SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:12
Y viéndolo Eliseo, clamaba: ¡Padre mío, padre mío, carro de Israel y su gente de a caballo! Y nunca más le vio, y trabando de sus vestidos, los rompió en dos partes.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 2:12
Verse 12. The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.] The Chaldee translates these words thus: 'My master, my master! who, by thy intercession, wast of more use to Israel than horses and chariots." This is probably the sense. In the Book of Ecclesiasticus, chap. xlviii. 1, &c., the fiery horses and chariot are considered as an emblem of that burning zeal which Elijah manifested in the whole of his ministry: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet as fire, and his word burned as a lamp," &c.
And rent them in two pieces.] As a sign of sorrow for having lost so good and glorious a master.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And Elisha saw it , etc.] The ascension of Elijah to heaven, the manner of it, and all relative to it, as the disciples saw the ascension of Christ, between which and this there is a great agreement, (see Acts 1:9,10), and so Elisha had the token by which he might expect to have the double portion, as the disciples after the ascension of Christ had an extraordinary effusion of the Spirit and gifts upon them: and he cried, my father, my father ; or my master, my master, as the Targum; Elijah being a father to Elisha, and the rest of the prophets, in the same sense as disciples of the prophets are called sons: the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof ; who was a greater defence to Israel, and was of more service to them by his instructions and prayers, than an army consisting of chariots and horsemen; so the Targum, “he was better to Israel by his prayers than chariots and horsemen:” and he saw him no more ; he was carried up in the above manner into the heaven of heavens, out of the sight of mortals, and never seen more, but at the transfiguration of Christ on the mount: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces ; not on account of Elijah’s case and circumstances, who was now in a most happy and glorious state and condition, but as lamenting his own loss, and the loss of the public.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-12 - That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply still exists as of old, and we are told to ask large supplies from it Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his last hours, woul be proper means for Elisha to obtain much of his spirit. The comfort of departing saints, and their experiences, help both to gild ou comforts and to strengthen our resolutions. Elijah is carried to heave in a fiery chariot. Many questions might be asked about this, whic could not be answered. Let it suffice that we are told, what his Lord when he came, found him doing. He was engaged in serious discourse encouraging and directing Elisha about the kingdom of God among men. We mistake, if we think preparation for heaven is carried on only by contemplation and acts of devotion. The chariot and horses appeare like fire, something very glorious, not for burning, but brightness. By the manner in which Elijah and Enoch were taken from this world, God gave a glimpse of the eternal life brought to light by the gospel, or the glory reserved for the bodies of the saints, and of the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. It was also a figure of Christ's ascension. Though Elijah was gone triumphantly to heaven, ye this world could ill spare him. Surely their hearts are hard, who fee not, when God, by taking away faithful, useful men, calls for weepin and mourning. Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, an prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kep off the judgments of God. Christ bequeathed to his disciples his precious gospel, like Elijah's mantle; the token of the Divine powe being exerted to overturn the empire of Satan, and to set up the kingdom of God in the world. The same gospel remains with us, thoug the miraculous powers are withdrawn, and it has Divine strength for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
Original Hebrew
ואלישׁע 477 ראה 7200 והוא 1931 מצעק 6817 אבי 1 אבי 1 רכב 7393 ישׂראל 3478 ופרשׁיו 6571 ולא 3808 ראהו 7200 עוד 5750 ויחזק 2388 בבגדיו 899 ויקרעם 7167 לשׁנים 8147 קרעים׃ 7168
