2 Kings 2:19
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."
Then the men of the city
This phrase introduces the inhabitants of Jericho, a city with a rich biblical history. Jericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership (Joshua 6). The "men of the city" likely represent the leaders or elders, indicating a communal concern. Historically, Jericho was known for its strategic location and fertile surroundings, making the issue of bad water particularly pressing.

said to Elisha
Elisha, the successor of Elijah, is approached as a prophet and a man of God. His reputation for performing miracles and his role as a spiritual leader make him the natural person to seek for divine intervention. This reflects the biblical principle of seeking God's guidance through His appointed servants.

Please note, our lord
The phrase "our lord" is a term of respect, acknowledging Elisha's authority and spiritual stature. It reflects the humility and desperation of the people, recognizing their dependence on God's power through His prophet. The Hebrew root for "lord" here is "adon," often used to denote respect and submission.

that the city's location is good
Jericho's location was indeed advantageous, situated near the Jordan River and known for its palm trees and lush environment. This acknowledgment of the city's potential highlights the irony and frustration of the situation—the natural blessings are overshadowed by a critical problem.

but the water is bad
The Hebrew word for "bad" here is "ra," which can mean evil, harmful, or unpleasant. Water is a symbol of life and purity in the Bible, and its corruption signifies a deeper spiritual and physical malaise. The bad water likely caused health issues and agricultural problems, affecting the entire community's well-being.

and the land is unfruitful
The unfruitfulness of the land is a direct consequence of the bad water. In biblical terms, fruitfulness is often associated with God's blessing (Genesis 1:28). The lack of fruitfulness suggests a curse or divine displeasure, echoing the consequences of disobedience outlined in Deuteronomy 28. This situation sets the stage for a miraculous intervention, underscoring the theme of redemption and restoration through God's power.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elisha
A prophet and successor of Elijah, known for performing miracles and guiding the people of Israel.

2. Men of the City
The inhabitants of Jericho who approach Elisha with their concern about the water.

3. City of Jericho
An ancient city with a strategic location, known for its historical significance and the miraculous fall of its walls during Joshua's time.

4. Bad Water
The water source in Jericho was contaminated, leading to unfruitfulness in the land.

5. Unfruitful Land
The result of the bad water, causing the land to be barren and unable to support agriculture or life.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Spiritual Leadership
Elisha's role as a prophet highlights the need for godly leaders who can address both spiritual and practical needs.

God's Power to Transform
Just as God used Elisha to purify the water, He can transform our lives and circumstances, turning barrenness into fruitfulness.

The Consequences of Sin and Disobedience
The unfruitfulness of Jericho serves as a reminder of the long-term effects of sin and the importance of seeking God's forgiveness and restoration.

Faith in Action
The men of Jericho demonstrated faith by approaching Elisha, showing that we must actively seek God's intervention in our challenges.

The Symbolism of Water in Scripture
Water often symbolizes life, cleansing, and renewal in the Bible, pointing to the spiritual refreshment found in Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the situation in Jericho reflect the consequences of past disobedience, and what can we learn about breaking free from such cycles?

2. In what ways can we seek and support godly leadership in our communities to address both spiritual and practical needs?

3. How can we apply the concept of "living water" from John 4 to our daily lives, especially when facing "barren" situations?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are actively seeking God's intervention in our personal and communal challenges?

5. How does the transformation of the water in Jericho encourage us to trust in God's power to bring about change in seemingly hopeless situations?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joshua 6
The fall of Jericho and the curse pronounced by Joshua, which may have contributed to the city's ongoing struggles.

Exodus 15:22-25
The account of Moses making bitter water sweet at Marah, showing God's power to purify and provide.

John 4:13-14
Jesus speaks of living water, symbolizing spiritual renewal and eternal life, contrasting with the physical water issues in Jericho.

Revelation 22:1-2
The vision of the river of life, representing the ultimate restoration and healing that comes from God.
The Proper Spirit for Theological StudentsD. Thomas 2 Kings 2:15-22
Cleansing the FountainL. A. Banks, D. D.2 Kings 2:19-22
Elisha Healing the Water, and the Means He UsedG. L. Glyn.2 Kings 2:19-22
The Bitter Waters Sweetened -- Elisha the HealerH. J. Howat.2 Kings 2:19-22
The Healing of the SpringJ. Orr 2 Kings 2:19-22
The Pleasant and the PainfulHomilist2 Kings 2:19-22
The Waters HealedC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 2:19-22
People
Elijah, Elisha
Places
Bethel, Gilgal, Jericho, Jordan River, Mount Carmel, Samaria
Topics
Bad, Barren, Behold, Birth, Cattle, Causing, Dead, Elisha, Eli'sha, Ground, Miscarries, Miscarrieth, Naught, Pleasant, Please, Position, Sees, Site, Situated, Situation, Sterile, Town, Unfruitful, Unproductive, Waters
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 2:19-22

