And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
When they returned to him (because he was staying in Jericho), he said to them, 'Didn't I tell you not to go?'
Elisha gently reminds the prophets that he had warned them their search would be pointless, showing he knew God's will all along.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Kings, Elisha had just succeeded the prophet Elijah after Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, marking a significant transition of prophetic authority. The men from Jericho, doubting Elisha's assurance that Elijah was gone, insisted on sending a search party despite his clear warning not to go, reflecting a cultural tendency to seek physical evidence over spiritual truth. When they returned empty-handed, Elisha's response highlighted the futility of their doubt and affirmed his role as God's spokesman.
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