And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
Ver. 7. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets.] These were all of one college, and these were strong men, 2Ki 2:16 able and active. In our days, the Jesuits - those locusts, Revelation 9:3 - have maintained two hundred thousand scholars, besides the monks and friars of other orders, enough to make up a very formidable army, and such as may serve Antichrist for a sufficient reserve, cum res redierit ad Triarios, when he shall be worst put to it. Oxford is said to have had sometime thirty thousand students in it at once.
And stood to view afar off.] Out of curiosity likely, but not without a special providence of God, that there might be so many witnesses of Elijah's assumption to heaven.