And Elijah (A)took his coat, folded it, and (B)struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask me what I should do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a (C)double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you (D)see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they were walking along and talking, behold, (E)a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a [a]whirlwind to heaven. 12 And Elisha was watching it and he was crying out, “(F)My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he did not see [b]Elijah again. Then (G)he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him, and he went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had (H)struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

15 Now when (I)the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah has settled on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 2:11 Or windstorm
  2. 2 Kings 2:12 Lit him

Elijah took his cloak,(A) rolled it up and struck(B) the water with it. The water divided(C) to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry(D) ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double(E) portion of your spirit,”(F) Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire(G) and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven(H) in a whirlwind.(I) 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots(J) and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore(K) it in two.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak(L) that had fallen from Elijah and struck(M) the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

15 The company(N) of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit(O) of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

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