2 Kings 2 16

2 Kings 2:16 kjv

And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

2 Kings 2:16 nkjv

Then they said to him, "Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send anyone."

2 Kings 2:16 niv

"Look," they said, "we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley." "No," Elisha replied, "do not send them."

2 Kings 2:16 esv

And they said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the LORD has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send."

2 Kings 2:16 nlt

"Sir," they said, "just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has left him on some mountain or in some valley." "No," Elisha said, "don't send them."

2 Kings 2 verses

2 Kings 2 16 Meaning

2 Kings 2:16 records the persistent request of the "sons of the prophets" to Elisha after Elijah's ascension. Despite Elisha's knowing witness to Elijah's departure to heaven, these prophetic disciples, observing the scene from a distance, suggest that Elijah might have merely been supernaturally transported to an earthly location by the Spirit of the LORD, thus prompting them to send fifty strong men to search for him. Elisha, fully aware of Elijah's heavenly ascent, initially resists their request, indicating their human perspective lacked divine understanding.

2 Kings 2 16 Context

This verse is part of the pivotal narrative describing the departure of the prophet Elijah and the transfer of his prophetic mantle to Elisha. Preceding this, Elijah had supernaturally crossed the Jordan, asked Elisha for a final request (a double portion of his spirit), and then was taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire. The "sons of the prophets," a group of prophetic disciples or members of prophetic schools, had witnessed the spectacular separation of Elijah and Elisha from afar (2 Ki 2:7). Though they acknowledged the supernatural nature of Elijah's departure by stating "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha" (2 Ki 2:15), their understanding remained largely bound to physical reality. Their suggestion in verse 16 reveals a lack of full comprehension of the nature of Elijah's ascension, presuming he might merely have been relocated on earth. This immediately precedes Elisha's first miraculous act as Elijah's successor, healing the bitter waters of Jericho (2 Ki 2:19-22), solidifying his new authority. The immediate historical context is the divided kingdom of Israel, under a succession of unfaithful kings (Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram), desperately needing prophetic guidance amidst prevalent Baal worship and societal decline.

2 Kings 2 16 Word analysis

• Then they said to him, the sons of the prophets:

  • They: Refers to the "sons of the prophets," literally b’nei hanevi’im (בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים), meaning "disciples" or "members of prophetic guilds." This term indicates those trained in prophetic ministries, not necessarily literal biological offspring. Their collective voice implies a shared perception and desire for certainty.
  • Sons of the prophets: These were prophetic students, part of a formal or informal training system initiated perhaps by Samuel (1 Sam 10:5; 19:20). They are sincere but often lacking the full spiritual depth of a primary prophet like Elijah or Elisha, thus their misunderstanding here.

• "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; please let them go and search for your master; lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has carried him away and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.":

