2 Kings 2
New English Translation
Elijah Makes a Swift Departure
2 Just before[a] the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2 Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Some members of the prophetic guild[b] in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?”[c] He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they traveled on together. 7 The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha[d] stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you,[e] before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you?”[f] 10 Elijah[g] replied, “That’s a difficult request![h] If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”
11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot[i] pulled by fiery horses appeared.[j] They went between Elijah and Elisha,[k] and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm. 12 While Elisha was watching, he was crying out, “My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!”[l] Then he could no longer see him. He grabbed his clothes and tore them in two. 13 He picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen off him, and went back and stood on the shore of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen off Elijah,[m] hit the water with it, and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he hit the water, it divided and Elisha crossed over.
15 When the members of the prophetic guild in Jericho, who were standing at a distance,[n] saw him do this, they said, “The spirit that energized Elijah[o] rests upon Elisha.” They went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, “Look, there are fifty capable men with your servants. Let them go and look for your master, for the wind sent from the Lord[p] may have carried him away and dropped him on one of the hills or in one of the valleys.” But Elisha[q] replied, “Don’t send them out.” 17 But they were so insistent that he became embarrassed. So he said, “Send them out.” They sent the fifty men out, and they looked for three days, but could not find Elijah.[r] 18 When they came back, Elisha[s] was staying in Jericho. He said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go’?”
Elisha Demonstrates His Authority
19 The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, the city has a good location, as our[t] master can see. But the water is bad and the land doesn’t produce crops.”[u] 20 Elisha[v] said, “Get me a new jar and put some salt in it.” So they got it. 21 He went out to the spring and threw the salt in. Then he said, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘I have purified[w] this water. It will no longer cause death or fail to produce crops.’”[x] 22 The water has been pure to this very day, just as Elisha prophesied.[y]
23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was traveling up the road, some young boys[z] came out of the city and made fun of him, saying, “Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!” 24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them.[aa] Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces. 25 From there he traveled to Mount Carmel and then back to Samaria.[ab]
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 2:1 tn Or “when.”
- 2 Kings 2:3 tn Heb “the sons of the prophets.”
- 2 Kings 2:3 tn Heb “from your head.” The same expression occurs in v. 5.
- 2 Kings 2:7 tn Heb “the two of them.” The referents (Elijah and Elisha) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:9 tn Heb “Ask! What can I do for you….?”
- 2 Kings 2:9 tn Heb “May a double portion of your spirit come to me.”
- 2 Kings 2:10 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:10 tn Heb “You have made difficult [your] request.”
- 2 Kings 2:11 tn Though the noun is singular here, it may be collective, in which case it could be translated “chariots.”
- 2 Kings 2:11 tn Heb “look, a chariot of fire and horses of fire.”
- 2 Kings 2:11 tn Heb “and they made a division between the two of them.”
- 2 Kings 2:12 sn Elisha may be referring to the fiery chariot(s) and horses as the Lord’s spiritual army that fights on behalf of Israel (see 2 Kgs 6:15-17; 7:6). However, the juxtaposition with “my father” (clearly a reference to Elijah as Elisha’s mentor), and the parallel in 2 Kgs 13:14 (where the king addresses Elisha with these words), suggest that Elisha is referring to Elijah. In this case Elijah is viewed as a one man army, as it were. When the Lord spoke through him, his prophetic word was as powerful as an army of chariots and horses. See M. A. Beek, “The Meaning of the Expression ‘The Chariots and Horsemen of Israel’ (II Kings ii 12),” The Witness of Tradition (OTS 17), 1-10.
- 2 Kings 2:14 tn Heb “Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen off him.” The wording is changed slightly in the translation for the sake of variety of expression (see v. 13).
- 2 Kings 2:15 tn Heb “and the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho, [who were standing] opposite, saw him and said.”
- 2 Kings 2:15 tn Heb “the spirit of Elijah.”
- 2 Kings 2:16 tn Or “the spirit of the Lord.”
- 2 Kings 2:16 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:17 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:18 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:19 tn Heb “my.”
- 2 Kings 2:19 tn Heb “miscarries” or “is barren.”
- 2 Kings 2:20 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:21 tn Or “healed.”
- 2 Kings 2:21 tn Heb “there will no longer be from there death and miscarriage [or, ‘barrenness’].”
- 2 Kings 2:22 tn Heb “according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.”
