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| 1 And it cometh to pass, at Jehovah's taking up Elijah in a whirlwind to the heavens, that Elijah goeth, and Elisha, from Gilgal, |
When the LORD – Elijah had a specially protected life; he was wholly under divine control; true also of the antitypical Elijah class. R3415:3
Would take up – A parallel to the taking away of the last members of Christ. R5845:2
Elijah – Type of the true Church in the flesh. B256; R557:3, R4757:2, R5771:3; Q305:2
John the Baptist, as the forerunner of Jesus in the flesh, typified the greater Elijah. R4757:3; B250; R557:1
Into heaven – Into the air; "No man hath ascended up to heaven." (John 3:13) R3378:4, R558:5, R3417:4, R5772:3, R4757:1; Q259:4
By a whirlwind – Uniformly used in the Scriptures to represent great confusion and strife. R4757:6
A symbol of trouble; fiery trials. B260; R5773:1,4, R2341:6
Severe persecutions, ecclesiastical commotions. R3417:2,3
Anarchy. R5845:6, R5867:4
Elijah went – His closing experiences parallel the closing experiences of the last members of the Christ Body in the flesh. R5845:1; B255, B256; R557:2,3
With Elisha – Possibly a picture of the Great Company. R5771:6, R4757:5, R3429:2, R3417:1, R1132:1, R558:2
He may typify two classes: those who now are associated with the Elijah class, and those in whose charge will be the dispensing of restitution blessings. R5780:1, R3429:2,3, R3417:2; Q260:3, Q305:2
We may not be quite so sure that Elisha represented a secondary class of God's people, a great company. R5771:6, R4757:5, R4758:2; Q260:3, Q259:2
Gilgal – Gilgal means "rolling away the reproach." (Josh. 5:9) HG70:1
Elijah's movements from leaving Gilgal to crossing Jordan have their exact parallels under the midnight cry movement. HG69:6
Site of a "school of the prophets." R3416:1
Would seem to represent the beginning of the harvest time--October, 1874. R5772:4, R5845:2
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| 2 and Elijah saith unto Elisha, 'Abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me unto Beth-El;' and Elisha saith, 'Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they go down to Beth-El. |
Tarry here – The stopping places foreshadowed various points in the time proofs where it was thought that the translation of the saints might be due. R558:1
Implying that Elisha was discouraged and had lost faith in the journey; but they went on. R5772:4
Representing the trials and difficulties in the pathway of the Church, a sifting or separating work. R4757:5, R558:1; Q305:2; R1132:3
October 1874 (Gilgal) was looked forward to as the possible time when the Church would be completed. Some measure of disappointment was felt when expectations were not realized. R5772:5
Beth-el – Where Jacob's ladder stood, receiving its name in consequence of that vision. HG70:2
The Spring of 1878 corresponded to Bethel, a parallel to the Lord's assuming his kingly office in the end of the Jewish age. R5772:5, R5845:2
I will not leave thee – He understood that the degree of his blessing would depend upon the closeness of his company with Elijah. R2341:4
A blessing came to all those who received their disappointment in the proper spirit and went on. R5772:5
If Elisha typifies the Great Company this would prove no outward separation between the Church and the Great Company. Q305:2
Those who are sifted out by the way will be neither of the Elijah nor of the Elisha classes. R2431:4
Elisha represents a persevering and faithful company. R558:1
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| 3 And sons of the prophets who [are] in Beth-El come out unto Elisha, and say unto him, 'Hast thou known that to-day Jehovah is taking thy lord from thy head ' and he saith, 'I also have known keep silent.' |
Sons of the prophets – Schools of the prophets, gatherings of young men desirous of studying the Law and appreciating the divine will. R3415:1, R3416:1, R2341:1
Apparently these schools were started in the time of Samuel as "summer schools," not a monastic order. R3430:3
If types, they would seem to represent a third class, acquainted with Elijah and Elisha, yet not particularly associated with them. R5772:1; Q666:2, 4
The theologians of that day. B266
Now, as then, some come together as schools for the study of prophecy; and now, as then, these schools are on the increase. R2341:2
That were at Beth-el – Exercising a wholesome influence for righteousness and the worship of God, the operation of the "still small voice." (1 Kings 19:12) R2341:1
Said unto him – In confidential whispers. R3416:2
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| 4 And Elijah saith to him, 'Elisha, abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho;' and he saith, 'Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they come in to Jericho. |
Tarry here – See comments on 2 Kings 2:2.
