Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 13:21

"And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet." — 2 Kings 13:21 (ASV)

As they were burying. —They—that is, a party of Israelites. The story is told with vivid definiteness.

A band. — Rather, the troop. This refers to the particular troop of Moabites that happened to be making an inroad at the time.

They cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha. — Compare Mark 16:3-4. In this case, we must suppose that the tomb was more easily opened, as the action was obviously done in haste.

And when the man was let down, and touched the bones. — Rather, and they departed. And the man touched the bones. The order of words in the original, as well as the sense, supports old Houbigant's conjecture. If the meaning were, “and the man went and touched,” the subject in the Hebrew would have followed the first verb, not the second. Moreover, the verb would hardly have been hâlak.

He revived. — Literally, and he lived. Thenius thinks that the sacred writer regarded this miracle as a pledge of the fulfillment of Elisha’s promise to Joash.

Bähr says: “Elisha died and was buried, like all other men, but even in death and in the grave he is confirmed to be the prophet and servant of God.”

Dante’s warning may not be out of place here:—

“O voi che avete gl'intelletti sani,
Mirate la dottrina, che s'asconde
Sotto il velame degli versi strani.”

Inferno 9:61, and following.