John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan , etc.] Which, according to Josephus f75 , was fifty furlongs, or upwards of six miles, distant from Gilgal: and take thence every man a beam ; by cutting down the trees that grew there; for Mr. Maundrell says f76 , the banks of Jordan are beset with bushes and trees, which are an harbour for wild beasts; and another traveller f77 observes, that it is shadowed on both sides with poplars, alders, etc. and who speaks of their cutting down boughs from the trees when there: and let us make us a place there where we may dwell : near the banks of Jordan, which they might choose for the seclusion and pleasantness of the situation, or because Elijah was taken up to heaven near it, as Abarbinel thinks; from whence it appears that these scholars were far from living an idle life; for they were not only trained up in useful learning, but were employed in trades and manufactures, to which they had been brought up, and knew how to fell timber, and build houses: and he answered, go ye ; he gave them leave, without which they did not choose to do anything.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - There is that pleasantness in the converse of servants of God, whic can make those who listen to them forget the pain and the weariness of labour. Even the sons of the prophets must not be unwilling to labour Let no man think an honest employment a burden or a disgrace. An labour of the head, is as hard, and very often harder, than labour with the hands. We ought to be careful of that which is borrowed, as of ou own, because we must do as we would be done by. This man was s respecting the axe-head. And to those who have an honest mind, the sorest grievance of poverty is, not so much their own want an disgrace, as being rendered unable to pay just debts. But the Lor cares for his people in their smallest concerns. And God's grace can thus raise the stony iron heart, which is sunk into the mud of thi world, and raise up affections, naturally earthly.
Original Hebrew נלכה1980 נא4994 עד5704 הירדן3383 ונקחה3947 משׁם8033 אישׁ376 קורה6982 אחת259 ונעשׂה6213 לנו שׁם8033 מקום4725 לשׁבת3427 שׁם8033 ויאמר559 לכו׃1980