Although not promises, it was not unreasonable to think of the Scripturally-marked date of Spring, 1878 as the time for the Church's glorification. R5772:5
Came to Jericho – Which means "his month," or "moon." HG70:2
Corresponded to 1881, parallel to the door being opened to the Gentiles. R5772:5, R5845:2
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| 5 And sons of the prophets who [are] in Jericho come nigh unto Elisha, and say unto him, 'Hast thou known that to-day Jehovah is taking thy lord from thy head ' and he saith, 'I also have known keep silent.' |
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| 6 And Elijah saith to him, 'Abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan;' and he saith, 'Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they go on both of them, |
Tarry, I pray thee – See comments on 2 Kings 2:2.
We assumed that 1881 might mean a change of dispensation and the glorification of the Church; but we were mistaken and went on. R5772:5
Sent me to Jordan – Which is judgment. HG70:4
The word Jordan has the significance of "judged down"; thus would seem to represent the peoples of earth, judged by the truth. R5846:2
To the Royal Priesthood, Jordan represents consecration unto death. R3087:1
Corresponding to October 1914, the close of the Times of the Gentiles. R5772:5, R5845:2
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| 7 and fifty men of the sons of the prophets have gone on, and stand over-against afar off and both of them have stood by the Jordan. |
Fifty ... sons of the prophets – While refraining from following, they were deeply interested, and witnessed what transpired. R3416:3
They two stood by Jordan – At very nearly the same point the Lord wrought through Joshua the miraculous crossing of the Israelites. The steep hillside beyond Jordan was quite possibly Mt. Nebo, where Moses died. (Deut. 32:49, 50) R3416:3, R3429:2
So the Lord's people have been standing for some time since 1914. R5845:3; Q387:2
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| 8 And Elijah taketh his robe, and wrappeth [it] together, and smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and they pass over both of them on dry land. |
Elijah took his mantle – An outward indication, or sign, of God's power with Elijah; representing God's power and blessing with the Church. R5846:4, R5950:2 [? outward sign? site Editor]; Q387:2
Wrapped it together – Concentration of forces for the smiting. R5950:2
Evidently referring to some special power given to the Elijah class. Q387:2
It may mean a great deal of money. Q387:2
And smote the waters – In Bible symbolic language, water represents both truth and peoples. R5846:2
Pictures a mighty work yet to be accomplished, and apparently in the very near future. R5950:2
As Elijah did the smiting, so all those who belong to the Elijah class will have a share in it. R5988:4
The Church will use what is in their hand, the power and authority of the truth, the power of God, in smiting the waters, peoples, who will be judged by the truth. R5846:2, 4
The smiting will probably affect the whole civilized world. Q387:2
Apparently the consuming of the tares will correspond very closely with the division of Jordan. The smiting will reveal the truth in respect to what is the real Church of Christ and what are imitations. R5951:4
They were divided – People are to be separated from people, the truth being received by some and rejected by others. R5846:2, R5950:2
The division of the waters may require either years or months. R5888:4
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| 9 And it cometh to pass, at their passing over, that Elijah hath said unto Elisha, 'Ask, what do I do for thee before I am taken from thee ' and Elisha saith, 'Then let there be, I pray thee, a double portion of thy spirit unto me;' |
Elisha – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
I pray thee – Elisha's special desire, above all things, was to have a large measure of the spirit of the Lord. R2431:5
A double portion – Not twice as much as Elijah possessed, but twice as much as given to any other. R3416:4, R3428:6
The portion of the first-born. R4771:1
Of thy spirit – Energy, force, power to teach. R558:2
An extra share of his spirit of consecration and power. R1132:4
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| 10 and he saith, 'Thou hast asked a hard thing; if thou dost see me taken from thee, it is to thee so; and if not, it is not.' |
A hard thing – It will be a very difficult matter, even for those expecting the event, to recognize the change of the Elijah class. R558:2
If thou see me – If you continue steadfast and follow on, and are not separated by the trials by the way. Q305:2; R5772:6, R3417:2, R2341:5
Only in proportion as they discern the completion of the Elijah class will they become recipients of a large measure of Elijah's spirit and zeal. R3416:5
Only such as recognize the change of the Elijah class can fill the teaching position. R558:3
When I am taken – To some the thought of being taken away from the present life suddenly, violently, in fiery troubles, would be a terrible prospect; not so for the Elijah class. R5773:4
