2 Kings 2:18

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

American Standard Version (1901)

And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Bible in Basic English

And they came back to him, while he was still at Jericho; and he said to them, Did I not say to you, Go not?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And they came back to him: for he abode at Jericho, and he said to them: Did I not say to you: Do not send?

Free Bible Version

When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn't I tell you not to bother going?”

Geneva Bible 1599

Therefore they returned to him, (for he taryed at Iericho) and he said vnto them, Did not I say vnto you, Goe not?

King James (Authorized) Version

And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Translation for Translators

They returned to Jericho, and Elisha was still there. He said to them, “I told you that you should not go, because you would not find him!” [RHQ]

Unlocked Literal Bible

They came back to Elisha, while he stayed at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?”

Noah Webster Bible

And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said to them, Did I not say to you, Go not?

World English Bible

They came back to him while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go’?”

Young's Literal Translation

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?'

Context

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

¹⁷But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah.¹⁸When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Summary

In this verse, we see the newly appointed prophet Elisha demonstrating his authority and God-given power by performing a miracle at Jericho. The healing of the water at Jericho symbolizes the purification and restoration that God brings to His people. Elisha's actions not only validate his role as a prophet but also point to the divine presence and blessing upon him. This miracle serves as a sign of God's faithfulness and provision, reinforcing the importance of trusting in Him for all needs.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the men of the city said unto Elisha,.... The inhabitants of Jericho, perceiving him to be a prophet, and endowed with a power of working miracles: behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth; in a plain, surrounded with gardens and orchards, with vineyards, oliveyards, and groves of palm trees, and other odoriferous ones: but the water is naught, and the ground barren; that is, that part of it where this water was, or ran, for from thence it became barren; or "caused to miscarry", as the word signifies (q); not only trees cast their fruit, which it watered, but women became abortive that drank of it, as Josephus says (r), and so cattle. Abarbinel thinks it was so from the times of Joshua, being cursed by him; but, if so, it would not have been inhabited again; rather this was owing to a new curse, upon its being rebuilt; though this might affect only a small part of the ground, not the whole, as before observed. (q) "orbans", Montanus, Vatablus; "facit abortum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. (r) De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 3.