Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Kings 6:1

"And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us." — 2 Kings 6:1 (ASV)

It seems to have been a habit of the prophets to gather about them companies of young men whom they instructed in the holy Scripture and in the truths of revelation. Many of these young men became prophets themselves and were the instructors of the people.

Elisha, then, was the President of a College for young men who were being trained for the sacred ministry of God. They had grown so numerous that they were cramped in their lodging, and they said, "The place is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us fit place there, where we may dwell."

They were ready to work to build their own lodging; they do not appear to have gone into debt for it, and to have saddled themselves and the institution for many years afterwards, but they put their own shoulders to the wheel, as good men should do when there is any work to be done for the cause of God.