It shall be so – After the Elijah class has been glorified, the Elisha class will be energized by the change of dispensation and evidences of the fulfilling of the divine plan, to be practically as devoted and zealous as the Elijah class. R3416:6
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| 11 And it cometh to pass, they are going, going on and speaking, and lo, a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and they separate between them both, and Elijah goeth up in a whirlwind, to the heavens. |
They still went on – Not that they are necessarily personally acquainted in the antitype, but they walk the same road. R1132:2
Not disconcerted, Bible Students, since 1914, are going on, not headed for any particular date, even as Elijah was not directed to go to any other place. R5772:6
And talked – In sympathy and interest, friendship profitable and encouraging to both. R1132:3
A chariot – The Elijah class caught up in power and great glory; the spiritual exaltation of the Church. B254; R968:5, R2341:5, R5845:5, R2341:5; B260
A figure of victory and glorious escape from the whirlwind of trouble. B260
Ours is the real deliverance by chariots of victory and divine power from death. R3429:1
Of fire – May signify that the last members of the Church will be separated under very trying circumstances, fiery trials, persecutions, violence. R2341:5, R3417:2, R5569:5, R5772:6, R5845:5, R5950:2; Q259:4
Horses of fire – Spiritual doctrines. R1132:6
And parted them both – Separating the Elijah and the Elisha classes, the Little Flock and the Great Company. R5845:3, R5950:2, R4757:6, R5773:1
Already (1889) the fiery chariot begins to separate the classes. R1132:2
Elijah went up – The close of the Church's career in the flesh will come suddenly, abruptly. R4757:6
We expect that the Church, the antitypical Elijah, will all have passed beyond the veil before the anarchy predicted in the Bible. R5794:5
The transfiguration of Elijah was a picture, or vision, of the change of the Church at the end of this age. Q259:4
By a whirlwind – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
Many of the Lord's people will be taken from the present life in some anarchistic movement. R5845:6, R5773:1, R5950:3, R5867:4, R2341:6; Q259:4
Fierce trouble, agitating the heavens or ecclesiastical powers. R3417:3
And not by the chariots. R3417:2, R1132:4
Further trouble to the chariot experience. R5773:1
Into heaven – No doubt buried somewhere by the Lord, as Moses was buried secretly. R2342:4
Possibly to some other world, to return in due time to impress certain lessons on mankind. R3417:4
If still alive, still under the death sentence, not escaped from the bondage of corruption. R3417:5
See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
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| 12 And Elisha is seeing, and he is crying, 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen;' and he hath not seen him again; and he taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them into two pieces.
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Elisha – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
Saw it – Holding back from the persecution, but not drawing back to sin, or to a repudiation of the Lord. R5950:3
Rent them in two pieces – An act, in that day, symbolic of grief, sorrow and mourning. R3429:2
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| 13 And he taketh up the robe of Elijah, that fell from off him, and turneth back and standeth on the edge of the Jordan, |
He took up also – Representing that Elisha had become Elijah's successor, to receive a special blessing of the Elijah spirit. R5771:6; B265
Continuing for a while the work that Elijah had been doing. R3416:6, R5771:6
The mantle – The power and spirit of fuller consecration. R1132:5
Elijah's mantle of power and authority as the Lord's representative (See 2 Kings 2:8). R5780:1; Q260:3, Q305:2
The receiving by Elisha of power seems to correspond to the "foolish virgins" getting their oil. (Matt. 25) R3416:6
Elijah – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
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| 14 and he taketh the robe of Elijah that fell from off him, and smiteth the waters, and saith, 'Where [is] Jehovah, God of Elijah even He ' and he smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and Elisha passeth over. |
Smote the waters – The Elisha class passes through death in much the same way as the Elijah class does. Q260:3, Q305:2; R3417:1
Where is the LORD God of Elijah? – That is to say, Is not the Lord God of Elijah with me? Showing faith that the same power of God exercised through Elijah would be exercised through him. R2341:6
Elisha – Our thought is that he typified two classes: first that he typified those associated with the Elijah class (the Great Company); and that after the taking of Elijah and re-crossing the Jordan (picturing the death of the Great Company) he became a type of those associated with the dispensing of restitution blessings (the Ancient Worthies). R5780:1, R4758:2; Q305:2; R3429:3, R3417:1; Q260:3
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| 15 And they see him the sons of the prophets who [are] in Jericho over-against, and they say, 'Rested hath the spirit of Elijah on Elisha;' and they come to meet him, and bow themselves to him to the earth, |
Sons of the prophets – See comments on 2 Kings 2:3.
