John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And Elijah said unto Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee , etc.] Seemingly unwilling he should go with him, and be present at his assumption; which was either out of modesty, not affecting the spread of the honour and glory to be conferred upon him; or to prevent the grief of Elisha at his departure, or to try whether Elisha knew any thing of it, and what affection he had for him: for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel ; to give some comfort and some instruction and advice to the college of prophets there: and Elisha said unto him, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee ; being determined to see the last of him, and to have the benefit of his company and conversation, his heavenly discourse, and instruction from him as long as he could, and in hope of receiving a blessing from him at parting: so they went down to Bethel ; together, which, according to Bunting f8 , was six miles.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The Lord had let Elijah know that his time was at hand. He therefor went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his las exhortations and blessing. The removal of Elijah was a type and figur of the ascension of Christ, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Elisha had long followed Elijah, and he would not leav him now when he hoped for the parting blessing. Let not those wh follow Christ come short by tiring at last. The waters of Jordan, or old, yielded to the ark; now, to the prophet's mantle, as a token of God's presence. When God will take up his faithful ones to heaven death is the Jordan which they must pass through, and they find a wa through it. The death of Christ has divided those waters, that the ransomed of the Lord may pass over. O death, where is thy sting, the hurt, thy terror!
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 אליהו452 אל413 אלישׁע477 שׁב3427 נא4994 פה6311 כי3588 יהוה3068 שׁלחני7971 עד5704 בית אל1008 ויאמר559 אלישׁע477 חי2416 יהוה3068 וחי2416 נפשׁך5315 אם518 אעזבך5800 וירדו3381 בית אל׃1008
