King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But they kept pressing him until finally, embarrassed, he said to send them. So they sent fifty men. For three days they searched, but they didn't find him.
Berean Standard Bible:
But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
American Standard Version:
And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And when they urged{H6484} him till he was ashamed{H954}, he said{H559}, Send{H7971}. They sent{H7971} therefore fifty{H2572} men{H376}; and they sought{H1245} three{H7969} days{H3117}, but found{H4672} him not.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Kings 8:11
- And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
Hebrews 11:5
- By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
2 Samuel 18:22
- Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
2 Samuel 18:23
- But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
Romans 10:2
- For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Luke 11:8
- I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
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Commentary for 2 Kings 2:17
2 Kings 2:17 is a part of the narrative concerning the prophet Elijah's ascension to heaven and the transition of prophetic leadership to Elisha. The verse is set within the broader context of the Hebrew Bible, which describes the history of the Israelite people and their relationship with God. In this particular passage, after Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind, Elisha, his successor, returns to the Jordan River where he had just parted the waters with Elijah's mantle, demonstrating his own inheritance of Elijah's prophetic power.
In the verse itself, the "them" refers to the sons of the prophets, a group of disciples or followers of Elijah and Elisha who were likely part of a prophetic community or guild. They are concerned that Elijah might have been left somewhere on earth after his ascension, perhaps not fully understanding the divine nature of his departure. The sons of the prophets urge Elisha to send messengers to search for Elijah. Elisha, likely aware of the futility of such a search, initially hesitates, perhaps out of respect for their concern or because he knows that Elijah has been taken by God in a miraculous way. However, when they press him to the point of embarrassment, he acquiesces and sends out fifty men to look for Elijah.
The themes present in this verse include the transition of spiritual authority, the persistence of the sons of the prophets, the respect and deference shown by Elisha to their request despite his knowledge of Elijah's fate, and the continued faith and obedience to God's will. The historical context reflects the ancient Israelite belief in the power and significance of prophets, as well as the idea that a true prophet of God could be taken to heaven without experiencing death, as was believed to be the case with Elijah. The unsuccessful three-day search for Elijah underscores the reality of his divine ascension and confirms Elisha's role as the new leader of the prophetic community in Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6484
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּצַר
Transliteration: pâtsar
Pronunciation: paw-tsar'
Description: a primitive root; to peck at, i.e. (figuratively) stun or dull; press, urge, stubbornness. - Strong's Number: H954
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוּשׁ
Transliteration: bûwsh
Pronunciation: boosh
Description: a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed; (be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with, a-) shamed(-d), be (put to) confounded(-fusion), become dry, delay, be long. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H2572
There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲמִשִּׁים
Transliteration: chămishshîym
Pronunciation: kham-ish-sheem'
Description: multiple of חָמֵשׁ; fifty; fifty. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H1245
There are 215 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקַשׁ
Transliteration: bâqash
Pronunciation: baw-kash'
Description: a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after; ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for). - Strong's Number: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H4672
There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָצָא
Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.