◄ 2 Kings 6:2 ►
Please let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a log so we can build ourselves a place to live there." "Go," said Elisha.
Study Bible
Please let us go to the Jordan
The Jordan River is a significant geographical and spiritual landmark in the Bible. It served as a boundary for the Promised Land and was the site of many important biblical events, such as the crossing by the Israelites under Joshua (Joshua 3:14-17) and the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). The request to go to the Jordan indicates a desire to be near a place of historical and spiritual significance, possibly reflecting a yearning for divine presence and blessing.

where each of us can get a log
The mention of logs suggests a communal effort in gathering resources for construction. In ancient Israel, wood was a valuable commodity, often sourced from areas like Lebanon. The act of each person getting a log emphasizes personal responsibility and contribution to the community's needs, reflecting the biblical principle of working together for a common purpose (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

so we can build ourselves a place to live there.
This phrase indicates a need for expansion and growth, likely due to the increasing number of prophets or students under Elisha's mentorship. Building a place to live suggests a desire for stability and permanence, which is a recurring theme in Scripture as God's people seek to establish themselves in the land He has given them (Deuteronomy 12:10). It also reflects the importance of community and fellowship among believers.

“Go,” said Elisha.
Elisha's response is one of approval and encouragement. As a prophet and leader, his consent signifies divine endorsement of the plan. Elisha's role as a type of Christ is evident here, as he guides and supports his followers, much like Jesus does with His disciples. This approval can be seen as a parallel to Jesus' Great Commission, where He sends His followers out with His blessing and authority (Matthew 28:18-20).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elisha
A prophet in Israel, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and guidance to the people and kings of Israel.

2. Sons of the Prophets
A group of prophetic disciples or students who were under the mentorship of Elisha, seeking to learn and grow in their spiritual calling.

3. Jordan River
A significant river in the biblical account, often a place of transition and divine activity, symbolizing new beginnings and spiritual renewal.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Community and Fellowship
The sons of the prophets sought to build a place to live together, emphasizing the value of community in spiritual growth and support.

Initiative in Spiritual Growth
The request to go to the Jordan and build reflects a proactive approach to creating an environment conducive to learning and spiritual development.

Mentorship and Guidance
Elisha's role as a mentor highlights the importance of having spiritual leaders who can provide wisdom and direction in our faith journey.

Symbolism of the Jordan River
The Jordan River represents a place of transformation and new beginnings, encouraging believers to seek renewal and fresh starts in their spiritual lives.

Obedience and Action
Elisha's simple response, "Go," underscores the importance of obedience and taking action when God provides opportunities for growth and service.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the community of the sons of the prophets reflect the importance of fellowship in your own spiritual journey?

2. In what ways can you take initiative in your spiritual growth, similar to the sons of the prophets seeking to build a place to live?

3. Who are the mentors or spiritual leaders in your life, and how can you seek their guidance more effectively?

4. What "Jordan River" moments have you experienced, where you felt a call to transformation or a new beginning in your faith?

5. How can you practice obedience and take action in response to God's leading in your life, as demonstrated by Elisha's response to the sons of the prophets?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 2:1-15
This passage describes the transition of prophetic leadership from Elijah to Elisha, highlighting the importance of mentorship and the continuation of God's work through chosen individuals.

Joshua 3:14-17
The crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership, symbolizing a new chapter and God's faithfulness in leading His people.

Acts 2:42-47
The early Christian community's commitment to teaching, fellowship, and communal living, reflecting the unity and purpose seen among the sons of the prophets.
Sermons
Every Man a BeamJ. Menzies.2 Kings 6:2
Purposeful ActivityL. A. Banks, D. D.2 Kings 6:2
Satisfaction of Having Done One's Part of the Work2 Kings 6:2
A Church-Extension EnterpriseHomilist2 Kings 6:1-6
Age and YouthA. Jubb.2 Kings 6:1-6
Helping SomebodyQuiver.2 Kings 6:1-6
A Church-Extension EnterpriseD. Thomas 2 Kings 6:1-7
An Early Theological College; its Life and LessonsC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 6:1-7
The Borrowed AxeJ. Orr 2 Kings 6:1-7
People
Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Shaphat, Syrians
Places
Dothan, Jordan River, Samaria, Syria
Topics
Beam, Boards, Build, Cutting, Dwell, Jordan, Living-place, Log, Ourselves, Please, Pole, Thence
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 6:1-4

     7778   school of prophets

2 Kings 6:1-7

     4514   stick

Library
Young Man! a Prayer for You
THIS YOUNG MAN waited upon a prophet: he could not have had a more instructive occupation; yet his eyes needed to be opened. He was well disposed towards good things, for the tone of his language to his master shows that he was heartily at one with him; but his eyes were not yet half opened. Being in great alarm for his master's safety, he ran to him to warn him: good servants should be their master's best friends. In return, his believing master prays for him. If we desire the good of our servants, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Whether a Mann is Bound to Correct his Prelate?
Objection 1: It would seem that no man is bound to correct his prelate. For it is written (Ex. 19:12): "The beast that shall touch the mount shall be stoned," [*Vulg.: 'Everyone that shall touch the mount, dying he shall die.'] and (2 Kings 6:7) it is related that the Lord struck Oza for touching the ark. Now the mount and the ark signify our prelates. Therefore prelates should not be corrected by their subjects. Objection 2: Further, a gloss on Gal. 2:11, "I withstood him to the face," adds: "as …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration
God not only created everything, but everything which He created is subject to His immediate control. God rules over the works of His hands. God governs the creatures He has made. God reigns with universal dominion. When He pleased, the sun and moon stood still (Josh. 10:12, 13); and at a word from Him the sun went backward ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Is. 38:8). At His command the Red Sea ceased to flow, and at His command it resumed its normal course (Ex. 14). In response to the prayer of Elisha, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Godhood of God

The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course.
1. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven.--2. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin.--3. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.--4. From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan.--5, 6. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God Distinguished by Certain Marks from Fictitious Gods.
1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to Gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of the creation. An impious objection, Why the world was not created sooner? Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man. 2. For the same reason, the world was created, not in an instant, but in six days. The order of creation described, showing that Adam was not created until God had, with infinite goodness made ample provision for him. 3. The …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Helpless State of the Sinner under Condemnation.
1, 2. The sinner urged to consider how he can be saved from this impending ruin.--3. Not by any thing he can offer.--4. Nor by any thing he can endure.--5. Nor by any thing hr can do in the course of future duty.--6-8. Nor by any alliance with fellow-sinners on earth or in hell.--9. Nor by any interposition or intercession of angels or saints in his favor. Hint of the only method to be afterwards more largely explained. The lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition. 1. SINNER, thou hast …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Meditations for the Morning.
1. Almighty God can, in the resurrection, as easily raise up thy body out of the grave, from the sleep of death, as he hath this morning wakened thee in thy bed, out of the sleep of nature. At the dawning of which resurrection day, Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints; and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his saints, being fashioned like unto his glorious body, shall shine as bright as the sun (2 Thess. i. 10; Jude, ver. 14; Phil. iii. 21; Luke ix. 31;) all the angels shining …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It.
[Sidenote: 1139] 33. (20). It seemed to him, however, that one could not go on doing these things with sufficient security without the authority of the Apostolic See; and for that reason he determined to set out for Rome, and most of all because the metropolitan see still lacked, and from the beginning had lacked, the use of the pall, which is the fullness of honour.[507] And it seemed good in his eyes[508] that the church for which he had laboured so much[509] should acquire, by his zeal and labour, …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

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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