12. My father \ my father] That this title of affection was given by
the younger prophets to an elder seems clear from 1 Sam. x. 12, where
the question 'Who is their father?' appears to refer to Samuel, and the
whole passage to shew that men need not be surprised at Saul being
among the prophets, if they only know that he is coming from close
communication with Samuel. The use of the title 'father' suits per-
fectly with the request that has just been made for the share which falls
to the firstborn.
the chariot [R.V. chariots] of Israel, and the horsemen thereof] These
words are in apposition with the former clause, and mark the sense
which Elisha had of the protection afforded to the land by the presence
of Elijah. Horses and chariots might be prepared in abundance, but
they who had God's prophet as their guide, and his voice lifted to
heaven for their help, were guarded by a might against which armies
were powerless. Though the noun in the Hebrew is in the singular,
it has a plural sense here, and signifies * the chariotry \ the mounted
force of the nation, to which Elijah's presence is here compared.
and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them] Grief prevailing






14 II. KINGS, II. [w. 13, 14.
