2 Kings 2:12

12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Yisra'el and the horsemen of it! He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

2 Kings 2:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 2:12

And Elisha saw it
The ascension of Elijah to heaven, the manner of it, and all relative to it, as the disciples saw the ascension of Christ, between which and this there is a great agreement, see ( Acts 1:9 Acts 1:10 ) , and so Elisha had the token by which he might expect to have the double portion, as the disciples after the ascension of Christ had an extraordinary effusion of the Spirit and gifts upon them:

and he cried, my father, my father;
or my master, my master, as the Targum; Elijah being a father to Elisha, and the rest of the prophets, in the same sense as disciples of the prophets are called sons:

the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof;
who was a greater defence to Israel, and was of more service to them by his instructions and prayers, than an army consisting of chariots and horsemen; so the Targum,

``he was better to Israel by his prayers than chariots and horsemen:''

and he saw him no more;
he was carried up in the above manner into the heaven of heavens, out of the sight of mortals, and never seen more, but at the transfiguration of Christ on the mount:

and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces;
not on account of Elijah's case and circumstances, who was now in a most happy and glorious state and condition, but as lamenting his own loss, and the loss of the public.

2 Kings 2:12 In-Context

10 He said, You have asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.

11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both apart; and Eliyah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Yisra'el and the horsemen of it! He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

13 He took up also the mantle of Eliyah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Yarden.

14 He took the mantle of Eliyah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is the LORD, the God of Eliyah? and when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over.