2 Kings 2:2-12

2 Elijah said to Elisha, "¹Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as ²Bethel." But Elisha said, "³As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

3 Then ⁴the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still."

4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please ⁵stay here, for the LORD has sent me to ⁶Jericho." But he said, "⁷As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.

5 ⁸The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "⁹Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be still."

6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please ¹⁰stay here, for the LORD has sent me to ¹¹the Jordan." And he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.

7 Now ¹²fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite * them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

8 Elijah ¹³took his mantle and folded it together and ¹⁴struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a ¹⁵double portion of your spirit be upon me."

10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you ¹⁶see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared ¹⁷a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "¹⁸My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then ¹⁹he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

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2 Kings 2:2-12 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 19

1. Ruth 1:15
2. 1 Kings 12:28, 29
3. 1 Samuel 1:26; 2 Kings 2:4, 6
4. 2 Kings 4:1, 38; 2 Kings 5:22
5. 2 Kings 2:2
6. Joshua 6:26
7. 2 Kings 2:2
8. 2 Kings 2:3
9. 2 Kings 2:3
10. 2 Kings 2:2
11. Josh 3:8, 15-17
12. 2 Kings 2:15, 16
13. 1 Kings 19:13, 19
14. Exodus 14:21, 22; 2 Kings 2:14
15. Numbers 11:17-25; Deuteronomy 21:17
16. Acts 1:10
17. 2 Kings 6:17
18. 2 Kings 13:14
19. Genesis 37:34; Job 1:20

Footnotes 6

[a]. Lit "your head"
[b]. Lit "your head"
[c]. Lit "said"
[d]. Or "windstorm"
[e]. Lit "chariot"
[f]. Lit "him"

2 Kings 2:2-12

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2 Kings 2:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 2

Cross References 19

Footnotes 6