Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
Ver. 14. Now Elisha was fallen sick.] Being, as it is thought, above a hundred years old. That is a pious note that a reverend writer a maketh here: Happy is he that, after due preparation, is passed through the gates of death ere he be aware. Happy is he that, by the holy use of long sickness, is taught to see the gates of death afar off, and addresseth for a resolute passage. The one dieth like Elijah, the other like Elisha - both blessedly.
And said, O my father.] This same Elisha had said to Elijah when he was taken up, and heareth now as much ascribed to himself, as a remuneration of that his piety to his master.
The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.] i.e., Qui oratione plus potes quam omnes milites armis suis; b O thou who canst do more by thy prayers than all the soldiers can with their weapons of war. Elisha's piety and his prayers were the strength of the state, as this wicked king could now acknowledge with tears, though before he had slighted him.
“ Virtutem incolumen odimus,
Sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. ” - Horat.
Stapleton saith that he calleth Elisha "the horsemen" of Israel, because by his holy life and doctrine he led all Israel; and "the chariot," because by his virtue and prayers he preserved the people ne propter peceata Deus illos perderet, that God destroyed them not for their sins. c The death of such is very ominous, a forerunner of great calamities. Isa 57:1
a Bp. Hall.
b Vatab.
c Promp. Mor., Dom. v., post Epiph., Vex. 8.