2 Kings 2:1-14

Elijah Taken Away from Elisha

1 When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up in the storm [to] heaven, Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for Yahweh has sent me up to Bethel." Elisha said, "{As Yahweh lives}[a] and {as your soul lives},[b] I will certainly not leave you!" So they went down [to] Bethel.
3 Then the sons of the prophets who [were in] Bethel came out to Elisha, and they said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh [is] going to take your master {from you}[c] today?" He said, "I also know; be quiet!"
4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here because Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." And he said, "{As Yahweh lives}[d] and {as your soul lives},[e] I will certainly not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
5 Then the sons of the prophets who [were] in Jericho came near to Elisha, and they said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh [is] going to take your master {from you}[f] today?" He said, "I also know; be quiet!"
6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, because Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." He said, "{As Yahweh lives} and {as your soul lives}, I will certainly not leave you!" So the two of them went on.
7 Then fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite [them] at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water. It divided {in two}, and the two of them crossed over on dry land.
9 After they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I may do for you before I am taken away from you." Then Elisha said, "Please let there come to me a double portion of your spirit."
10 He said, "What you ask is difficult. If you see me being taken from you, it will be so for you, but if not, it will not happen."
11 Then they [were] walking, talking as they went. Suddenly a fiery chariot with horses of fire [appeared] and separated between the two of them. Elijah went up in the storm [to] the heavens
12 while Elisha [was] watching and crying out, "My father, my father; the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" But he could not see him any longer, and he grasped his clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13 Then he picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen off of him, and he returned and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
14 He took Elijah's cloak that had fallen from upon him and struck the water. Then he said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" So he also struck the water, and it divided {in two}, and Elisha crossed over.

2 Kings 2:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 2

This chapter relates, how that Elisha accompanied Elijah to several places, and on the other side Jordan Elijah was taken up from him to heaven, which occasioned great lamentation in him, 2Ki 2:1-12, but having the mantle of Elijah, he divided the waters of Jordan, and passed over, 2Ki 2:13,14, and the sons of the prophets at Jericho, perceiving the spirit of Elijah on him, showed him great respect, and proposed sending men to seek his master, which they did in vain, 2Ki 2:15-18, when he healed the waters at Jericho, at the request of the men of it, 2Ki 2:19-22, and the chapter is concluded with the destruction of forty two children at Bethel by bears, who mocked him, 2Ki 2:23,24.

Footnotes 10

  • [a]. Literally "The life of Yahweh"
  • [b]. Literally "life of your soul"
  • [c]. Literally "from over your head"
  • [d]. Literally "The life of Yahweh"
  • [e]. Literally "life of your soul"
  • [f]. Literally "from over your head"
  • [g]. Literally "The life of Yahweh"
  • [h]. Literally "life of your soul"
  • [i]. Literally "here and here"
  • [j]. Literally "here and here"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.