2 Kings 2

Elijah Taken to Heaven

1 When the Lord was going to take Elijah to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal.

2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Bethel.”
Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel.3 Some of the disciples of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha. They asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”4 Elijah said, “Elisha, please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Jericho.5 Then some of the disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho approached Elisha. They asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”6 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to the Jordan River.”Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.”7 Fifty disciples of the prophets stood at a distance as Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan River.

8 Elijah took his coat, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The water divided to their left and their right, and the two men crossed the river on dry ground.
9 While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?”Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”10 Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.”11 As they continued walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses separated the two of them, and Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm.12 When Elisha saw this, he cried out, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!” When he couldn’t see Elijah anymore, he grabbed his own garment and tore it in two to show his grief.13 Then he picked up Elijah’s coat (which had fallen off Elijah), went back, and stood on the bank of the Jordan River.

14 He took the coat and struck the water with it. He asked, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” As he struck the water, it divided to his left and his right, and Elisha crossed the river.
15 The disciples of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him from a distance. They said, “Elijah’s spirit rests on Elisha!” Then they went to meet him and bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground.

16 They said to him, “There are 50 strong men here with us. Please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Lord’s Spirit lifted him up and dropped him on one of the hills or in one of the valleys.”
Elisha answered, “Don’t send them to look.”17 But the disciples kept urging him to send the men until he was embarrassed. So he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men who searched for three days without finding him.

18 They returned to Elisha in Jericho, where he was waiting. He said, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Elisha Purifies Jericho’s Water

19 The people of the city of Jericho told Elisha, “This city’s location is as good as you will ever find. But the water is bad, and the land cannot grow crops.”20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” They brought it to him.21 He went to the spring and threw the salt into it. Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. No more deaths or crop failures will come from this water.”

22 To this day the water is still pure, as Elisha had said.
23 From there he went to Bethel. As he walked along the road, some boys came out of the city and mocked him. They said, “Go away, baldy! Go away!”24 Looking back, he saw them and cursed them in the Lord’s name. Two bears came out of the woods and tore 42 of these youths apart.

25 He left that place, went to Mount Carmel, and returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 2

Elijah Makes a Swift Departure

1 Just beforet the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.2 Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”s But Elisha said, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 Some members of the prophetic guildt in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?”t He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”s But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they traveled on together.7 The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elishat stood by the Jordan.

8 Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you,t before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.”t

10 Elijaht replied, “That’s a difficult request!t If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”
11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariott pulled by fiery horses appeared.t They went between Elijah and Elisha,t and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm.12 While Elisha was watching, he was crying out, “My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!”s Then he could no longer see him. He grabbed his clothes and tore them in two.13 He picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen off him, and went back and stood on the shore of the Jordan.

14 He took the cloak that had fallen off Elijah,t hit the water with it, and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he hit the water, it divided and Elisha crossed over.
15 When the members of the prophetic guild in Jericho,s who were standing at a distance,t saw him do this, they said, “The spirit that energized Elijaht rests upon Elisha.” They went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.16 They said to him, “Look, there are fifty capable men with your servants. Let them go and look for your master, for the wind sent from the Lordt may have carried him away and dropped him on one of the hills or in one of the valleys.” But Elishat replied, “Don’t send them out.”17 But they were so insistent, he became embarrassed. So he said, “Send them out.” They sent the fifty men out and they looked for three days, but could not find Elijah.t

18 When they came back, Elishat was staying in Jericho. He said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go’?”

Elisha Demonstrates His Authority

19 The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, the city has a good location, as ourt master can see. But the water is bad and the land doesn’t produce crops.”t20 Elishat said, “Get me a new jar and put some salt in it.” So they got it.21 He went out to the spring and threw the salt in. Then he said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘I have purifiedt this water. It will no longer cause death or fail to produce crops.”t

22 The water has been pure to this very day, just as Elisha prophesied.t
23 He went up from there to Bethel.s As he was traveling up the road, some young boyst came out of the city and made fun of him, saying, “Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!”24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them.t Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces.

25 From there he traveled to Mount Carmel and then back to Samaria.ss