The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 26

hRd no eqm1l in the parity of its devotion (Ecclus. xlviil. 9). He WnB ranked with to the service of Jehovah, and was at the Enoch, as not having seen death (Josephus, Rame time consummated by such powerful 'Ant. Jud.,' ix. 2. § 2), and was viewed I\S "continuing in hee.ven e. mysterious life, efforts to promote the 1.-ingdom of God, which no death he.d ever interrupted, whence could only have a corresponding close. It he was ree.dy at any time to return to earth" ceases before the very eyes of men, only to (Ewald, • History of Israel,' vol. iv. p. 113). be taken up into the realm of pure spirit, The scribes thought that he was beyond all that is, to heaven, thero to carry on its doubt to mo.ke his appearance upon the earth in person, before the coming of the work with less disturbance, and with greater Messiah (Matt. xvi. 10). By a whirlwind. power; and at that moment heaven itself Sa'tirah is not so much an actual "whirl- descends to earth, to take to itself that wind" as e. storm or e.tmospherio disturbance spirit which is already entirely its own. (<Tv<T<TEl<Tµds, LXX.). It is a word which only And so a :fiery cha.riot with :fiery horses occurs here in the historice.l Scriptures. That Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. comes down from heaven and bears Elijah Elisha had become to Elijah what Joshua in the tempest up to heaven" (' History of was to Moses (Exod. xxiv. 13)-his "mini- Israel,' voL iv. pp. 109, 110, Eng. trans.). ster," or regular attendant, from the time of In Ewald's view, the narrative is pure his call at Abel-meholah (1 Kings xix. 21). imagination, the beautiful conception of one Elijah had no fixed residence, but moved from place to place as the Spirit of God who greatly admired the Tishbite, and in- suggested. His wanderings had now vented for him an end in ideal harmony brought him to Gilgal (probably Jiljilieh, with his life. But may not Omnipotence near Nablous), one of the most ancient sometimes work out ideal harmonies in the sanctuaries of the land (1 Sam. x. 8 ; xi. actual matter-of-fact universe? And is it 15, etc.), celebrated in the history of Saul e.nd Samuel. "advanced criticism," or sound criticism at 'Ver. 2.-And Elijah said unto Elisha, all, to take a professed history, and pick and Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath cull from it certain portions as absolute sent me. Elijah me.kes three efforts to rid facts, quite indubitable (see p. 107, note 2, himself of the presence of his faithful attend- ad fin.), while rejecting other portions, ant (see vers. 4 and 6), either really desirous to pass in solitude the few remaining hours which have exactly the same external testi- of his earthly life, for he knows that his end mony, as pure :fictions absolutely devoid of is approaching (vers. 9, 10), or for the the slightest historical foundation? purpose of testing his :fidelity and affection. The record of Elisha's early miracles Under ordinary circumstances, the servant (vers. 13-24) prepares the way for the would ne.turally have obeyed his lord, and submitted to a temporary separation ; but position which Elisha is to occupy in the Elisha has a presentiment, or something next section of the history, under the Is- stronger than a presentiment, of what is raelite monarchs, Jehoram, Jehn, Jehoahaz, impending (vers. 3, 5), and will not be in- and J ehoash. On Elisha. f'a.l.ls the mantle duced to accelerate by e. single moment ihe of Elijah (ver. 13), and with it a. portion of time of tho last parting. He will reme.in with his master, ready to do him all needful his spirit, sufficient to enable him to carry service, until the end. To Bethel. Bethel on the prophetic office with vigour and waR the spiritual centre of the kingdom of steadfastness. the ten tribes. There may have been many reasons why Elijah should visit it once more Ver. 1.-And it came to pass, when the before he quitted the earth. He may have Lord would take up Elijah into heaven. had directions to leave, consolation to give, The subject is introduced as one of general words of warning to speak. We must not notoriety, the writer professing rather to suppose that the narrative before us is give the exact details of a well-known fact, complete. And Elisha said unto him, As the than to relate a new fact unknown to his Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth. These readers. " When the time came," he means were ordinary forms of earnest asseveration to aa.y, •• for Elijah's translation, of which with the Ismelites, generally used sep1uately yon, my readers, all know, tho following (Judg. viii. 19; Ruth iii. 13; 1 Sam. i. 26: were the circumstances under which it took xiv. 39; xvii. 55; xix. 6; xx. 21; 2 Sam. iv. place." The fact itself was deeply impressed 9; xi. 11, etc.); but on occasions of special on the Jewish consciousness. "Elias,'' says solemnity united, as here and in 1 Sam. xx. the Son of Sirach," was taken up in a whirl- 3; xxv. 26; eh. iv. 80). The prophet is wind of fire, 11.nd in a chariot of fiery hol'Bes " not to be blamed for using them, since the 011. n. 1-25.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 19