II Kings 2 · The Lantern

Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

And it was, when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to the heavens in the whirlwind, that Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal.

And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” And Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” And they went down to Bethel.

And the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD is taking your lord from over your head?” And he said, “I also know it. Be quiet.”

And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” And they came to Jericho.

And the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD is taking your lord from over your head?” And he said, “I also know it. Be quiet.”

And Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” And the two of them went on.

And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them, far off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan.

And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the water, and it was divided this way and that; and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

And it was, as they crossed, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask — what shall I do for you before I am taken from you?” And Elisha said, “Let a double portion of your spirit, please, be on me.”

QUESTION ABOUT ELISHA: DID HE OBTAIN WHAT HE IS SAID TO HAVE ASKED TOO HARSHLY OF ELIJAH? — Elisha, eager in spirit for performing miracles and enticed by the example of his master, when he received the permission to ask for whatever he wished, greedily for good things requested that the spirit be present in him in double measure compared with what it was in his master.

Therefore, he who is everywhere does not dwell in all, and he does not even dwell equally in those in whom he does dwell. Otherwise, what is the meaning of the request made by Elisha that there might be in him double the Spirit of God that was in Elijah? And how is it that among the saints some are more holy than others, except that they have a more abundant indwelling in God?

And again also he commanded his disciple with authority, saying, "Ask whatsoever thou wishest, and I will give it to thee before I am taken from thee;" and according to what the disciple asked and the master commanded, the Spirit ministered in very deed, and bestowed the gift upon Elisha.

And he said: “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be.”

And it was, as they were walking on, walking and talking — look, a chariot of fire and horses of fire; and they separated the two of them, and Elijah went up in the whirlwind to the heavens.

But do not marvel in regard to what is said about Elijah, if, just as something strange happened to him different from all the saints who are recorded, in respect of his having been caught up by a whirlwind into heaven, so his spirit had something of choice excellence, so that not only did it rest on Elisha but also descended along with John at his birth; and that John, separat…

Any one who is filled with astonishment, as he thinks of the ascension of Elijah and his passage in a chariot of fire, must see how much the nature of humankind has been honoured, as, it is thereby taught and has the hope, that it can pursue its way to heaven.

The prophets proclaimed the mystery of the Lord's ascension not only by their words but also by their actions. Both Enoch, the seventh [in the line of descent] from Adam, who was transported from the world, and Elijah, who was taken up into heaven, gave evidence that the Lord would ascend above all the heavens.…Elijah presented an image of this festivity of the Lord by a miracl…

And Elisha was watching, and he was crying out, “My father! My father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own garments and tore them into two pieces.

And he picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

And he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah — even he?” And he struck the water, and it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

And the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him from opposite, and they said, “The spirit of Elijah has settled on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and prostrated themselves to him to the ground.

And they said to him: “Look, please — there are with your servants fifty men, sons of valor. Let them go, please, and seek your lord — lest the spirit of the LORD has carried him off and thrown him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.” And he said, “Do not send them.”

But they pressed him until he was ashamed, and he said, “Send.” And they sent fifty men, and they sought three days and did not find him.

And they returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

Elisha Heals the Waters of Jericho

And the men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, please — the site of the city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land causes miscarriage.”

And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” And they brought it to him.

And he went out to the spring of the water and threw salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: I have healed this water; there shall no longer be death and miscarriage from it.”

And the water has been healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha that he spoke.

Elisha Mocked

And he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up on the way, small boys came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, baldhead! Go up, baldhead!”

And he turned behind him and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD; and two she-bears came out of the forest and tore open forty-two of the boys.