The Shared Word Translation · Study & Discuss
2 Kings 2
Elijah and Elisha Go toward the Jordan
And it happened when the LORD was about to take Elijah up into the heavens in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives and as your life lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD is taking your master from over your head?” He said, “I also know. Be silent.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives and as your life lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD is taking your master from over your head?” He said, “I also know. Be silent.” Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives and as your life lives, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters. They were divided to this side and that side, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
Elijah Is Taken Up
And it happened when they had crossed over that 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 upon me.” He said, “You have asked a difficult thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if not, it shall not be.” And it happened as they continued walking and speaking, look, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up in a whirlwind into the heavens. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” Then he saw him no more. He took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Elisha Takes Up Elijah’s Cloak
He picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and returned and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him, struck the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah—where is he?” When he struck the waters, they divided to this side and that side, and Elisha crossed over.
The Prophets Recognize Elisha
When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. They said to him, “Look now, there are with your servants fifty capable men. Please let them go and seek your master, lest the Spirit of the LORD has lifted him up and cast him upon one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.” He said, “You shall not send them.” But they pressed him until he was ashamed, and he said, “Send.” So they sent fifty men, and they searched three days but did not find him. They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
Elisha Heals the Water of Jericho
The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, the location of the city is good, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the land causes miscarriage.” He said, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. He went out to the spring of the water, threw salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: I have healed this water. From there shall no longer come death or miscarriage.” So the waters were healed to this day according to the word of Elisha that he spoke.
Elisha Is Mocked on the Way to Bethel
He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up on the way, some young boys came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, baldhead! Go up, baldhead!” He turned behind him, saw them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out from the forest and tore forty-two of the boys. From there he went to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.