New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

2 Kings

Note Journal Prayer

2

:

12

“

Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Elisha "God is salvation," a well-known Isr. prophet Noun H477 וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע ve·'e·li·sha
Analysis:
Read more about: Elisha
saw to see Verb H7200 רֹאֶ֗ה ro·'eh
[it] and cried to cry, cry out, call Verb H6817 מְצַעֵק֙ me·tza·'ek
out, "My father, father Noun H1 אָבִ֣י a·vi
my father, father Noun H1 אָבִ֗י a·vi
the chariots chariotry, chariot, millstone Noun H7393 רֶ֤כֶב re·chev
of Israel "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
and its horsemen!" horseman Noun H6571 וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו u·fa·ra·shav,
And he saw to see Verb H7200 רָאָ֖הוּ ra·'a·hu
Elijah no not Adverb H3808 וְלֹ֥א ve·lo
Analysis:
Read more about: Elijah
more. a going around, continuance, still, yet, again, beside sub H5750 עֹ֑וד o·vd;
Then he took hold to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen Verb H2388 וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙ vai·ya·cha·zek
of his own clothes a garment, covering Noun H899 בִּבְגָדָ֔יו biv·ga·dav,
and tore to tear Verb H7167 וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם vai·yik·ra·'em
them in two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 לִשְׁנַ֥יִם lish·na·yim
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 
pieces. torn piece (of garment), a rag Noun H7168 קְרָעִֽים׃ ke·ra·'im.

Locations

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

People

Elisha

Elisha [N] [H] [S] God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah ( 1 Kings 19:16-19 ). His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor ( 1 Kings 19:16 ). This was the only one of the three commands then given to Elijah which he accomplished. On his way from Sinai to Damascus he found Elisha at his native place engaged... View Details

Elijah

Elijah [N] [B] [H]  [S] whose God is Jehovah.  "The Tishbite," the "Elias" of the New Testament, is suddenly introduced to our notice in 1 Kings 17:1 as delivering a message from the Lord to Ahab. There is mention made of a town called Thisbe, south of Kadesh, but it is impossible to say whether this was the place referred to in the name given to the prophet.  Having deliver... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
King James Bible And Elisha saw it it, and cried out, "My he cried, My father, my father, the chariots chariot of Israel Israel, and its horsemen!" the horsemen thereof. And he saw Elijah him no more. Then more: and he took hold of his own clothes clothes, and tore rent them in two pieces.
Hebrew Greek English Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.