2 Kings 2:25 kjv
And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 2:25 nkjv
Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 2:25 niv
And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 2:25 esv
From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 2:25 nlt
From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 2 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 18:19-40 | Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table... | Elijah's iconic ministry on Mount Carmel, a prophetic precedent. |
| 2 Kgs 2:1-11 | When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind... | Elisha's call and succession from Elijah. |
| 2 Kgs 2:23-24 | He went up from there to Bethel... two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them. | The immediate preceding event: Elisha's judgment at Bethel. |
| 2 Kgs 3:1 | In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria... | Samaria as the political center where Elisha ministers. |
| 2 Kgs 4:8 | One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food... | Elisha's frequent travels across Israel during his ministry. |
| 2 Kgs 4:25 | So she set out and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her from a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant... | Another instance of Elisha being at Mount Carmel. |
| 2 Kgs 5:3 | She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” | Elisha's presence and ministry established in Samaria. |
| 2 Kgs 6:24-25 | After this, Ben-Hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria... famine in Samaria... | Samaria's suffering and vulnerability. |
| 2 Kgs 13:14-20 | Now Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die... Buried him in Samaria. | Elisha's death and burial point to his lasting presence in Samaria. |
| Jer 4:26 | I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger. | Figurative use of Carmel's beauty contrasting with desolation due to judgment. |
| Isa 35:2 | It shall blossom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. | Carmel as a symbol of beauty, fertility, and divine blessing. |
| Hos 8:5-6 | Samaria, cast off your calf; my anger burns against them... the calf of Samaria shall be shattered to bits. | Samaria's idolatry and impending judgment for its apostasy. |
| Amos 1:2 | The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers. | Carmel's potential for barrenness due to God's judgment, linking fertility to divine favor. |
| Amos 3:9-10 | Proclaim in the palaces of Ashdod and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria... | Samaria's injustice and impending divine scrutiny. |
| Mic 1:5-6 | All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? | Samaria as the embodiment of Israel's spiritual rebellion and idolatry. |
| John 4:4-5 | He had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob gave to his son Joseph. | Jesus's journey through Samaria, signifying spiritual openness beyond traditional Jewish boundaries. |
| Acts 1:8 | You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria... | Jesus's mandate for the gospel to spread to Samaria. |
| Acts 8:5-8 | Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention... | The spread of the Gospel to Samaria, indicating divine work even in previously hostile or apostate regions. |
2 Kings 2 verses
2 Kings 2 25 Meaning
Following the pronouncement of judgment at Bethel, Elisha traveled to Mount Carmel, a place renowned for its spiritual significance due to Elijah's earlier confrontation with the prophets of Baal. From there, he completed his circuit by returning to Samaria, the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel. This movement establishes Elisha's itinerary at the commencement of his prophetic ministry, marking key locations for spiritual grounding and engagement with the nation's heart.
2 Kings 2 25 Context
This verse immediately follows Elisha's first powerful display as a prophet: the cursing of the disrespectful youths at Bethel, resulting in a bear attack. It is the conclusion of the itinerary described at the start of Chapter 2, where Elisha accompanied Elijah from Gilgal, to Bethel, and then to Jericho, before Elijah was taken up to heaven across the Jordan River. Elisha then returned to Jericho and then went to Bethel. Verse 25 delineates the next steps in Elisha's movements, setting the stage for his subsequent ministry. The mention of Mount Carmel harks back to Elijah's defining moment, subtly suggesting a continuity of prophetic legacy and authority. Samaria, as the capital, was the focal point of the Northern Kingdom's religious apostasy and political power, making it a crucial center for a prophet of God.
2 Kings 2 25 Word analysis
- From there (וּמִשָּׁם - ū-mishām): A conjunction ("and") followed by a preposition ("from") and a pronominal suffix ("there"). This clearly indicates movement away from the previously mentioned location, Bethel. Its repetition in the verse ("and from there") serves to mark distinct points of departure, emphasizing Elisha's sequential, purposeful travel.
- he went (הָלַךְ - hālakh): A common Hebrew verb meaning "to go" or "to walk." It's a straightforward action verb, portraying Elisha's direct movement without specific elaboration on the mode of travel.
- to Mount Carmel (אֶל-הַר הַכַּרְמֶל - el-har ha-Karmel):
- to (אֶל - el): A preposition indicating direction or destination.
- Mount (הַר - har): A noun referring to a mountain or hill.
- Carmel (הַכַּרְמֶל - ha-Karmel): A proper noun, "the Carmel." The name means "garden land" or "fruitful place," renowned for its beauty and fertility. More significantly, it was the site of Elijah's great contest with the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18). Elisha's visit connects him physically and symbolically to the established prophetic heritage and power displayed there. This might have been a time of spiritual reflection, consolidation, or communion with other "sons of the prophets" who may have resided there.
- he returned (וַיָּשָׁב - wa-yāshāv): A consecutive waw with the verb "to return" or "to turn back." This signifies that Samaria was either his established base, or a place he frequented and now was returning to, to engage in active ministry.
- to Samaria (אֶל-שֹׁמְרוֹן - el-Shomron): The capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Founded by King Omri (1 Kgs 16:24), it became the seat of Israelite idolatry under Ahab and Jezebel. Elisha's return to Samaria signifies his intent to perform his prophetic duties at the very center of national life, and often, national apostasy. His presence in the capital means a direct confrontation, or interaction, with the monarchy.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "From there he went to Mount Carmel": This movement indicates a deliberate journey towards a significant spiritual site, possibly for retreat, seeking divine counsel, or to confirm his call and connection with the lineage of Elijah. It could be seen as Elisha fortifying himself spiritually after his anointing and the impactful incident at Bethel.
- "and from there he returned to Samaria": This marks the culmination of his initial travels and signifies his readiness to commence regular, active ministry. His choice to return to the capital, Samaria, emphasizes his readiness to engage with the political and spiritual heart of the kingdom, confronting idolatry and conveying God's will to both the rulers and the populace. It highlights a pragmatic and persistent aspect of his prophetic role, establishing his headquarters or primary operational base within the realm of power and societal struggle.
2 Kings 2 25 Bonus section
- Prophetic Trajectory: The verse subtly highlights Elisha's more direct engagement with the political and social life of Israel compared to Elijah. While Elijah often confronted kings and then withdrew, Elisha appears more frequently among the people and even within the royal court in Samaria, becoming a direct resource and prophetic voice within the capital itself (e.g., 2 Kgs 3, 6, 7).
- Symbolic Importance of Carmel: Beyond a physical location, Carmel embodies a place of God's manifest power and validation of His prophets. Elisha visiting it after receiving the mantle would serve to symbolically affirm his authority, linking his new ministry directly to the mighty works previously wrought by Elijah.
- Elisha's Character: His return to Samaria implies a strategic courage and willingness to remain amidst the heart of spiritual corruption to deliver God's message, demonstrating a key aspect of his character as a steadfast and engaged prophet.
2 Kings 2 25 Commentary
2 Kings 2:25 serves as a concise summary of Elisha's immediate post-Bethel itinerary. His journey to Mount Carmel, the historic battleground for Elijah's showdown with Baal, signifies a pilgrimage to a foundational place of Israel's prophetic heritage. It suggests Elisha may have sought communion with God, gathered with "sons of the prophets," or simply reflected on the weight of his new mantle in a place consecrated by divine power. The subsequent return to Samaria, the nation's political and spiritual center—and regrettably, the stronghold of its idolatry—indicates Elisha's commitment to engage directly with the prevailing wickedness. Unlike Elijah, who often operated from remote locations, Elisha frequently centered his ministry in Samaria and engaged with the king, positioning himself strategically for continued prophetic intervention and direct impact on the life of the kingdom. The simplicity of the verse belies its profound significance in marking the transition and deliberate establishment of Elisha's active prophetic ministry.