2 Kings 2
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Kings chapter 2, the account continues the story of the decline and exile of Israel and Judah. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Kings 2:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
2 Kings 2:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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 ye your peace.
2 Kings 2:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, {As} the LORD liveth, and {as} thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
2 Kings 2:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And the sons of the prophets that {were} at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know {it}; hold ye your peace.
2 Kings 2:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, {As} the LORD liveth, and {as} thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
2 Kings 2:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. {to view: Heb. in sight, or, over against}
2 Kings 2:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped {it} together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2 Kings 2:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
2 Kings 2:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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}. {Thou hast...: Heb. Thou hast done hard in asking}
2 Kings 2:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
2 Kings 2:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And Elisha saw {it}, and he 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.
2 Kings 2:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; {bank: Heb. lip}
2 Kings 2:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where {is} the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
2 Kings 2:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
2 Kings 2:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {strong...: Heb. sons of strength} {some mountain: Heb. one of the mountains}
2 Kings 2:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
2 Kings 2:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
2 Kings 2:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {barren: Heb. causing to miscarry}
2 Kings 2:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought {it} to him.
2 Kings 2:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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}.
2 Kings 2:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
2 Kings 2:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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 bald head; go up, thou bald head.
2 Kings 2:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
2 Kings 2:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 2:25 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.