2 Kings 6:5
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
The loss occurred while students in the schools of the prophets were engaged in useful manual labor in the open air, felling beams to build a dwelling to live in, with teachers and students united in the work. The worker was using a borrowed axe, and when the head fell into the water he cried out in distress because it was not his own. When shown where it had fallen, Elisha caused the iron to float so the man could retrieve it, saving it from loss and relieving his distress. The miracle shows God honoring the work of ordinary laborers. The account shows God as an ever-present Helper in difficulty and trial.
The felling of beams shows instruction combined with vigorous manual work in the open air. Such united labor gives the animal passions a healthy outlet and keeps them in proper bounds, while it strengthens the muscles and encourages proper circulation of the blood. It helps preserve the body from disease and is a great help to spirituality.
The school of the prophets in this passage is a school where workers are instructed and the pattern for institutions for educating workers. Money put into the treasury is to be used to erect such institutions and to increase their facilities rather than to diminish them even when the coming of the Lord is near. This is so that a great work may be done in a short time, and those found doing this work at His coming will be approved.