‏ 2 Kings 6:1-7

CHAPTER 6

2Ki 6:1-7. Elisha Causes Iron to Swim.

1. the place where we dwell with thee--Margin, "sit before thee." The one points to a common residence--the other to a common place of meeting. The tenor of the narrative shows the humble condition of Elisha's pupils. The place was either Beth-el or Jericho, probably the latter. The ministry and miracles of Elisha brought great accessions to his schools.

2. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan--whose wooded banks would furnish plenty of timber.

5. it was borrowed--literally, "begged." The scholar's distress arose from the consideration that it had been presented to him; and that, owing to his poverty, he could not procure another.

6. cut down a stick, and cast it in thither--Although this means was used, it had no natural adaptation to make the iron swim. Besides, the Jordan is at Jericho so deep and rapid that there were one thousand chances to one against the stick falling into the hole of the axe-head. All attempts to account for the recovery of the lost implement on such a theory must be rejected.

the iron did swim--only by the miraculous exertion of Elisha's power.

2Ki 6:8-17. Discloses the King of Syria's Counsel.