2 Kings 2:1-10

Elijah Makes a Swift Departure

2:1 Just before ¹  the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2:2 Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” ²  But Elisha said, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 2:3 Some members of the prophetic guild ³  in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” ⁴  He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

2:4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” ⁵  But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 2:5 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.”

2:6 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. 2:7 The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha ⁶  stood by the Jordan. 2:8 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.

2:9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you, ⁷  before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.” ⁸  2:10 Elijah ⁹  replied, “That’s a difficult request! ¹⁰  If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”

[2:1]  ¹ tn Or “when.”

[2:2]  ² map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[2:3]  ³ tn Heb “the sons of the prophets.”

[2:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “from your head.” The same expression occurs in v. 5.

[2:4]  ⁵ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[2:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “the two of them.” The referents (Elijah and Elisha) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “Ask! What can I do for you….?”

[2:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “May a double portion of your spirit come to me.”

[2:10]  ⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:10]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “You have made difficult [your] request.”