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2 Kings 2:15-22
New International Version
2 Kings 2:15-22
New International Version
15 The company(A) of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit(B) of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit(C) of the Lord has picked him up(D) and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.”
“No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.”
17 But they persisted until he was too embarrassed(E) to refuse. So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”
Healing of the Water
19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw(F) the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure(G) to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
2 Kings 2:15-22
International Standard Version
2 Kings 2:15-22
International Standard Version
Elisha is Recognized as Elijah’s Successor
15 As soon as the Guild of Prophets who lived adjacent to Jericho saw Elisha,[a] they began to announce, “The spirit[b] of Elijah is at rest on Elisha!” So they came out to meet him and they greeted him by bowing low to the ground in front of him.
16 Then they asked Elisha,[c] “Look! We have 50 valiant men here with your servant! Please let them go out and search for your master Elijah.[d] Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up on a mountain or into a valley.”
Elisha responded, “Don’t bother searching.”
17 But they persisted until he was frustrated, so he said, “Send them out!” So they sent out the 50 men, and they looked around for three days but did not find Elijah.[e] 18 By the time they returned, Elisha[f] was living in Jericho. Then Elisha asked them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”
Elisha Cures the Waters of Jericho
19 The men who lived in the city addressed Elisha. “Look now,” they said, “our[g] city’s location is good, as you[h] have been observing, but the water springs[i] here are bad and the land isn’t sustaining crops.”
20 Elisha ordered them, “Bring me a new bowl and put some salt in it.” So they brought him what he had requested.[j]
21 Elisha went out to the springs, threw the salt into them, and declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have purified these waters. Neither death nor barrenness is to flow from them anymore.’” 22 As a result, the water springs[k] remain pure to this day, just as[l] Elisha had declared.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Kings 2:15 Lit. him
- 2 Kings 2:15 Or Spirit
- 2 Kings 2:16 Lit. him
- 2 Kings 2:16 The Heb. lacks Elijah
- 2 Kings 2:17 Lit. him
- 2 Kings 2:18 Lit. he
- 2 Kings 2:19 Lit. The
- 2 Kings 2:19 Lit. as my Lord
- 2 Kings 2:19 Lit. the waters
- 2 Kings 2:20 The Heb. lacks what he had requested
- 2 Kings 2:22 Lit. the waters
- 2 Kings 2:22 Lit. as the word of
New International Version (NIV) 
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International Standard Version (ISV) 
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