Bible Study 2 Kings 2
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2 Kings 2 · WEB

Elijah Taken Up; Elisha Begins His Ministry

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When Yahweh was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
2Elijah said to Elisha, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel." Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
3The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?" He said, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."
4Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." He said, "As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.
5The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?" He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."
6Elijah said to him, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." He said, "As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went on.
7Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood facing them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.
8Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters; and the waters were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground.
9When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me."
10He said, "You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you; but if not, it will not be so."
11As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" He saw him no more; and he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13He also took up Elijah's mantle that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
14He took Elijah's mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over.
15When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho in front of him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
16They said to him, "Behold, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. Perhaps the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up and put him on some mountain or in some valley." He said, "You shall not send them."
17When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." So they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days but didn't find him.
18When they came back to him, for he was staying at Jericho, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"
19The men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land causes miscarriages."
20He said, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it." They brought it to him.
21He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, "Yahweh says, 'I have healed these waters. There will no longer be death or miscarriage from there.'"
22So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
23He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you bald head! Go up, you bald head!"
24He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of those youths.
25He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
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Summary

The great prophet Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind and fiery chariot, passing his mantle to Elisha. Before Elijah's departure, Elisha refuses to leave his master's side and boldly requests a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Elisha witnesses the ascension and receives confirmation of the Spirit when he parts the Jordan with Elijah's cloak. His ministry begins with two dramatic acts: healing Jericho's bitter spring with salt, and pronouncing judgment on the youths who mockingly taunted him, establishing his authority as Elijah's successor.

Themes

  • Succession and the transfer of prophetic authority
  • Persistence and loyalty (Elisha refusing to leave Elijah)
  • The power of the Spirit of God resting on a servant
  • Miracles as signs confirming God's prophet

Key verses

  • 2 Kgs 2:11 — “Behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
  • 2 Kgs 2:14 — “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?”
  • 2 Kgs 2:9 — “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”

Context & background

The route from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan traces a path through the central hill country and down toward the Jordan River valley, retracing in reverse the steps of Israel's conquest under Joshua. Jericho (modern Jericho, West Bank) is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, sitting near the Jordan River. Elijah's ascent by whirlwind is one of only two such translations in the Bible (the other being Enoch in Genesis 5). The "sons of the prophets" were prophetic guilds or communities that existed throughout Israel. Elisha's mantle (cloak) became the visible symbol of prophetic authority passed from one to another.

Cross-references

  • 1 Kgs 19:16,19 — Elijah's original call to anoint Elisha and the casting of the mantle
  • Gen 5:24 — Enoch "walked with God and was not, for God took him" — the other biblical translation
  • Heb 11:5 — Enoch and by implication Elijah as examples of faith's power
  • Mal 4:5-6 — The promise that Elijah would return before the great day of Yahweh
  • Matt 17:3 — Elijah appears with Moses at the Transfiguration

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    How many times did Elijah tell Elisha to stay behind, and what was Elisha's response?

  2. Observe

    What two miracles did Elisha perform after receiving Elijah's mantle?

  3. Interpret

    What does Elisha's request for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit suggest?

  4. Interpret

    Why did Elisha strike the Jordan with Elijah's mantle and cry, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?"

  5. Apply

    What does Elisha's refusal to leave Elijah teach about pursuing spiritual mentors?

  6. Apply

    How does the transfer of Elijah's mantle to Elisha encourage us about generational change?

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