John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho , etc.] For though this place was lately rebuilt under a curse to the builder, yet was blessed with a school of the prophets: whose disciples came to Elisha, and said unto him; as in ( 2 Kings 2:3) and to whom he made the same reply.
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 ויגשׁו5066 בני1121 הנביאים5030 אשׁר834 ביריחו3405 אל413 אלישׁע477 ויאמרו559 אליו413 הידעת3045 כי3588 היום3117 יהוה3068 לקח3947 את853 אדניך113 מעל5921 ראשׁך7218 ויאמר559 גם1571 אני589 ידעתי3045 החשׁו׃2814
