Nearing the end of his life, the great prophet receives a highly emotional farewell visit from the king of Israel. The meeting reveals the political leadership's deep realization of its absolute dependence on spiritual guidance, recognizing the prophet of God as the true shield of the nation against its enemies.
The illness that strikes Elisha is the one from which he will ultimately pass away [מצודת דוד]. Throughout his life, the prophet endured three illnesses, with this being the third and final one [רד"ק]. This poignant encounter occurs early in the reign of King Joash, while his father Jehoahaz is still alive [מלבי"ם]. Holding immense respect for the prophet, the king stands by his side and weeps over him while he is still alive [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The king's tears stem primarily from a deep-seated fear of the Aramean army. Elisha had previously anointed Hazael as king over Aram, prophesying that he would inflict harm upon Israel. However, as long as the prophet lived, this threat was held at bay. Seeing Elisha nearing death, Joash is terrified that the harsh decree will now materialize, and he weeps until he stirs the prophet's mercy [מלבי"ם, אלשיך].
In his distress, the king cries out, addressing Elisha as a father and comparing him to Israel's military cavalry. The primary approach among commentators is that this exclamation reflects the understanding that the true strength and heroism of the nation are rooted in the prophet. Calling him a father serves as an expression of reverence for a teacher and master [מצודת דוד]. The repetition of this title is deliberate, pointing to the reality that the prophet functioned as a father to the nation in two distinct ways: by providing goodness and by offering protection [אלשיך].
The military imagery used to describe the prophet is understood on multiple levels. On a practical level, Elisha helped Israel achieve victory in their wars through his prayers [מצודת דוד] and the strategic advice he delivered through the word of God [רלב"ג]. On a deeper level, the outstanding righteous individual of a generation serves as a vehicle for the Divine Presence. In this sense, a chariot symbolizes the spiritual channel through which the prophet draws divine abundance and goodness down to the nation. The horsemen represent the merits of the righteous, which act like cavalry and soldiers, forming a spiritual shield that guards the people from their enemies [אלשיך].