     1416   miracles, nature of
     4260   rivers and streams
     4357   salt
     4500   poison

Library
The Translation of Elijah and the Ascension of Christ
'And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.'--2 KINGS ii. 11. 'And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.'--LUKE xxiv. 51. These two events, the translation of Elijah and the Ascension of our Lord, have sometimes been put side by side in order to show that the latter narrative is nothing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Elijah's Translation and Elisha's Deathbed
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.'--2 KINGS ii. 12. '...And Joash, the King of Israel, came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said. O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.'--2 KINGS xiii. U. The scenes and the speakers are strangely different in these two incidents. The one scene is that mysterious translation on the further bank of the Jordan, when a mortal was swept up to heaven in a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Chariot of Fire
'And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. 80 they went down to Beth-el 3, And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Gentleness Succeeding Strength
'He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Preparing to Depart
"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."--2 Kings 2:11. IT seems to me that the departure of Elijah from the world, though of course he did not "die" at all, may furnish us with a very good type of the decease of those saints who, although taken away on a sudden, are not without some previous intimation that in such a manner they will be
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 54: 1908

Whether Hope is a Help or a Hindrance to Action?
Objection 1: It would seem that hope is not a help but a hindrance to action. Because hope implies security. But security begets negligence which hinders action. Therefore hope is a hindrance to action. Objection 2: Further, sorrow hinders action, as stated above ([1361]Q[37], A[3]). But hope sometimes causes sorrow: for it is written (Prov. 13:12): "Hope that is deferred afflicteth the soul." Therefore hope hinders action. Objection 3: Further, despair is contrary to hope, as stated above [1362](A[4]).
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Jericho Itself.
We read, that this city was not only wasted by Joshua with fire and sword, but cursed also. "Cursed be he before the Lord, who shall rise up and build that city Jericho," Joshua 6:26. "Nor was another city to be built (says the Talmudists), which was to be called by the name of Jericho: nor was Jericho itself to be built, although to be called by another name." And yet I know not by what chance this city crept out of dust and rubbish, lived again, and flourished, and became the second city to Jerusalem.
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Consolations against the Fear of Death.
If in the time of thy sickness thou findest thyself fearful to die, meditate-- 1. That it argueth a dastardly mind to fear that which is not; for in the church of Christ there is no death (Isa. xxv. 7, 8), and whosoever liveth and believeth in Christ, shall never die (John xi. 26). Let them fear death who live without Christ. Christians die not; but when they please God, they are like Enoch translated unto God (Gen. v. 24;) their pains are but Elijah's fiery chariot to carry them up to heaven (2
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Baptist's Testimony.
"There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.... John beareth witness of Him, and crieth, saying, This was He of whom I said, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. For of His fulness we all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Epistle vii. To Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius.
To Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius. Gregory to Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius, Bishops [1688] . I rejoice exceedingly that you welcomed with great joy the ordination of the most holy Cyriacus, my brother and fellow-priest. And since we have learnt from the preaching of Paul the apostle that If one member rejoice, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor. xii. 26), you must needs consider with how great exultation I rejoice with you in this thing, wherein not one member, but many members of Christ have
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
The tenderness of the bond which united Jewish parents to their children appears even in the multiplicity and pictorialness of the expressions by which the various stages of child-life are designated in the Hebrew. Besides such general words as "ben" and "bath"--"son" and "daughter"--we find no fewer than nine different terms, each depicting a fresh stage of life. The first of these simply designates the babe as the newly--"born"--the "jeled," or, in the feminine, "jaldah"--as in Exodus 2:3, 6, 8.
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to Christians to be Holy. By John Bunyan.
Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.'--[Psalm 93:5] London, by B. W., for Benj. Alsop, at the Angel and Bible, in the Poultrey. 1684. THE EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This is the most searching treatise that has ever fallen under our notice. It is an invaluable guide to those sincere Christians, who, under a sense of the infinite importance of the salvation of an immortal soul, and of the deceitfulness of their hearts, sigh and cry, "O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian Hastened his Journey to Rome; but Titus his Son Returned to Jerusalem.
1. And now, when Vespasian had given answers to the embassages, and had disposed of the places of power justly, [25] and according to every one's deserts, he came to Antioch, and consulting which way he had best take, he preferred to go for Rome, rather than to march to Alexandria, because he saw that Alexandria was sure to him already, but that the affairs at Rome were put into disorder by Vitellius; so he sent Mucianus to Italy, and committed a considerable army both of horsemen and footmen to
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Paul's Departure and Crown;
OR, AN EXPOSITION UPON 2 TIM. IV. 6-8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR How great and glorious is the Christian's ultimate destiny--a kingdom and a crown! Surely it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive what ear never heard, nor mortal eye ever saw? the mansions of the blest--the realms of glory--'a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' For whom can so precious an inheritance be intended? How are those treated in this world who are entitled to so glorious, so exalted, so eternal,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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