2Ki 2:9 | KingComments | STEP | When they had come to the other side of the Jordan, Elijah said to Elisha that he may make a request. Elisha then asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. With this he asked for something that belongs to the birthright ( ). He badly needed this double portion as a confirmation of his service. Elisha desired Elijah’s authority and strength to act as Elijah had acted. What Elisha wanted and requested was strength, so that he could be a true representative of Elijah when Elijah was absent. For us it is the power of the Holy Spirit to represent Christ, to live like Him (cf. ). Elisha was aware that he was the successor of Elijah, his heir – much more so than the student prophets, who could be compared sometimes with nominal Christians, sometimes with ignorant believers. If we can call them heirs of Elijah at all, then Elisha was the ‘firstborn son’, therefore entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. Elisha claimed his birthright here, so to speak, after Elijah, before his departure, had given him the opportunity to make a request ( ). What is striking here is that Elisha did not wish to inherit wealth, honor or power, but a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. His request therefore resembles the plea of Solomon, who at the beginning of his task as king, did not desire riches or power, but a wise and understanding heart to govern Israel ( ). With this he showed that he had the right spiritual attitude. The double portion was also reflected in his service: Elisha performed about twice as many miracles as Elijah. Elijah did not take it for granted that Elisha inherited a double portion of his spirit. He saw it as “a hard thing”, perhaps in the awareness that it was not a person’s right and was even impossible for a man to communicate the Spirit of God to others. Elijah did not know whether Elisha’s wish could be fulfilled. Therefore he put this matter in God’s hand with the following words: “If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be [so]”. Elijah could not give that double portion, but God could. He leaves the answer to God. Elijah made the fulfillment of Elisha’s wish dependent on whether Elisha was going to be an eyewitness of his rapture. The only question then was: Will Elisha focus his eye on Elijah? Will he accept the great challenge of Elijah going to heaven and simply keep his eye on him continuously when he goes? It is a blessed condition to be in, to renounce oneself and everything, and to look at Christ ( ). When the eye renounces everything else and is only focused on Him, we find the power of the Holy Spirit in action. It’s that simple. Peter experienced this when he was walking on the water ( ). Stephen also experienced it ( ), as did Moses ( ).

‏ 2 Kings 2:9

Elisha’s Question

When they had come to the other side of the Jordan, Elijah said to Elisha that he may make a request. Elisha then asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. With this he asked for something that belongs to the birthright (Deu 21:17). He badly needed this double portion as a confirmation of his service. Elisha desired Elijah’s authority and strength to act as Elijah had acted. What Elisha wanted and requested was strength, so that he could be a true representative of Elijah when Elijah was absent. For us it is the power of the Holy Spirit to represent Christ, to live like Him (cf. Lk 24:49).

Elisha was aware that he was the successor of Elijah, his heir – much more so than the student prophets, who could be compared sometimes with nominal Christians, sometimes with ignorant believers. If we can call them heirs of Elijah at all, then Elisha was the ‘firstborn son’, therefore entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. Elisha claimed his birthright here, so to speak, after Elijah, before his departure, had given him the opportunity to make a request (2Kgs 2:9a).

What is striking here is that Elisha did not wish to inherit wealth, honor or power, but a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. His request therefore resembles the plea of Solomon, who at the beginning of his task as king, did not desire riches or power, but a wise and understanding heart to govern Israel (1Kgs 3:9 ; 12). With this he showed that he had the right spiritual attitude. The double portion was also reflected in his service: Elisha performed about twice as many miracles as Elijah.

Elijah did not take it for granted that Elisha inherited a double portion of his spirit. He saw it as “a hard thing”, perhaps in the awareness that it was not a person’s right and was even impossible for a man to communicate the Spirit of God to others. Elijah did not know whether Elisha’s wish could be fulfilled. Therefore he put this matter in God’s hand with the following words: “If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be [so]”. Elijah could not give that double portion, but God could. He leaves the answer to God.

Elijah made the fulfillment of Elisha’s wish dependent on whether Elisha was going to be an eyewitness of his rapture. The only question then was: Will Elisha focus his eye on Elijah? Will he accept the great challenge of Elijah going to heaven and simply keep his eye on him continuously when he goes?

It is a blessed condition to be in, to renounce oneself and everything, and to look at Christ (Heb 12:2). When the eye renounces everything else and is only focused on Him, we find the power of the Holy Spirit in action. It’s that simple. Peter experienced this when he was walking on the water (Mt 14:29). Stephen also experienced it (Acts 7:56), as did Moses (Heb 11:27).