2
1 When
the LORD was
about to
take Elijah up by
a whirlwind into
heaven, Elijah went
with Elisha from
Gilgal.
2 Elijah said
to Elisha, “Please
wait here, for
the LORD has
sent me as
far as Bethel.”
Elisha said, “As
the LORD lives,
and as your
soul lives, I
will not leave
you.” So they
went down to
Bethel.
3 The
sons of the
prophets who were
at Bethel came
out to Elisha, and
said to him, “Do
you know that
the LORD will
take away
your master from
over you today?”
He said, “Yes,
I know it. Hold
your peace.”
4 Elijah said
to him, “Elisha,
please wait here,
for the LORD
has sent me
to Jericho.”
He said, “As the
LORD lives, and
as your soul
lives, I will
not leave you.”
So they came
to Jericho.
5 The
sons of the
prophets who were
at Jericho came
near to Elisha,
and said to him,
“Do you know
that the LORD
will take away
your master from
over you today?”
He answered, “Yes,
I know it. Hold
your peace.”
6 Elijah said
to him, “Please
wait here, for
the LORD has
sent me to
the Jordan.”
He said, “As the
LORD lives, and
as your soul
lives, I will
not leave you.”
Then they both
went on.
7 Fifty
men of the
sons of the
prophets went and
stood opposite
them at a
distance; and they
both stood by
the Jordan.
8 Elijah took
his mantle, and
rolled it up,
and struck the
waters; and they
were divided here
and there, so
that they both
went over on
dry ground.
9 When
they had gone
over, Elijah said
to Elisha, “Ask
what I shall
do for you,
before I am
taken from you.”
Elisha said, “Please
let a double
portion of your
spirit be on
me.”
10 He
said, “You have
asked a hard
thing. If you
see me when
I am taken
from you, it
will be so
for you; but
if not, it
will not be
so.”
11 As
they continued on
and talked, behold,
a chariot of fire
and horses of fire
separated them;
and Elijah went
up by a
whirlwind into
heaven.
12 Elisha saw
it, and he
cried, “My father,
my father, the
chariots of Israel
and its horsemen!”
He saw him
no more. Then
he took hold
of his own clothes
and tore them
in two pieces.
13 He also
took up Elijah’s mantle
that fell from
him, and went
back and stood
by the bank
of the Jordan.
14 He
took Elijah’s mantle that
fell from him,
and struck the
waters, and said, “Where
is the LORD,
the God of Elijah?”
When he also
had struck the
waters, they were
divided apart,
and Elisha went
over.
15 When
the sons of
the prophets who
were at Jericho
facing him saw
him, they said, “The
spirit of Elijah
rests on Elisha.”
They came to
meet him, and
bowed themselves
to the ground
before him.
16 They said
to him, “See
now, there are
with your servants
fifty strong men.
Please let them
go and seek
your master. Perhaps
the LORD’s Spirit
has taken him
up, and put
him on some
mountain or into
some valley.”
He said, “Don’t send
them.”
17 When
they urged him
until he
was ashamed, he said, “Send
them.”
Therefore they
sent fifty men;
and they searched
for three days,
but didn’t find
him.
18 They
came back to
him while he
stayed at Jericho;
and he said to
them, “Didn’t I tell
you, ‘Don’t go’?”
19 The
men of the
city said to Elisha, “Behold, please, the
situation of this
city is pleasant,
as my lord sees;
but the water
is bad, and
the land is
barren.”
20 He said, “Bring
me a new
jar, and put
salt in it.”
Then they brought
it to him.
21 He
went out to
the spring of
the waters, and
threw salt into
it, and said, “The
LORD says, ‘I
have healed these
waters. There
shall not be
from there any
more death or
barren wasteland.’ ”
22 So
the waters were
healed to this
day, according to
Elisha’s word
which he spoke.
23 He
went up from
there to Bethel.
As he was
going up by
the way, some
youths came out
of the city
and mocked him,
and said to
him, “Go up,
you baldy! Go
up, you baldy!”
24 He
looked behind him
and saw them,
and cursed them
in the LORD’s
name. Then two
female bears came
out of the
woods and mauled
forty-two of those
youths.
25 He
went from there
to Mount Carmel,
and from there
he returned to
Samaria.