מלכים ב, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ׳

Elisha's act of healing the polluted waters of Jericho is a deliberate display of divine intervention that intentionally defies the laws of nature. The prophet begins by requesting a small flask or jar [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He insists that this vessel must be entirely new. This specific requirement ensures that no one can mistakenly assume the water was purified through natural means, such as a chemical reaction to leftover residue from something previously cooked or stored in an older container [אברבנאל]. The people promptly follow his instructions and bring the new vessel to him [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The central ingredient used in this healing process is salt. This choice is deeply counterintuitive because, under normal circumstances, salt ruins fresh water and makes it undrinkable. Using a spoiling agent to repair something broken is considered a miracle within a miracle. This method closely mirrors the historical miracle performed by Moses at Marah, where he sweetened bitter waters by throwing a bitter piece of wood into them [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

The contamination of Jericho's water and land was never a standard natural phenomenon. Rather, it was a direct result of divine providence, originating from the ancient curse placed upon the city by Joshua. Because the affliction came from a divine source, its cure also had to come directly from God. By casting the salt straight into the water source, Elisha makes it absolutely clear that God is the true healer. The moment the spring is purified, the entire surrounding land is healed alongside it, as the toxic water was the root cause of the region's death and barrenness. Additionally, this event clarifies that while Joshua's original curse targeted the specific individual who would rebuild Jericho, it did not prohibit ordinary people or prophets from living in the city once it had already been reconstructed [אברבנאל].