2Ki 2 | LSB | STEP | Now it happened when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Kings 2

Elijah Taken to Heaven

1 Now it happened when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah by a ^{▼▼Or windstorm}whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then 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 over ^{▼▼Lit your head}you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

4 And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over ^{▼▼Lit your head}you today?” And he ^{▼▼Lit said}answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” And he said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So the two of them went on.

7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, but the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 Now it happened when they crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, 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 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and it separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a ^{▼▼Or windstorm}whirlwind to heaven. 12 And Elisha was seeing this and he was crying out, “My father, my father, the ^{▼▼Lit chariot}chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw ^{▼▼Lit him}Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” Indeed, he himself also struck the waters, and they were divided here and there! And Elisha crossed over.

Elisha Has the Spirit of Elijah

15 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him and said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty excellent men, please let them go and search for your master, lest the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. 18 So they returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the habitat of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land ^{▼▼Lit causes barrenness}is unfruitful.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt ^{▼▼Lit there}in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 And he went out to the spring of water and threw salt ^{▼▼Lit there}in it and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have ^{▼▼Lit healed}purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or barrenness any longer.’ ” 22 So the waters have been ^{▼▼Lit healed}purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young boys came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” 24 Then he looked behind him and saw them. And he cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of ^{▼▼Lit them}their number. 25 And he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.