2 Kings 2:17

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

2 Kings 2:17 describes the aftermath of the prophet Elijah's miraculous ascension into heaven, focusing on the skepticism and subsequent search initiated by the "sons of the prophets" despite Elisha's clear understanding of the event.

Context

This verse immediately follows the dramatic account of Elijah being taken up to heaven by a whirlwind and chariots of fire (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha, Elijah's successor, was the sole human witness to this extraordinary event. The "sons of the prophets," a group of prophetic students or disciples, had gathered at Jericho and had even acknowledged that "the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha" after he miraculously divided the Jordan River with Elijah's mantle (2 Kings 2:14). However, despite witnessing Elisha's power and acknowledging the divine transfer of authority, they struggled to fully grasp the supernatural nature of Elijah's departure. They believed Elijah might have simply been carried off by the Spirit to another earthly location, such as a mountain or valley, and insisted on sending a search party (2 Kings 2:16).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Human Skepticism vs. Divine Reality: The verse highlights the natural human tendency to doubt or rationalize supernatural events, even after significant evidence. The sons of the prophets, though spiritual, could not fully comprehend Elijah's unique ascension and sought a conventional explanation.
  • Elisha's Patience and Wisdom: Elisha initially resisted their insistence, knowing the search would be fruitless. His eventual concession, "Send," demonstrates his wisdom in allowing them to discover the truth for themselves. This prevents future accusations that he might have hidden Elijah or prevented a search.
  • Validation of Elijah's Ascension: The failed three-day search definitively confirms that Elijah was not merely relocated but truly taken from the earth in a unique way, establishing the reality of his miraculous departure.
  • The End of an Era: This event marks the end of Elijah's earthly ministry and the beginning of Elisha's extensive prophetic service, characterized by a double portion of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:9).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "urged him till he was ashamed" (from the Hebrew root bosh, meaning "to be ashamed" or "to be put to shame") implies a strong, relentless pressure. Elisha wasn't ashamed of his own knowledge or actions, but likely felt a sense of embarrassment or weariness due to their persistent badgering, or perhaps he was "shamed" into giving in to avoid further argument. It was a strategic concession to allow them to learn the truth for themselves, rather than a moral failing on Elisha's part.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that even those with spiritual understanding can struggle to accept God's ways when they defy human logic. Sometimes, God allows us to pursue our own course, even if it's based on doubt or misunderstanding, so that we might learn through experience. It encourages us to trust in God's revealed truth, even when it seems extraordinary, and to rely on the wisdom of those He has appointed. Just as the sons of the prophets had to see for themselves, we too may sometimes need to exhaust our own efforts before fully embracing a divine reality.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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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