was being made available to them by God's power.
This need not necessarily be intended as a description of prophetic community life in general. It refers to only one small group, living together in a place too small for them, and therefore seemingly in straitened circumstances (unless it was simply because their number was growing). We know already from chapter 2 that there were communities of sons of the prophets at Jericho and at Bethel. Presumably this was the one at Jericho. It is apparent that this group lived as a community, and found that their present accommodation was too small for them. So they had determined to build new premises. ‘By the Jordan' was the source of their material, not the place where they built. Such an area would have been inhabited by wild animals, such as lions and wild boar, and fever ridden. But plenty of available wood was to be found there which was of a type that they, with their limited facilities, could utilise. They were presumably intending to build in or near Jericho, possibly at Gilgal.
The axe that was lost was not necessarily borrowed (the Hebrew word means ‘asked for') but it was certainly ‘begged for' in one way or another, which may be an indication of the poverty of the group. They could not afford to buy iron axes, which were very expensive in terms of what they possessed. Life was seemingly not easy for those who followed YHWH truly. So to lose an iron axe head was, for them, no trivial matter. It may indeed have been the only one that they had, their other available tools being flint axes. This story may also have been placed here as a contrast to the attitude and behaviour of Gehazi, who had used these poverty stricken sons of the prophets as an excuse in order to enrich himself. He had had his eyes on silver and gold and rich clothing. They could not even afford an iron axe head. But the lesson here was that God was their sufficiency.
Analysis.
a And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell before you is too restricted for us” 2 Kings 6:1).
b Let us go, we pray you, to the Jordan, and take from there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell” (2 Kings 6:2 a).
c And he answered, “Go you.” (2 Kings 6:2 b).
d And one said, “Be pleased, I pray you, to go with your servants” (2 Kings 6:3 a).
e And he answered, “I will go” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood (2 Kings 6:3).
d But as one was felling a beam, the axe-head fell into the water, and he cried, and said, “Alas, my master! for it was begged for” (2 Kings 6:5).
c And the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” (2 Kings 6:6 a).
b And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in there, and made the iron float (2 Kings 6:6 b).
a And he said, “Take it up to you.” So he put out his hand, and took it (2 Kings 6:7).
Note that in ‘a' their straitened circumstances are described, and in the parallel YHWH provides for them. In ‘b' they go to cut down timber for their enterprise, and in the parallel Elisha cuts down a stick in order to aid them in it. In ‘c' Elisha speaks to them, and the same in the parallel. In ‘d' one makes a request to him, and the same in the parallel. Centrally in ‘e' they all go down to the Jordan to begin their enterprise.
‘And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell before you is too restricted for us. Let us go, we pray you, to the Jordan, and take from there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell.” And he answered, “Go you.” '
The request of these faithful men to Elisha, on one of his visits, was for permission to take time off from their teaching work in order to build new premises for themselves. It does not indicate that Elisha lived with them, but it does bring out how faithful they were in their duties. They would not do it without his agreement. ‘Dwell before you' (literally ‘in seeing you') was deferential and simply indicated that they looked to him as their master.
They wanted permission to take time off in order to build larger premises. These would not be very luxurious. The timber available from by the Jordan was of the small tree variety (such as willow, tamarisk, acacia and plane trees), but it was nevertheless quite suitable for the kind of shelter that they were intending to build in the hot, dry climate of the Jordan rift valley. Elisha gave his permission. The fact that he was not expecting to go with them points to the fact that he was not the resident leader of that community.
‘And one said, “Be pleased, I pray you, to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” '
They then asked for his company while they were doing it. They wanted to take advantage of his being with them, and it would give them further opportunity to talk with him. Furthermore they respected his advice. They may also have felt that his presence would act as a protection against wild animals because they knew YHWH's special care for him. And he agreed to go with them.
‘So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.'
So they all went off to the Jordan and began to cut down wood.
‘But as one was felling a beam, the axe-head fell into the water, and he cried, and said, “Alas, my master! for it was begged for.” '
However, as one of them was at work cutting the timber that grew by the river the iron axe head that he was using came off the shaft and fell into the water. If it was the only iron axe head that they had we can understand why he was so distressed, especially as they did not have the resources to obtain a new one. Whether it was borrowed, or had been obtained by begging, is disputed. Either way it demonstrated their poverty.
‘And the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in there, and made the iron float.'
So ‘the man of God' (the change from Elisha to ‘man of God' suggests that a miracle was about to take place) asked, ‘where did it fall?', and on being informed cut down a stick and cast it on the water, and the result was that the iron floated.
‘And he said, “Take it up to you.” So he put out his hand, and took it.'
Then he told the man to reach out and pick it out of the water, which, as a result of the miracle he was able to do. By this lesson the prophets were made to recognise that without God the truth that they presented would have no cutting edge. It was also an indication to them that God would always help them in their difficulties, especially when disaster struck. The story is a reminder to us that life will not necessarily always go smoothly but that our Father is aware of our needs and of our circumstances, and will meet us at the point of our need when the time is right.