- 2 Kings 2:23 tn The word נַעַר (naʿar), here translated “boy,” can refer to a broad age range, including infants as well as young men. But the qualifying term “young” (or “small”) suggests these youths were relatively young. The phrase in question (“young boy”) occurs elsewhere in 1 Sam 20:35; 1 Kgs 3:7 (used by Solomon in an hyperbolic manner); 11:17; 2 Kgs 5:14; and Isa 11:6.
- 2 Kings 2:24 tn Heb “he cursed them in the name of the Lord.” A curse was a formal appeal to a higher authority (here the Lord) to vindicate one’s cause through judgment. As in chapter one, this account makes it clear that disrespect for the Lord’s designated spokesmen can be deadly, for it is ultimately rejection of the Lord’s authority.
- 2 Kings 2:25 sn The two brief episodes recorded in vv. 19-25 demonstrate Elisha’s authority and prove that he is the legitimate prophetic heir of Elijah. He has the capacity to bring life and blessing to those who recognize his authority, or death and judgment to those who reject him.
列王纪下 2
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
以利亚被接到天上
2 耶和华用旋风接以利亚升天之前，以利亚和以利沙正在离开吉甲的路上。 2 以利亚对以利沙说：“你留在这里吧，耶和华吩咐我去伯特利。”以利沙说：“我凭永活的耶和华和你的性命起誓，我决不离开你。”于是二人前往伯特利。 3 伯特利的众先知出来见以利沙，问他：“你知道耶和华今天要接走你师傅吗？”他说：“我知道，请不要作声。”
4 以利亚对以利沙说：“你留在这里吧，耶和华差遣我去耶利哥。”以利沙说：“我凭永活的耶和华和你的性命起誓，我决不离开你。”于是二人前往耶利哥。 5 耶利哥的众先知来见以利沙，问他：“你知道耶和华今天要接走你师傅吗？”他说：“我知道，请不要作声。”
6 以利亚对以利沙说：“你留在这里吧，耶和华差遣我去约旦河。”以利沙说：“我凭永活的耶和华和你的性命起誓，我决不离开你。”于是二人继续前行。 7 先知中有五十人跟他们来到约旦河，远远地站着，他们二人则站在河边。 8 以利亚脱下外衣卷起来，用它击打河水，水立即左右分开，二人脚踏干地而过。
9 到对岸后，以利亚对以利沙说：“在我被接走之前，你要我为你做什么？”以利沙说：“请将你的灵加倍地给我。” 10 以利亚说：“这是个很难的要求。不过，我被接走的时候，如果你看得见我，就可以得到，否则就得不到。” 11 他们边走边谈，忽然有火马拉的火车把他们二人隔开，以利亚乘着旋风升上了天。 12 以利沙见此情景，便喊道：“我父啊！我父啊！以色列的战车和骑兵啊！”以利沙见以利亚消失在天空中，就悲伤地把自己的衣服撕成两半。
13 他拿起以利亚身上掉下来的外衣，回到约旦河边， 14 用它击打河水，说：“以利亚的上帝耶和华在哪里呢？”河水就左右分开，以利沙便过了河。
15 耶利哥的先知们从远处看见他，就说：“以利亚的灵降在以利沙身上了。”他们就上前迎接，俯伏在他面前， 16 说：“仆人们这里有五十个壮士，请让他们去寻找你师傅吧，或许耶和华的灵把他放在某座山上或某个山谷里了。”以利沙说：“你们不要派人去找了。” 17 他们再三恳求，以利沙难以推辞，就让他们派人去了。他们派去了五十人，找了三天也没有找到。 18 他们回来的时候，以利沙仍在耶利哥。他对他们说：“我不是早就告诉你们不要去吗？”
以利沙行神迹
19 耶利哥城的人对以利沙说：“我主，你看这城地势很好，只是水不好，地里长不出庄稼。” 20 以利沙说：“拿一个新碗装些盐给我。”他们就去照办。 21 以利沙走到水源那里，把盐倒在水中说：“耶和华说，‘我洁净了这水，从此它不会再使人死亡，也不会再使土地贫瘠。’” 22 果然如以利沙所说，那里的水变好了，直到如今。
23 以利沙从那里去伯特利，正在赶路的时候，从城里出来一群少年讥笑他说：“秃头，上去吧！秃头，上去吧！” 24 以利沙转身看着他们，奉耶和华的名咒诅他们。林中随即走出来两只母熊，咬死了其中的四十二个少年。 25 以利沙从伯特利上了迦密山，又从迦密山回到撒玛利亚。
2 Kings 2
King James Version
2 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
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.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
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.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
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.
18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
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