Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.
Parallel translations
- WEB They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go?’”
- KJV And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
- BSB When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”
- NKJV And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
- NASB They returned to him while he was staying in Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The searchers return empty-handed, and Elisha reminds them he had told them not to go. His earlier word is shown to have been right all along.
Overview
The futile expedition vindicates Elisha's prophetic insight and gently rebukes their unbelief. His "Didn't I tell you?" reinforces his authority as the new prophet. The episode strengthens the community's confidence in the word God speaks through Elisha.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 2:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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