2:9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you, 1 before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.” 2
40:2 “Speak kindly to 3 Jerusalem, 4 and tell her
that her time of warfare is over, 5
that her punishment is completed. 6
For the Lord has made her pay double 7 for all her sins.”
1 tn Heb “Ask! What can I do for you….?”
2 tn Heb “May a double portion of your spirit come to me.”
3 tn Heb “speak to the heart of Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is personified as a woman.
4 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
5 tn Heb “that she is filled [with] her warfare.” Some understand צָבָא (tsavah, “warfare”) as meaning “hard service” or “compulsory labor” in this context.
6 tn Heb “that her punishment is accepted [as satisfactory].”
7 tn Heb “for she has received from the hand of the Lord double.” The principle of the double portion in punishment is also seen in Jer 16:18; 17:18 and Rev 18:6. For examples of the double portion in Israelite law, see Exod 22:4, 7, 9 (double restitution by a thief) and Deut 21:17 (double inheritance portion for the firstborn).