Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

2 Kings 2:17

15 When the sons of the prophets who were facing him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.

16 “Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” “Do not send them,” Elisha replied.

But 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.

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

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”

Read the whole chapter

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But 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.
KJV
And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
WEB
When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.” Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.
ASV
And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
DARBY
And they pressed him till he was ashamed, and he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men, and they sought three days, but did not find him.
BLB
And they urged him until he was ashamed, and he said, “Send [them].” And they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days, and they did not find him.
ÅB
Men da de lenge ble ved å trenge inn på ham, sa han: Send dem da avsted! Så sendte de femti mann avsted, og de lette i tre dager, men fant ham ikke.
OTB
Men de insisterte til han ble flau for å nekte. Så han sa, «Send dem.» Og de sendte femti menn, som lette i tre dager, men fant ham ikke.
B1930
Men da de lenge blev ved å trenge inn på ham, sa han: Send dem da avsted! Så sendte de femti mann avsted, og de lette i tre dager, men fant ham ikke.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 8:11

    Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.

    Read in context

  • Hebrews 11:5

    By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

    Read in context

  • Romans 10:2

    For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

    Read in context

  • Luke 11:8

    I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 18:22–23

    Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”

    Read in context