2 kings 2:17 - When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.” Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.
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What does "2 kings 2:17" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 2:17 refers to the aftermath of the prophet Elijah's ascension into heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha, his successor, witnessed this event. The sons of the prophets, colleagues of Elisha, didn't quite believe that Elijah was truly gone.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
"When they urged him until he was ashamed...": The sons of the prophets kept pressuring Elisha to allow them to search for Elijah. They likely believed that Elijah had merely been transported to another location and was still alive, somewhere on earth. Elisha, who knew better because he saw Elijah ascend, initially refused. He knew their search would be futile. However, their persistence eventually wore him down, and he felt pressured (and perhaps a little embarrassed by their lack of faith in his testimony).
"...he said, 'Send them.'": Finally, Elisha relented and gave them permission to search.
"Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.": Fifty men were sent out to scour the surrounding area for three days. Their search was unsuccessful, as Elisha knew it would be. Elijah had ascended to heaven, not simply been transported to another earthly location.
The Significance of the Verse:
Highlights Elisha's Credibility: The failure of the search further validated Elisha's claim that Elijah was gone. The sons of the prophets, despite their initial skepticism, had to acknowledge the truth of what Elisha had told them.
Underscores the Miraculous Nature of Elijah's Departure: The fact that Elijah wasn't simply lost but had ascended to heaven emphasizes the extraordinary and divine nature of his departure.
The human element to believing the supernatural: While Elisha had witnessed a miracle first hand, the other prophets had trouble accepting it and wanted to rely on more tangible evidence that Elijah had disappeared.
In essence, this verse serves to confirm the miraculous nature of Elijah's departure and to reinforce Elisha's authority as his successor. It also shows the human tendency to doubt the extraordinary, even when presented with evidence.
2 kings 2:17 - When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.” Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.
What does "2 kings 2:17" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 2:17 refers to the aftermath of the prophet Elijah's ascension into heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha, his successor, witnessed this event. The sons of the prophets, colleagues of Elisha, didn't quite believe that Elijah was truly gone.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
"When they urged him until he was ashamed...": The sons of the prophets kept pressuring Elisha to allow them to search for Elijah. They likely believed that Elijah had merely been transported to another location and was still alive, somewhere on earth. Elisha, who knew better because he saw Elijah ascend, initially refused. He knew their search would be futile. However, their persistence eventually wore him down, and he felt pressured (and perhaps a little embarrassed by their lack of faith in his testimony).
"...he said, 'Send them.'": Finally, Elisha relented and gave them permission to search.
"Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.": Fifty men were sent out to scour the surrounding area for three days. Their search was unsuccessful, as Elisha knew it would be. Elijah had ascended to heaven, not simply been transported to another earthly location.
The Significance of the Verse:
Highlights Elisha's Credibility: The failure of the search further validated Elisha's claim that Elijah was gone. The sons of the prophets, despite their initial skepticism, had to acknowledge the truth of what Elisha had told them.
Underscores the Miraculous Nature of Elijah's Departure: The fact that Elijah wasn't simply lost but had ascended to heaven emphasizes the extraordinary and divine nature of his departure.
The human element to believing the supernatural: While Elisha had witnessed a miracle first hand, the other prophets had trouble accepting it and wanted to rely on more tangible evidence that Elijah had disappeared.
In essence, this verse serves to confirm the miraculous nature of Elijah's departure and to reinforce Elisha's authority as his successor. It also shows the human tendency to doubt the extraordinary, even when presented with evidence.