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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2 Kings 2:10

Thou hast asked a hard thing Because it was not Elijah's to bestow. He knew that except for God's strengthening power and comforting revelations his own heart would often have fainted. He therefore leaves the result to depend on God's judgement. If He permit Elisha to behold the assumption, then it shall be for a token that the petition is granted, and Elisha counted worthy to be blessed as he desires.

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See also 2 Kings 2:10 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Kings 2:10. _A HARD THING_] This is what is not in _my_ power, God alone can give this; yet _if thou see me taken away from thee, it_ _shall be so_. Perhaps this means no more than, "If thou...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    It would be better to omit the words “when I am,” which are not in the original. The sign was to be Elisha’s seeing the actual translation, which he did 2 Kings 2:12....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. ELIJAH'S TRANSLATION CHAPTER 2:1-11 _ 1. From Gilgal to Jordan (2 Kings 2:1)_ 2. The divided Jordan (2 Kings 2:7) 3. Elisha's request (2 Kings 2:9) 4. Elijah goes up to heaven in a whirlwind ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 KINGS 1:1 TO 2 KINGS 2:25. LAST DAYS AND ASCENSION OF ELIJAH: ELISHA ESTABLISHED AS HIS SUCCESSOR. Here we have perhaps a third Elijah narrative, in which the prophet is represented as playing a par...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    NEVERTHELESS. The verse needs no italics. SEE. clearly see....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 357 ELIJAH’S TRANSLATION TO HEAVEN 2 Kings 2:9. 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....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    B. ELIJAH'S FINAL WORDS WITH ELISHA 2:6-10 TRANSLATION (6) And Elijah said to him, Stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ Thou hast asked a hard thing - an extrao...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ELIJAH'S TRANSLATION TO HEAVEN The great service rendered to Israel by the prophet whose life is here closed was the stand which he made for the religion of Jehovah when its supremacy was threatened b...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE LAST KINGS OF *ISRAEL AND *JUDAH BOOK OF 2 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 2 GOD TAKES ELIJAH TO HEAVEN * God had promised Elijah that Elisha would continue his work (1 Kings 19:16). In this c...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THOU HAST ASKED A HARD THING. — Because to grant such a petition was not in Elijah’s own power, but in God’s only. And therefore in the next words the prophet connects the fulfilment of his follower’s...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֖אמֶר הִקְשִׁ֣יתָ לִ שְׁאֹ֑ול אִם ־תִּר

