2 Kings 2:18
◄  2 Kings 2:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. "Didn't I tell you not to go?" he asked.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go '?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
When they returned to him in Jericho where he was staying, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
By the time they returned, Elisha was living in Jericho. Then Elisha asked them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"

NET Bible (©2006)
When they came back, Elisha was staying in Jericho. He said to them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't go'?"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They returned to Elisha in Jericho, where he was waiting. He said, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

American King James Version
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said to them, Did I not say to you, Go not?

American Standard Version
And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they came back to him: for he abode at Jericho, and he said to them: Did I not say to you: Do not send?

Darby Bible Translation
And they came again to him (now he was staying at Jericho); and he said to them, Did I not say to you, Go not?

English Revised Version
And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said to them, Did I not say to you, Go not?

World English Bible
They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't go?'"

Young's Literal Translation
and they turn back unto him -- and he is abiding in Jericho -- and he saith unto them, 'Did I not say unto you, Do not go?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:13-18 Elijah left his mantle to Elisha; as a token of the descent of the Spirit upon him; it was more than if he had left him thousands of gold and silver. Elisha took it up, not as a sacred relic to be worshipped, but as a significant garment to be worn. Now that Elijah was taken to heaven, Elisha inquired, 1. After God; when our creature-comforts are removed, we have a God to go to, who lives for ever. 2. After the God that Elijah served, and honoured, and pleaded for. The Lord God of the holy prophets is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; but what will it avail us to have the mantles of those that are gone, their places, their books, if we have not their spirit, their God? See Elisha's dividing the river; God's people need not fear at last passing through the Jordan of death as on dry ground. The sons of the prophets made a needless search for Elijah. Wise men may yield to that, for the sake of peace, and the good opinion of others, which yet their judgment is against, as needless and fruitless. Traversing hills and valleys will never bring us to Elijah, but following the example of his holy faith and zeal will, in due time.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not? The prophet was not above vindicating the propriety of his past conduct. He waited at Jericho until the fifty men returned from their vain search, and then reminded them that his advice to them had been not to start on a useless errand. The ministers of God have to vindicate themselves, because God's honor is concerned in their being without reproach.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they came again to him, for he tarried at Jericho,.... Waiting their return to hear the report they made: which when they had:

he said unto them, did I not say unto you, go not? assuring them it would be fruitless, and to no purpose; though this search of theirs served both to confirm the assumption of Elijah, and the truth of Elisha being a prophet of the Lord.

2 Kings 2:18 Parallel Commentaries

2 Kings 2:18 NIV
2 Kings 2:18 NLT
2 Kings 2:18 ESV
2 Kings 2:18 NASB
2 Kings 2:18 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Elisha Succeeds Elijah
…16And they said to him, Behold now, there be with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up, and cast him on some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, You shall not send. 17And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 18And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said to them, Did I not say to you, Go not?

2 Kings 2:17 But they persisted until he was too embarrassed to refuse. So he said, "Send them." And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him.
2 Kings 2:19 The people of the city said to Elisha, "Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive."