2 Kings 2:1-15

2 Kings 2:1-15

[1] And it came to pass, when the LORD  would take up  Elijah  into heaven  by a whirlwind,  that Elijah  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  [7] And fifty  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  [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  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,  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.

What does 2 Kings 2:1-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jehoram reigned12years in Israel (852-841 B.C.). His reign overlapped with Jehoshaphat and Jehoshaphat"s son Jehoram"s coregency (853-848 B.C.) as well as Jehoram of Judah"s sole reign (848-841 B.C.). During these12years Elisha, whose name means "my God is salvation," was very active in Israel. In keeping with his theological purpose, the writer of Kings again emphasized incidents of spiritual significance that took place at this time (cf1Kings17-19 , the Elijah narrative). [1]
"Testimony against evil, and consequent suffering, mark the history of Elijah. Power, and grace in using it for others, mark that of Elisha. Both are seen in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose shadows, of course, they were. In one aspect of His history on earth, we see the suffering, driven, persecuted Witness; the world hating Him, because He testified that its works were evil; in another we see the powerful, gracious, ready friend of others, all that had sorrows or necessities getting healing and blessing from Him." [2]