2 Kings 2:1-12

Elijah in the Whirlwind

1 The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal,

2 and Elijah said to Elisha,^[a] "Stay here; the Lord is sending me on to Bethel." But Elisha replied, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

3 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, "Do you know that today the Lord will take^[b] your master away from you?" He said, "Yes, I know. Be quiet."

4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.

5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" He said, "Yes, I know. Be quiet."

6 Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.

7 Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

8 Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.^[c]

9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell [me] what I can do for you before I am taken from you." So Elisha answered, "Please, let there be a double portion of your spirit on me."^[d]

10 Elijah replied, "You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won't."

11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared^[e] and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.

12 As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!"^[f] Then he never saw Elijah again. He took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

2 Kings 2:1-12 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Kg 19:16,19-21
• [b]. Gn 5:24; Ps 49:15; 73:24
• [c]. 2 Kg 2:13-14; Ex 14:21-22; Jos 3:14-17
• [d]. Nm 11:16-25; Dt 21:15-17
• [e]. 2 Kg 6:17
• [f]. 2 Kg 13:14