And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2 KINGS 2:5KJVWhat does 2 Kings 2:5 mean?
2 Kings 2:5 describes how a group known as the "sons of the prophets" at Jericho approached Elisha and told him that the LORD would take away his master, Elijah, from him that day. Elisha replied that he already knew this and asked them to remain silent about it.
In this verse, the "sons of the prophets" were likely students or followers in a prophetic community. They spoke to Elisha, warning him that Elijah would soon be taken from him by God. Elisha’s response shows that he is already aware of what is about to happen and prefers not to discuss it further, possibly out of respect or sorrow.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 2:5
- "sons" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants," but here it refers to members of a prophetic guild or community, not literal children.
- "prophets" (הַנְּבִיאִים, hanəvî’îm): This means "prophets," indicating these were people devoted to learning and practicing the prophetic calling, likely under Elijah’s leadership.
- "away" (יִקַּח, yiqqaḥ): This verb means "to take" or "to seize," and here it refers to God’s action of taking Elijah away, which is understood as a supernatural event.
- "master" (אֲדֹנֶיךָ, ’adonêkha): This word means "your lord" or "your master," showing the close relationship between Elisha and Elijah, with Elisha as the devoted disciple.
Why 2 Kings 2:5 matters
- The verse highlights the widespread knowledge among prophetic communities that Elijah’s departure was imminent, showing that this was not a secret event.
- Elisha’s response, asking for silence, suggests the emotional weight of losing a mentor and the seriousness with which he viewed the coming change.
- This moment sets the stage for the dramatic transition of prophetic leadership from Elijah to Elisha, a key turning point in the narrative.