Explanation: The central focus of 2 Kings 2 is the transfer of the prophetic leadership from Elijah to Elisha. [Kings of Judah and Israel Chart].
     On the day that Elijah was to go to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were in Gilgal. Scripture has no record of a prophecy concerning this rapture; but it is obvious from the context of the present chapter (verses 3 and 5) that the pending event was known by Elijah, Elisha, and the schools of the prophets in Bethel and Jericho. Elijah told Elisha to tarry in Gilgal because the LORD had sent him to Bethel. But Elisha swore with a solemn oath that he would not leave him. So they went to Bethel; and the prophets in that place asked Elisha if he knew of Elijah's pending departure. Elisha said that he knew and told them to hold their peace (1-3).
     The same scenario repeated itself when the LORD sent Elijah to Jericho (4-5).
     The scenario repeated itself a third time when the LORD sent Elijah to the banks of the Jordan river; however, no one asked Elisha whether he knew of the coming event. This was possibly because the prophets who went with them to view from afar off were from Jericho. When Elijah reached the Jordan, he struck the waters with his mantle, causing it to divide; and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground (6-8).
     Elijah then asked Elisha what Elisha wanted him to do for him. Elisha asked for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit. This does not mean that Elisha wanted to be twice as powerful as Elijah; rather, the "double portion" was the portion of an inheritance which was received by a man's chief heir -- usually his firstborn son. Elijah said that this was a difficult request; but it would be granted if Elisha saw Elijah when he was taken from him. And, as they walked and talked together, a chariot of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. When Elisha saw it he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." By this expression, Elisha meant that (spiritually) Elijah was the defender and protector of Israel. Elisha tore his clothing in half and took up the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from him. With this he struck the Jordan river, saying, "Where is the God of Elijah"; and the Jordan parted just as before. And Elisha crossed over (9-14).
     And the prophets realized that the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha. They came to him and asked him to allow fifty men to search for Elijah among the hills and valleys. Elisha refused. However, since they kept urging him, he allowed them to go. They sought Elisha for three days but did not find him; and Elisha told them that they should not have gone (15-18).
     The men of Jericho pointed out to Elisha that Jericho's situation was pleasant, but it's water was bitter. Elisha had them bring him some salt which he threw into the spring, causing it to change from bitter to sweet. And, he told them that the LORD had healed to waters; and death and the barrenness of the land would be removed (19-22).
     Elisha then went toward Bethel. On his way, boys (Hebrew, na'ar, boys 6-20) mocked him; and he cursed them in the name of the LORD; and 42 of them were torn by she bears. From Bethel he went to Carmel; and from Carmel he went to Samaria (23-25).      [ Sermons: Eric Alexander. William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Today's images depict the key events in today's chapter. Image 1 depicts Elijah's ascent into heaven. Image 2 shows the spring which Elisha healed as it looks today. Image 3 depicts the youth who mocked Elisha. In my view, the children depicted in the painting are too young. The attitudes and actions of the mockers seem to be more typical of teenagers than of the very young children in the painting.]

Map | Time Line

     ¹ And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. ² And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. ³ And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

     ⁴ And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. ⁵ And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

     ⁶ And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. ⁷ And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. ⁸ And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

     ⁹ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. ¹⁰ And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. ¹¹ And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent 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 Jordan; ¹⁴ And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

     ¹⁵ And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. ¹⁶ And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men [men, sons of force ]; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. ¹⁷ And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. ¹⁸ And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

     ¹⁹ And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. ²⁰ And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they bought it to him. ²¹ And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. ²² So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

     ²³ And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. ²⁴ And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. ²⁵ And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

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