Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 2

The events of this chapter are related out of their chronological order. Elijah’s translation did not take place until after the accession of Jehoram in Judah (2 Chronicles 21:12), which was not until the fifth year of the reign of Jehoram of Israel (2 Kings 8:16). The writer of Kings, having concluded his account of Elijah’s ministry in chapter 1 and being about to move on to the ministry of Elisha in 2 Kings 3, thought it best to insert the final scene of Elijah’s life at this point, even though it did not occur until several years later.

Gilgal – The modern Jiljilieh, on the highland between Nablus and Beitin (Bethel) and about eight and a half miles from the latter, is now commonly believed to be the Gilgal mentioned here. Some regard it as the ordinary residence of Elisha (2 Kings 4:38).

Wait here—Elijah’s motive in making this request is not clear. Perhaps he thought that such an awe-inspiring and sacred event, which he was led to expect (2 Kings 2:9), should be kept as secret as possible.

The LORD has sent me to Bethel—Elijah may have been directed to Bethel because of the "school of the prophets" there, so that the sight of him—if not his words—might console and encourage them before they lost him forever.

As the LORD lives...—This double oath, repeated three times in 2 Kings 2:4 and 2 Kings 2:6, is very remarkable. The two clauses of this oath are used separately with some frequency (for example, in Judges 8:19; Ruth 3:13; and 1 Samuel 1:26), but they are rarely used together.

Came forth to Elisha - It does not appear that any conversation took place between the “sons of the prophets” and Elijah. However, independent revelations had been made to the two “schools” at Bethel and Jericho (2 Kings 2:5), and also to Elisha, regarding Elijah’s impending removal.

From thy head - That is, from his position as teacher and master. The teacher sat on an elevated seat, so that his feet were level with the heads of his pupils .

Hold ye your peace - That is, “Say nothing—do not disturb us. The matter is too sacred for words.”

Fifty men of the sons of the prophets - We see from this how large the prophetic schools were. It is implied that the “fifty” were only a portion of the school of Jericho. They ascended the abrupt heights behind the town, from where they could see the entire course of the river and the opposite bank for many miles.

They were divided ... - The attestation to Elijah’s divine mission, provided by this miracle, would tend to place him on par in the minds of the people with the two great leaders of the nation named in the marginal references.