Doth rest on Elisha – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
The meaning of the name Elisha is "mighty deliverer," and the career of Elisha was one of restitution work. B266
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| 16 and say unto him, 'Lo, we pray thee, there are with thy servants fifty men, sons of valour: let them go, we pray thee, and they seek thy lord, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and doth cast him on one of the hills, or into one of the valleys;' and he saith, 'Ye do not send.' |
Seek thy master – Illustrating how the world will be as ignorant of the glorification of the true Church as they were of the glorification of its head at the commencement of the age. R558:3
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| 17 And they press upon him, till he is ashamed, and he saith, 'Send ye;' and they send fifty men, and they seek three days, and have not found him; |
And they sought – Certain classes of Christian people may doubt that the Church has really gone to glory, but afterwards they are thoroughly convinced. R5772:1, R3429:4
Three days – May be symbolic, representing three years. R5772:1, R3429:4
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| 18 and they turn back unto him and he is abiding in Jericho and he saith unto them, 'Did I not say unto you, Do not go ' |
Tarried at Jericho – The word "Jericho" signifies "His moon" or "month." There is a hint in this that Jericho typifies fleshly Israel, which will be the first to recognize the Elisha class, the Ancient Worthies. R3429:5
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| 19 And the men of the city say unto Elisha, 'Lo, we pray thee, the site of the city [is] good, as my lord seeth, and the waters [are] bad, and the earth sterile.' |
The water is naught – Brackish, representing impure doctrines. R5780:2; B266; R4758:4
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| 20 And he saith, 'Bring to me a new dish, and place there salt;' and they bring [it] unto him, |
A new cruse – Representing the new institutions, new conditions, new views of the Jews respecting Christ and the glorified spiritual Israel. R3429:6
Put salt therein – "Ye are the salt of the earth." (Matt. 5:13) R3429:6
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| 21 and he goeth out unto the source of the waters, and casteth there salt, and saith, 'Thus said Jehovah, I have given healing to these waters; there is not thence any more death and sterility.' |
Unto the spring – Representing the Word of God. B266
Representing the Law. R3429:5
Of the waters – Representing the waters of truth, now brackish with error. B266, R4758:4, R5780:2, R2345:3
And cast the salt – The purifying property of salt is here referred to. R2099:2
"Ye are the salt of the earth." (Matt. 5:13) It will be in and throughme, the streams of truth for human refreshment. R5780:2, R4758:4
The Law was in itself just, perfect, good, yet it lacked something necessary to make it a blessing to Israel--the work of Christ fulfilling the Law and removing its condemnation. R3429:5
Healed these waters – Cleansing from untruth and error, by the glorified Church, through the Ancient Worthies, to the world, through the Jews. This is also what St. Paul calls to our attention in Rom. 11:25-33. R4758:4, R5780:2
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| 22 And the waters are healed unto this day, according to the word of Elisha, that he spake. |
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| 23 And he goeth up thence to Beth-El, and he is going up in the way, and little youths have come out from the city, and scoff at him, and say to him, 'Go up, bald-head! go up, bald-head!' |
Little children – Not babies, but young hoodlums, from 10 to 20 years of age. R4758:2, R5780:2, R3429:6
Out of the city – Indicating that amongst natural Israel will be some who will not appreciate the healing work done by the Elisha class. R3429:6
These will disregard the instructions of the earthly representatives of the Kingdom. R3429:6
Go up – Your master, Elijah, went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Why do not you go also? R4758:1
Thou bald head – You are a bald head, or one who has lost his master. R4758:1
A particularly opprobrious epithet in those days. R3429:6
Failing to render a proper appreciation of the dignity of the office of the Ancient Worthies as chosen agents of the heavenly Kingdom. R3430:1
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| 24 And he looketh behind him, and seeth them, and declareth them vile in the name of Jehovah, and two bears come out of the forest, and rend of them forty and two lads. |
Cursed – Declared them "evil in the name of Jehovah" (Young's translation). R3429:6
He did not swear at them, but denounced their conduct as wrong and declared that it would have a punishment. R5780:2, R4758:1
And tare – Tore them, wounded them; there is no suggestion that the bears ate them or killed them. R5780:2, R4758:2
"When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (Isa. 26:9) R5780:3, R3430:1
So there will be judgments in the world during the Millennium; punishments for every wrong course, rewards for every right deed. R5780:3, R3429:6, R4758:5
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| 25 And he goeth thence unto the hill of Carmel, and thence he hath turned back to Samaria. |
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