JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<span>before</span>
    <div style="background-color:red;height:10px;width:10px;margin-left:15px;" id="2">  </div>
    <span>after</span>

JavaScript

$(function(){
    var prevIt = $('#2').prev();
    var nextIt = $('#2').next();
    alert(prevIt.text() + ";" + nextIt.text());
});