2 Kings 2 18

2 Kings 2:18 kjv

And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

2 Kings 2:18 nkjv

And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

2 Kings 2:18 niv

When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"

2 Kings 2:18 esv

And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

2 Kings 2:18 nlt

Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. "Didn't I tell you not to go?" he asked.

2 Kings 2 verses

2 Kings 2 18 Meaning

This verse serves as Elisha’s gentle but firm rebuke and validation after the sons of the prophets futilely searched for Elijah. Elisha’s rhetorical question, "Did I not tell you that ye should not go?", highlights their insistence on human effort over his divinely-given counsel and confirms his prescience regarding Elijah's ascension, thereby establishing his own prophetic authority.

2 Kings 2 18 Context

This verse directly follows the account of Elijah's miraculous ascension to heaven and Elisha receiving his mantle and a double portion of his spirit. The "sons of the prophets"—a guild or community of prophetic disciples—witnessed the whirlwind that took Elijah, but misunderstood the spiritual nature of his departure. Convinced that the Spirit might have merely carried Elijah to another geographical location, they vehemently insisted, despite Elisha's strong initial discouragement (v. 16), on sending fifty strong men to search for him. Their three-day search proved fruitless (v. 17). Elisha's stay in Jericho connects him to the place where both Elijah and he had previously ministered, a city known for its past curse but now repopulated. The verse serves as the confirmation of their misguided human endeavor, contrasting with Elisha's prior divine knowledge and established prophetic authority.

2 Kings 2 18 Word analysis

• When they came again: Refers to the "fifty strong men" from the "sons of the prophets" (v.17). "Again" signifies their return from their three-day, futile search, which they undertook despite Elisha's prior warning. This highlights their persistence in an unspiritual endeavor and the vindication of Elisha's counsel.
• to him,: Refers to Elisha. At this point, Elisha is fully established as the prophetic successor to Elijah, evidenced by his recent powerful miracles (parting the Jordan, healing the spring in Jericho).
• (for he tarried at Jericho,): The word "tarried" (Hebrew: יָשַׁב, yashab) means "to sit," "to dwell," "to remain." This parenthetical phrase explains Elisha's location. Jericho had been cursed by Joshua (Josh 6:26) never to be rebuilt, yet it was defiantly rebuilt by Hiel (1 Ki 16:34) and became a center for prophetic training. Elisha’s presence there implies an established center of prophetic activity or simply a significant geographical location in his early ministry.
• he said unto them,: Elisha’s pronouncement is definitive, not a query seeking information from them, but a statement of truth already known to him.
• Did I not tell you: (Hebrew: הֲלוֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם - ha'lo amar'ti aleikhem). This is a rhetorical question common in Hebrew, implying "Indeed I told you" or "Certainly I told you." It is not an interrogation but a gentle yet firm reminder of his earlier, unheeded counsel. It underscores the prophet's prior knowledge and their prior disregard.
• that ye should not go?: (Hebrew: לֹא תֵלֵכוּ - lo telechu). A direct and simple prohibition. Their going implied a distrust in Elisha’s understanding of a supernatural event and a belief that human effort could "find" Elijah.

• "When they came again to him,": This phrase emphasizes the cycle of their disobedience and its subsequent failure. They left despite Elisha's advice and returned, validating his earlier statement. It signals the culmination of a challenge to prophetic authority, followed by its re-establishment.
• "Did I not tell you that ye should not go?": This complete rhetorical question acts as Elisha's profound, yet subtle, vindication. It powerfully contrasts the limited, earthly understanding and physical search of the "sons of the prophets" with Elisha's superior, spiritual foresight. The outcome of their search provided undeniable proof that Elisha's divine knowledge was accurate and their human reasoning was flawed. This interaction solidifies Elisha's role as the legitimate recipient of Elijah's spirit and his new prophetic mantle, demonstrating the unsearchable nature of God's ways by human endeavor.

2 Kings 2 18 Bonus section

The "sons of the prophets" were likely not biological descendants of prophets, but rather members of a prophetic community or guild who studied and trained under established prophets. This incident highlights a tension that can exist even within spiritual communities: the inclination to rely on human reasoning and physical investigation instead of submitting to clear divine revelation or the authoritative word of a true prophet. Their initial disbelief or desire to verify supernatural events for themselves underscores a common human struggle with faith. This short exchange significantly bolsters Elisha's credibility among these prophetic students and marks a turning point where his prophetic authority is publicly established through undeniable evidence, not just by inheritance.

2 Kings 2 18 Commentary

This concise verse in 2 Kings 2:18 serves as the poignant culmination of the "sons of the prophets'" misguided enterprise. Having witnessed Elijah's ascension, they clung to a natural, rather than spiritual, interpretation of the event, insisting on a physical search for him despite Elisha's explicit and divine foreknowledge that such a quest would be fruitless. Elisha, remaining at Jericho, patiently awaited their inevitable return. His question, "Did I not tell you that ye should not go?", is a rhetorical affirmation of his prophetic integrity and a gentle rebuke for their stubbornness and lack of trust. It highlights a critical biblical principle: divine truth, especially concerning the supernatural, is not discovered or confirmed by human logic, empirical search, or persistence of will, but is apprehended by spiritual discernment and trust in God's revealed word through His chosen instruments. Their failure demonstrated Elisha's true prophetic authority and confirmed God's continued operation through him, solidifying his new leadership role without needing any boastful declaration. The incident emphasizes that some spiritual realities are beyond human grasp and attempts to prove them physically only confirm the limitations of the natural mind when confronted with the divine.
Example: Just as the "sons of the prophets" fruitlessly searched for Elijah against prophetic counsel, individuals might similarly expend much effort and resources trying to solve problems using human wisdom alone, when the solution or understanding requires simple trust in God's clearly revealed word or wisdom given through His Spirit.