2 Kings 2:14 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Where is the Lord God of Elijah? who at Elijah's request divided these waters, and is as able to do it again; and hath given me his spirit and office; and therefore I humbly beg, and confidently expect, his assistance in this matter. They parted; but these words after Where is the God of Elijah ? are by many rendered otherwise, and that agreeably to the Hebrew, even himself ? or, even the same ? (which words they join with the former, as an emphatical addition, or repetition, which is usual in fervent prayers. But they may be rendered without an interrogation, thus, Surely he, is, to wit, here present, and ready to help me. Or, Surely he is the same, to wit, to me, that he was to Elijah, as able and willing to work for me as for Elijah. Then the following words they render, as they are in the Hebrew,) and he smote the water, and it was divided. By which repetition it may seem that he smote it twice, and that at the first smiting the success did not answer his desire and expectation; which God so ordered, partly to keep him in a modest and humble sense of his own insufficiency, that he might not be puffed up with the great gifts which he had now received; compare 2 Corinthians 12:7; and partly to stir him up to a more lively exercise of faith and prayer, which followed God's denial or suspension of his help, as it is here expressed; which also was attended with desired success.