2 Kings 2

1 It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Elijah 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.

3 The 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.”

4 Elijah 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.

5 The 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.”

6 Elijah 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.” They both went on.7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.8 Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9 It happened, when they had gone 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 on me.”

10 He said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, “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.13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.14 He took the mantle of Elijah 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.15 When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16 They said to him, “See now, 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 into some valley.
He said, “You shall not send them.”

17 When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.”
They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.

18 They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go?’”

19 The men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land miscarries.”
20 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” They brought it to him.21 He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.’”

22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
23 He 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 baldy! Go up, you baldhead!”24 He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths.

25 He went from there 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