2 Kings 2:16-18

II. ELISHA AND THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS 2:16-25

With the departure of Elijah, Elisha became the father of the prophetic schools. The first official acts of the new leader of the sons of the prophets are related in the remaining verses of chapter 2. Here is recorded (1) his decision regarding a request made by the prophetic students (2 Kings 2:16-18); (2) his healing of the noxious waters at Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22); and (3) his cursing of the youths at Bethel (2 Kings 2:23-25).

A. THE REQUEST OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS 2:16-18

TRANSLATION

(16) And they said unto him, Behold, we pray you, there are with your servants fifty men of strength. Let us go, we pray you, that we may seek your master lest the spirit of the LORD lifted him up and cast him down in one of the mountains or in one of the valleys. And he said, Do not send. (17) And they urged him until he was ashamed, and said, Send. And they sent fifty men, and they sought three days, and did not find him. (18) And they returned unto him (now he was waiting in Jericho), And he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Do not go?

COMMENTS

The sons of the prophets, having been informed of the ascension of Elijah, were quite concerned about the well-being of their former master. They assumed that the Spirit of God had whisked Elijah away only to cast him down in some remote and barren place. Thus they requested that Elisha give permission for fifty of the more robust men among them to make a thorough search of the rocky ridges and ravines of the Transjordan territory. They could not bear the thought of leaving the old prophet in such a barren spot. Elisha knew that the effort would be futile and so he rejected the first petition made of him as leader of the prophetic band (2 Kings 2:16). The sons of the prophets, however, continued to urge Elisha to permit them to undertake the search until he was ashamed to refuse them any longer, and he reluctantly gave them the permission which they sought. Fifty men searched for three days, and of course found nothing (2 Kings 2:17). Elisha waited patiently at Jericho for the zealous young men to return from their futile mission. It was not because of vain pride, but because his veracity and wisdom to some extent had been questioned that Elisha reminded these young men of his previous advice to them (2 Kings 2:18).