Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Kings 13:19-20

"And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times: then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year." — 2 Kings 13:19-20 (ASV)

And said, You should have smitten five or six times; then you would have smitten Syria until you had consumed it: whereas now you shall smite Syria only three times. And Elisha died, and they buried him.

God has different ways of taking His people home. Some go suddenly, whirled away, as Elijah was. This prophet died gently, worn out with age; but there is something very beautiful about his death.

A king weeps over his aged face. He has the pleasure, though it was mingled with pain, of helping to deliver his people; and, after his death, God bore full witness to him.