2 Kings 13:20

“And Elisha died, and they buried him, etc.] In Samaria. Epiphanius says f136, in Sebastopolis of Samaria, Samaria itself was called Sebaste in later times; though the Jews say f137 he was buried in Mount Carmel, in the cave of Elijah; according to the Jewish chronology f138, he died in the tenth year of Joash, and he prophesied more than sixty years; sixty six, as Abarbinel, since he began to prophesy in the nineteenth year of Jehoshaphat; and, according to Clemens f139 of Alexandria, when he was forty years of age; but it seems rather, as Kimchi observes, that he died in the beginning of the reign of Joash, and even before his father’s death, when he was a partner with him in the throne,…”

“Elisha died--He had enjoyed a happier life than Elijah, as he possessed a milder character, and bore a less hard commission. His rough garment was honored even at the court. coming in of the year--that is, the spring, the usual season of beginning campaigns in ancient times. Predatory bands from Moab generally made incursions at that time on the lands of Israel. The bearers of a corpse, alarmed by the appearance of one of these bands, hastily deposited, as they passed that way, their load in Elisha's sepulchre, which might be easily done by removing the stone at the mouth of the cave. According to the Jewish and Eastern custom, his body, as well as that of the man who was miraculously…”

“The bands of the Moabites invaded the land - The Moabites had been increasing in strength ever since their revolt from Ahaziah 2 Kings 1:1. The defeat which they suffered at the hands of Jehoram and Jehoshaphat 2 Kings 3:24 did not affect their subjugation. They spread themselves into the country north of the Arnon Isaiah 16:2, and thence proceeded to make plundering expeditious year by year into Samaria, in Spring. This was the natural season for incursions, as then in Palestine the crops began to be ripe. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Moabites invaded - The mentioning this immediately on the death of Elisha intimates, that the removal of God's faithful prophets, is a presage of judgments approaching. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 13:21”

“13:20-21 Elisha’s death provides an opportunity to relate one final story about the prophet. • The Moabite raiders apparently timed their incursions into Israel to coincide with the early harvest and to precede the summer’s heat. • The dead man revived as his body touched Elisha’s bones, a sign that Elisha’s prophecy would come true. Weakened Israel (13:7) would revive and repel the Aramean invaders (13:25; 14:25; cp. Ezek 37:1-14).”

“am 3167, bc 837 buried him: Ch2 24:16; Act 8:2 the bands: Kg2 5:2, Kg2 6:23, Kg2 24:2 the Moabites: Kg2 3:5, Kg2 3:24-27; Jdg 3:12, Jdg 6:3-6 4 Kings (2 Kings) 13:21”