John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together , etc.] Folded it up close together, in a position to smite with it; this is thought to be not his hairy garment, but a shorter robe, that was worn upon his shoulders; but the Greek version renders it by “melotes”, and so in ( 2 Kings 2:14), which, according to Isidore f11 , was a goat’s skin, hanging down from the neck, and girt at the loins; and being thus clothed, perhaps, may be the reason of his being called an hairy man, ( 2 Kings 1:8), and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither ; just as Moses lifted up his rod, and the waters of the sea were divided for the Israelites: so that they two went over on dry ground ; in like manner as the Israelites did through the sea.
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 ויקח3947 אליהו452 את853 אדרתו155 ויגלם1563 ויכה5221 את853 המים4325 ויחצו2673 הנה2008 והנה2008 ויעברו5674 שׁניהם8147 בחרבה׃2724
