Stories of Elisha and Joram
Chapter 2
Elijah Is Taken to Heaven.[a] 1 Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal when the Lord was about to take Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Wait here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha answered, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
3 The sons of the prophets came forth from Bethel to Elisha and they said to him, “Do you know that today is the day that the Lord is going to take away your master who is over you?” Elisha answered, “Yes, I know it. Be quiet!”
4 Elijah then said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he answered, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 The sons of the prophets in Jericho came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today is the day that the Lord is going to take away your master who is over you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet!”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” He answered, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
7 Now fifty of the sons of the prophets went out and watched from a distance as the two of them stood at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up. He struck the waters with it, and they split apart, so the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
Elisha Succeeds Elijah. 9 After they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask me for whatever you want before I am taken away.” Elisha said, “Let me please have a double portion[b] of your spirit.” 10 He answered, “You have asked for something that is difficult. If you see me taken away from you, then it will be yours. If not, then it will not be so.”
11 As they were walking along talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up into the heavens in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!” And then he could not see him anymore. He took hold of his clothes and tore them apart.[c]
13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off of him, and he went back and stood by the banks of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off of him, and he struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the waters, they split apart and he crossed over.
15 The sons of the prophets from Jericho who had been watching said, “The spirit of Elijah has come to rest upon Elisha.” They came out to meet him, and they bowed down to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, “Behold, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Let them go out and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on a mountain or in some valley.” But he answered, “Do not send them.”
17 They continued to insist until he became embarrassed and he said, “Send them.” The fifty men searched for three days, but they did not find him. 18 When they came back to him in Jericho where he was staying, he said to them, “Did I not tell you that you should not go?”
19 Healing the Water. The men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, this city is in a pleasant location, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the ground is barren.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put some salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 He went out to the spring of water, and he threw the salt into it, saying, “Thus says the Lord: I have healed these waters. They shall never again produce death or make the land barren.” 22 The waters have remained healed up to the present day, just as Elisha had declared.
23 [d]From there he traveled to Bethel. As he was on his way, some little children came out of the city and they mocked him crying out, “Go away, baldy! Go away, baldy!” 24 He turned around and stared at them. He cursed them in the name of the Lord. Two female bears came out from the woods and mauled the children, forty-two of them.
25 From there he went to Mount Carmel, and then he returned to Samaria.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 2:1 Elisha will be the successor of the prophet who disappears in a mysterious manner; but according to Jewish tradition (Mal 3:23; Mt 17:12; Lk 1:17) Elijah will appear again when the Messiah comes.
- 2 Kings 2:9 A double portion: twice as much as to the other heirs of Elijah’s spirit, in accordance with the law governing the firstborn (Deut 21:17).
- 2 Kings 2:12 The same will be said in connection with Elisha himself (2 Ki 13:14); the meaning is that Elijah was worth an entire army in Israel’s defense.
- 2 Kings 2:23 Go away, baldy!: the age of Elisha’s taunters is questionable, but their message is clear: “We don’t want to hear about your God or any condemnation of our gods.” Elisha’s cursing did not bring the bears, but the Lord heard his cry and punished them for their idolatry and disbelief.