This verse, "So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood," is a small part of a larger story in 2 Kings 6, but let's break down what it means in its context:
"So he went with them...": This refers to the prophet Elisha. In the preceding verses (2 Kings 6:1-3), a group of the sons of the prophets (likely students or disciples of Elisha) complained that the place where they were living with Elisha was too small. They proposed building a new place to live near the Jordan River, and they asked Elisha to go with them. Elisha agreed, and "So he went with them" simply indicates that Elisha accompanied the group. It shows Elisha's support and involvement in their endeavor.
"When they came to the Jordan...": This tells us that the group, including Elisha, traveled to the Jordan River valley, which would have been a likely location for finding wood for construction.
"...they cut down wood.": This is a straightforward statement of the activity they were undertaking. The Jordan River valley was likely wooded, and they were cutting down trees to obtain the timber needed to build their new dwelling. This highlights the practical, communal effort involved in building their new place.
In essence, the verse describes the beginning stages of a construction project undertaken by the sons of the prophets, with Elisha's blessing and participation. It shows their initiative and labor in acquiring the necessary materials (wood) for their new home.
It's also a setup for the following event in the story: In the next verse, one of the men loses an ax head in the river, and Elisha performs a miracle to retrieve it, highlighting his prophetic power and concern for even the smallest of issues faced by his followers.
This verse, "So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood," is a small part of a larger story in 2 Kings 6, but let's break down what it means in its context:
"So he went with them...": This refers to the prophet Elisha. In the preceding verses (2 Kings 6:1-3), a group of the sons of the prophets (likely students or disciples of Elisha) complained that the place where they were living with Elisha was too small. They proposed building a new place to live near the Jordan River, and they asked Elisha to go with them. Elisha agreed, and "So he went with them" simply indicates that Elisha accompanied the group. It shows Elisha's support and involvement in their endeavor.
"When they came to the Jordan...": This tells us that the group, including Elisha, traveled to the Jordan River valley, which would have been a likely location for finding wood for construction.
"...they cut down wood.": This is a straightforward statement of the activity they were undertaking. The Jordan River valley was likely wooded, and they were cutting down trees to obtain the timber needed to build their new dwelling. This highlights the practical, communal effort involved in building their new place.
In essence, the verse describes the beginning stages of a construction project undertaken by the sons of the prophets, with Elisha's blessing and participation. It shows their initiative and labor in acquiring the necessary materials (wood) for their new home.
It's also a setup for the following event in the story: In the next verse, one of the men loses an ax head in the river, and Elisha performs a miracle to retrieve it, highlighting his prophetic power and concern for even the smallest of issues faced by his followers.