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    ELISHA 2 Kings 2:1 "He did wonders in his life, and at death even his works were marvelous. For all this the people repented not." - Sir 48:14-15 AT this point we enter into the cycle of supernatur...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FITTED TO SUCCEED HIS MASTER 2 Kings 2:1 We are at a loss whether to admire most the humility of Elijah or the pertinacity of Elisha. The humility of the former is very beautiful. An ordinary man wou...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    There is something pathetic and even weird in these final movement's of Elijah, as we see him accompanied by Elisha, and watched by the prophets. It would seem as though he tried to escape into loneli...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Hard thing. Hebrew literally, "thou art hardened to ask" a thing so difficult, and which I have not the power to grant. But I will pray that thou mayst receive it; (Calmet) and I feel confident that t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Elijah's question differs from Elisha's answer. What shall I do for thee! Whereas what Elisha desired, was not what Elijah could do. He had not the gifts of the spirit at his disposal. The departing p...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It has been already remarked that the mission, or, at any rate, the proper ministry of Elijah closed with his own complaint against the children of Israel. God took him at his word. He pleaded against...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    And now we reach the end of the troubles and afflictions of this precious and faithful servant of God. And, if we do not find in his case the calmness of the ascension of Jesus, who, while blessing Hi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID, THOU HAST ASKED A HARD THING,.... Not a common privilege, but what is rarely enjoyed, and difficult to obtain, few are so favoured of God: NEVERTHELESS, IF THOU SEE ME WHEN I AM TAKEN FR...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _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]._ Ver. 10. _If thou see me when I am...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He said, Thou hast asked a hard thing_ A rare and singular blessing, which I cannot promise thee; which God only can give, and which he gives only when and to whom he pleases. _Nevertheless, if thou...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Elijah, taking his leaue of Elisha, with his mantle diuideth Iordan, 9 and granting Elisha his request, is taken vp by a fierie charet into heauen. 12 Elisha, diuiding Iordan with Elijahs mantle,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And he, Elijah, said, Thou hast asked a hard thing, one which was, in fact, not in Elijah's hands to bestow, but could be granted by God alone; NEVERTHELESS, IF THOU SEE ME WHEN I AM TAKEN FROM THEE,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    ELIJAH TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Though in 1 Kings 19:21 we read of Elisha following Elijah and becoming his servant, yet Elisha is not mentioned as identified with Elijah when Elijah later gave messages to Ahab (1 Kings 21:17) and t...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    THOU HAST ASKED A HARD THING: _ Heb._ thou hast done hard in asking...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    9-12 That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply, still exists as of old, and we are told to ask large supplies from it. Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    A HARD THING, i. e. a rare and singular blessing, which I cannot promise thee, which only God can give; and he gives it only when and to whom he pleaseth. IF NOT, IT SHALL NOT BE SO: this sign he prop...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Kings 2:10 said H559 (H8799) asked H7592 (H8800) thing H7185 (H8689) see H7200 (H8799) taken...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    SECTION 7. ELISHA ENTERS CANAAN TO TAKE POSSESSION OF IT FOR YHWH AND MOAB'S REBELLION AGAINST ISRAEL IS PUT DOWN WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES (2 KINGS 2:1 TO 2 KINGS 3:27). In our view the entry of Elish...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A. ELIJAH IS TAKEN AWAY BY YHWH INTO HEAVEN AND HIS SPIRIT COMES ON ELISHA WHO RE-ENTERS CANAAN (2 KINGS 2:1). In this remarkable account we have the first definite indication in Scripture that a man...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    The Elisha Miracles (2Ki 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 4:1 to 2 Kings 6:23), His Prophetic Involvement In The Victory Over Moab (2 Kings 3:1), And Further Subsequent

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Kings 2:1 The account of Elijah's translation suggests: I. That the life of man is absolutely at the disposal of the Lord. (1) God knows when our work is done. (2) We are taken from a lower to a h...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Translation of Elijah. Faith of Elisha. Theological students and their unbelief. Elisha's miracle. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Elisha, Elijah. CONCLUSION: Those who know they are soon go...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Kings 2:1. _When the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven._ The LXX read, ως εις τον ουρανον, _as into heaven._ They mean to say, that he did not ascend higher than paradise, as in John 3:13. 2 Kin...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And it came to pass when the Lord would take up Elijah._ ELIJAH TRANSLATED I. In the glorious end of Elijah’s earthly life we see not simply the reward of one faithful man, but the Divine grace mani...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:1 Elisha and Israel. Elijah’s ministry has been coming to a close since 1 Kings 19:15, where Elijah was told to anoint Elisha as his successor.

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 2:10 YOU HAVE ASKED A HARD THING. It is unclear how Elisha’s request can be hard, since Elisha has been chosen by God to succeed Elijah....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH TO HEAVEN CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 2 Kings 2:1. ELIJAH WENT WITH ELISHA FROM GILGAL—Not the Gilgal in Judah, but the Gilgal (now Jilgil) in Ephraim, near Ebal and Ge...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 2:1 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 marv

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so it came to pass, when the LORD would take Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal (2 Kings 2:1). So the time is come when Elijah is going to depart the earth...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 2:12; Acts 1:10; Acts 1:9; John 16:24; Mark 11:22...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    ELISHA, THE PROPHET OF MIRACLES 2 Kings 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Elijah had lived a good life, and had rendered a faithful ministry. The time had come, however, for him to go to be with his Lord. As...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    A hard thing — A rare and singular blessing, which I cannot promise thee, which only God can give; and he gives it only when, and to whom he pleaseth. If thou seest — This sign he proposed, not withou...

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