2 Kings 2
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Summary
The prophet Elisha and the other prophets know that Elijah will be translated by the Lord. Elijah divides the waters of the Jordan River and is taken up into heaven. Elijah’s mantle falls on Elisha. Elisha cleanses the waters of Jericho. Youths are killed by bears for mocking Elisha.
Commentary
Bible Central Commentary
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Historical Commentaries
Many of the commentaries below are in the public domain and were authored over 100 years ago. In many cases, they do not reflect the findings of modern scholarship, but they may be helpful for understanding the history of biblical scholarship.
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Historical Settings
Time
*All Dates Are Approximate, according to the narrative of the Bible. These dates may reflect literary significance as opposed to the precise dates of history.
See Biblical ChronologyFurther Reading
Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, “Is the Spirit of Elijah a Healing Power in Addition to Being a Sealing Power?” Interpreter Foundation, 6 August 2018.
Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, “What Should We Make of the Story of Elisha and the Bears?” Interpreter Foundation, 7 August 2018.
Franklin D. Day, “Elijah: LDS Sources” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1992), 1:450–451.
Mary Finlayson, “Elijah, Spirit of,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1992), 1:452.
E. Dale LeBaron, “Elijah’s Mission: His Keys, Powers, and Blessings from the Old Testament to the Latter Days,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament, ed. Paul Y. Hoskisson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2005), 283–97.
R. J. Zvi Werblowski, “Elijah: Ancient Sources” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1992), 1:451–452.
Fred E. Woods, “Elisha and the Children: The Question of Accepting Prophetic Succession,” in BYU Studies Quarterly 32 no. 3 (1992): 47–58.
Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry (1706)
Commentary on the Bible
Adam Clarke (1831)
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable
Thomas Constable
Rashi’s Commentary
Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki)
Notes on the Bible
Albert Barnes (1834)
Exposition of the Entire Bible
John Gill (1746–63)
Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch (1857–78)
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
John Wesley (1754–65)