“Then the men of the city said to Elisha, ‘Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground is barren.’ And he said ‘Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.’ So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast the salt there, and said, ‘Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ So the water remains healed to this day, according to Elisha which he spoke” (2 Kings 2:19-22).

The city of Jericho had been destroyed in about 1450 B.C. Joshua declared, “Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates” (Joshua 6:26).

A man named Hiel rebuilt Jericho in the days of Ahab (1 Kings 16:29-34). This was sometime between about 874-853 B.C. It cost him two sons, Abiram and Segub, as the word of the LORD declared.

It seems that Elisha’s ministry begins near the time that Jehoram, son of Ahab, begins to reign (cf. 2 Kings 3:1-ff); this is about 852 B.C. The city would be still relatively new in 2 Kings 2.

Men of the city tell Elisha that there is something wrong with the water. One wonders if the problem could be related to the curse. Michael Whitworth comments, “The city of Jericho was suffering from bad water – one of the reasons Jericho was an attractive site in the first place was its access to abundant spring water – and we cannot help but wonder if this had something to do with Joshua’s curse (Joshua 6:26)” (Michael Whitworth, How to Lose A Kingdom in 400 Years, p. 251).

The ground is said to be barren. Some believe that the meaning is that human infertility and/or animal infertility was in the land. James Burton Coffman comments, “This is a little misleading, because it might appear to mean that the land was unfruitful; but the Hebrew verb here … is used only of infertility and the destruction of babes” (Coffman’s Commentaries, studylight.org). Albert Barnes comments, “The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, and perhaps also among the people, that drank it” (Barnes’ Notes, studylight.org). Was this due to the curse?

Elisha heals the water. He does so using salt. What is the significance of the salt? We are not told. However, consider this suggestion, “In ancient times, it sems salt was used to symbolize a break from the past (cf. Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; Judges 9:45; Ezekiel 18:4; 43:24) and here it serves that very function. No longer did Jericho stand under Yahweh’s curse – the spring was healed and fertility restored” (Whitworth, p. 252). Is this the meaning? I am not sure. However, it must have some significance. Could salt added to the water really cure it? I do not see how. Moreover, how long could the effects of a small amount of salt last? It could not have lasted long. This was healing from God. It was not from a small amount of salt. It is possible that the salt simply provided a visible sign that something was being done. Albert Barnes suggests, “The foul stream represents sin, and to cleanse it emblems of purity must be taken. Hence, the clean new dish previously unused, and thus untainted; and the salt, a common Scriptural symbol of incorruption (see Leviticus 2:13; Ezekiel 43:24; Matthew 5:13, etc.)” (Barnes’ Notes). Is this the meaning? This makes sense to me. However, I am not certain.

Consider these connections. (1) Moses brought a curse on the land of Egypt. His first plague was turning water into blood (Exodus 7:14-ff). (2) Elisha blessed a city. He healed the water of Jericho. This was his first miracle which was seen by general the public, that is, beyond the sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2:14-15, 19-ff). It may have been a removing of a curse. (3) Jesus blessed a wedding feast. He turned water to wine. This was His first sign (John 2:1-12).

Many see Elisha as a type of Christ. There are certain comparisons that can be made [consider: (1) Purify water (2 Kings 2:19-22); Water to wine (John 2:1-12) (2) Feed 100 (2 Kings 4:42-44); Feeding 5,000 (John 6:1-13) (3) Raising of the only son of a woman from Shunem (2 Kings 4:18-27); Raising of the only son of a widow woman from Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Note: Shunem and Nain were in the same general area. They were on different sides of Mount Moreh (4) Healing Naaman, a gentile, of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-19); Healing ten lepers, one a Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19). (5) Man resurrected after the prophet’s death (2 Kings 13:21); Many resurrected following Jesus’ death and resurrection (Matthew 27:50-53)].

Lesson

The ministries of both Elisha and Jesus began with kindness toward people. Elisha healed bad water. Jesus turned water into wine. Neither ministry began with a curse.

The message is this. Jesus did not come to bring a cure. He came to heal and bless. Remember these words: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).