2 Kings 2:5

And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.

And the sons {H1121} of the prophets {H5030} that were at Jericho {H3405} came {H5066} to Elisha {H477}, and said {H559} unto him, Knowest {H3045} thou that the LORD {H3068} will take away {H3947} thy master {H113} from thy head {H7218} to day {H3117}? And he answered {H559}, Yea, I know {H3045} it; hold ye your peace {H2814}.

The guild prophets of Yericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that ADONAI is taking your master away from you today?" "Yes, I know," he answered; "say no more."

Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”

And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

Commentary

2 Kings 2:5 captures a poignant moment in the narrative of Elijah's impending departure and Elisha's succession, highlighting the awareness of God's divine plan among the prophetic community.

Context of 2 Kings 2:5

This verse is set just before the dramatic ascension of the prophet Elijah into heaven. As Elijah travels from Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho, Elisha steadfastly follows him, refusing to leave his side. At each location, companies of "sons of the prophets" approach Elisha, aware of the monumental event about to unfold. Specifically, 2 Kings 2:5 records the interaction at Jericho, where the local contingent of these prophetic students asks Elisha if he is aware that the Lord will take his master away that day. Elisha's calm, knowing response confirms his deep spiritual discernment and intimate understanding of God's will.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Revelation and Awareness: The "sons of the prophets" demonstrate a collective prophetic insight, knowing that Elijah's time was up. This signifies that God reveals His plans to His servants, even significant transitions.
  • Elisha's Steadfastness and Spiritual Discernment: Elisha's concise reply, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace," reveals his profound awareness of the divine schedule and his unwavering focus on his master, refusing to be distracted by others' observations. His quiet command for them to "hold their peace" suggests that while their knowledge was correct, their repeated questioning might hinder the solemnity or gravity of the moment.
  • The Transfer of Prophetic Authority: This verse is a crucial part of the narrative leading to the transfer of the prophetic mantle from Elijah to Elisha, symbolizing the continuity of God's work through His chosen servants.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sons of the prophets" (Hebrew: b'nei han'vi'im) refers not to biological offspring, but to companies or schools of prophets. These were groups of disciples or students who gathered around a senior prophet (like Elijah or Elisha) to learn, train, and live in community, dedicated to serving God and delivering His messages. Their presence in various locations like Bethel and Jericho indicates established centers of prophetic training and activity during this period in Israel.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Kings 2:5 encourages a deep spiritual sensitivity to God's movements and plans. It highlights the importance of:

  • Discernment: Seeking to understand God's will and timing, much like Elisha.
  • Faithful Discipleship: Elisha's unwavering commitment to Elijah, even in the face of others' curiosity, exemplifies dedicated mentorship and spiritual inheritance.
  • Respect for God's Sovereignty: Recognizing that God works out His purposes in His own time and through His chosen instruments, ensuring the continuity of His divine plan for humanity.

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 2:3

    And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.

  • Genesis 48:19

    And his father refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

  • Acts 1:11

    Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

  • Joshua 1:1

    ¶ Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

  • Joshua 1:2

    Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, [even] to the children of Israel.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:7

    A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

  • John 17:5

    And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
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