2 Kings 2

Elijah Is Taken to Heaven

1 It was almost time for the Lord to take Elijah by a whirlwind up into heaven. While Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal,

2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here. The Lord has told me to go to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The groups of prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know the Lord will take your master away from you today?”
Elisha said, “Yes, I know, but don’t talk about it.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha, because the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won’t leave you.”
So they went to Jericho.

5 The groups of prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”
Elisha answered, “Yes, I know, but don’t talk about it.”

6 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here. The Lord has sent me to the Jordan River.”
Elisha answered, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won’t leave you.”
So the two of them went on.7 Fifty men of the groups of prophets came and stood far from where Elijah and Elisha were by the Jordan.

8 Elijah took off his coat, rolled it up, and hit the water. The water divided to the right and to the left, and Elijah and Elisha crossed over on dry ground.

9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
Elisha said, “Leave me a double share of your spirit.” 

10 Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. But if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours. If you don’t, it won’t happen.”
11 As they were walking and talking, a chariot and horses of fire appeared and separated Elijah from Elisha. Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12 Elisha saw it and shouted, “My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and their horsemen!” And Elisha did not see him anymore. Then Elisha grabbed his own clothes and tore them to show how sad he was.
13 He picked up Elijah’s coat that had fallen from him. Then he returned and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

14 Elisha hit the water with Elijah’s coat and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he hit the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.
15 The groups of prophets at Jericho were watching and said, “Elisha now has the spirit Elijah had.” And they came to meet him, bowing down to the ground before him.

16 They said to him, “There are fifty strong men with us. Please let them go and look for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has taken Elijah up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.”
But Elisha answered, “No, don’t send them.”
17 When the groups of prophets had begged Elisha until he couldn’t refuse them anymore, he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men who looked for three days, but they could not find him.

18 Then they came back to Elisha at Jericho where he was staying. He said to them, “I told you not to go, didn’t I?”

Elisha Makes the Water Pure

19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, master, this city is a nice place to live as you can see. But the water is so bad the land cannot grow crops.”

20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt in it. He said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. From now on it won’t cause death, and it won’t keep the land from growing crops.’ ”

22 So the water has been healed to this day just as Elisha had said.

Boys Make Fun of Elisha

23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. On the way some boys came out of the city and made fun of him. They said to him, “Go up too, you baldhead! Go up too, you baldhead!”24 Elisha turned around, looked at them, and put a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two mother bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys to pieces.25 Elisha went to Mount Carmel and from there he 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