  • Behold now: A common introductory interjection, drawing attention to a matter of perceived urgency.
  • your servants: A respectful but perhaps subtly assertive address, implying their readiness to act.
  • fifty strong men: Ḥamishim anashim bene-khayil (חֲמִשִּׁים אֲנָשִׁים בְּנֵי-חָיִל). "Strong" (khayil) here implies men of vigor, capable of physical exertion, emphasizing human strength and resourcefulness as a means to achieve a desired outcome. This highlights the human tendency to rely on physical capability and effort even in matters where divine intervention is primary.
  • let them go and search: A practical, human-centric approach to a supernatural event. It reveals a desire for physical verification, born of uncertainty and a limited understanding of how God works beyond physical sight.
  • your master: Referring to Elijah, highlighting Elisha's perceived status as Elijah's successor, yet also subtly questioning it by still thinking of Elijah as being possibly available on earth.
  • lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD: Pen nosato ruach YHVH (פֶּן נְשָׂאתוֹ רוּחַ יְהוָה).
    • Spirit of the LORD: Ruach Yahweh (רוּחַ יְהוָה), the Holy Spirit, the divine force of God. They correctly identify the agent of transport but misunderstand the destination. This shows they have some knowledge of prophetic phenomena, as divine transport by the Spirit was known (1 Ki 18:12; Ez 3:12).
    • carried him away and cast him: The Hebrew verb nasa (נָשָׂא) means "to lift, carry, bear." Shalakh (שָׁלַךְ) means "to cast, throw, send." The combination implies an immediate, perhaps forceful, relocation by divine power, reflecting the idea of instantaneous transport known in some prophetic encounters.
  • upon some mountain or into some valley: This specific detail reveals their earthly perspective. Their limited understanding suggests Elijah, despite being supernaturally moved, would still be confined to earthly geography, missing the heavenly reality of his ascent. This implies a lack of polemic against the existence of God's spirit's power, but against the true nature of the event witnessed.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "fifty strong men; please let them go and search for your master": This phrase encapsulates human reliance on numerical strength and physical effort in the face of spiritual mystery. It contrasts human capability (strong men, searching) with divine omnipotence and transcendent acts. It echoes skepticism or insufficient faith where clear revelation is already present (Elisha's witness).
  • "lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has carried him away and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.": This entire clause represents a partial understanding mixed with conjecture. They acknowledge God's supernatural power ("Spirit of the LORD has carried him away") but limit its scope to earthly boundaries ("upon some mountain or into some valley"). This reflects a naturalistic interpretation of a fully supernatural event, an inherent human difficulty in grasping transcendent divine actions beyond earthly comprehension.

2 Kings 2 16 Bonus section

The scenario in 2 Kings 2:16, where well-intentioned but misguided spiritual seekers insist on confirming a supernatural event through physical means, can be seen as a microcosm of faith journeys. The "sons of the prophets" were familiar with prophetic phenomena (like the Spirit transporting people) and showed respect for Elisha. Their error wasn't malice, but a lack of comprehensive spiritual discernment concerning an unprecedented divine act. Their persistence also implies a level of spiritual immaturity that Elisha, in his wisdom, decided to allow to play out, rather than immediately confront and potentially alienate them. This act of "searching" served as a practical demonstration of the truth: sometimes the truth isn't found by human exertion in earthly realms but revealed through divine means, accepted by faith. This event served as an important lesson for Elisha's prophetic school: some mysteries of God are simply beyond natural human discovery and require supernatural insight or pure faith.

2 Kings 2 16 Commentary

2 Kings 2:16 showcases a recurring theme in biblical narratives: the tension between human reason/sight and divine revelation/faith. The "sons of the prophets," though spiritual trainees, exhibit a very human skepticism. They have witnessed remarkable signs and even acknowledged the spiritual power transferring to Elisha, yet they cannot fully grasp Elijah's extraordinary departure into heaven. Their minds default to a scenario comprehensible within their natural understanding—divine transportation to another earthly location—rather than full ascension. Their insistence on sending "fifty strong men" underlines a misplaced reliance on human strength and exhaustive physical effort for something already revealed spiritually. Elisha's initial resistance to their proposal, and subsequent acquiescence "lest he disturb them" (2 Ki 2:17), subtly teaches the futility of human searching for that which God has already openly provided or completed. It demonstrates the profound gap between those with spiritual sight (Elisha) and those operating from a limited, physical perspective, however well-intentioned. This short interaction serves to reinforce the truly unique nature of Elijah's ascension and highlights Elisha's superior spiritual discernment and full grasp of God's actions. It subtly cautions against imposing human limitations on God's omnipotence and providential ways.

• Example 1: Modern-day believers insisting on finding a rational, scientific explanation for every biblical miracle, even when the text clearly indicates a supernatural event, akin to seeking Elijah in a valley.
• Example 2: Churches or individuals focusing solely on impressive programs or human efforts to grow the kingdom, without acknowledging or relying upon the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit.
• Example 3: Persistent doubt or anxiety about God's plan, despite clear biblical promises or divine indications, leading to endless 'searching' or worrying about what God has already declared.