2 Kings 2:6

Study note

Setting — Elijah commands Elisha to remain at Jericho while he proceeds to the Jordan, following the sons of the prophets' confirmation that the Lord will take Elijah away that day. Elisha refuses to abandon his master, and the two continue together toward the river.

The words — The Hebrew שֵׁב־ נָא פֹּה (shev- na' Foh) literally commands "remain please here," emphasizing Elijah's directive for Elisha to stay behind. The phrase כִּי יְהוָה שְׁלָחַנִי (ki Yahweh she.la.Cha./ni) translates to "for Yahweh has sent me," grounding Elijah's movement in divine commission.

The thread — This exchange mirrors the earlier command at Bethel in 2 Kings 2:2, where Elijah similarly urges Elisha to stay while he travels to Gilgal. The Jordan crossing context connects to the river's overflowing state noted in Joshua 3:15.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge the cost of prophetic succession through Elisha's deliberate refusal to separate from Elijah. It demands active commitment to the journey ahead rather than passive acceptance of divine departure.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.