2 Kings 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Elijah in the Whirlwind
2 The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven(A) in a whirlwind.(B) Elijah and Elisha(C) were traveling from Gilgal,(D) 2 and Elijah said to Elisha,(E) “Stay here;(F) the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”(G)
But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”(H) So they went down to Bethel.
3 Then the sons of the prophets(I) who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”(J)
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”(K)
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”(L)
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
7 Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle,(M) rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.(N) 9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”
So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares[a] of your spirit.”(O)
10 Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,(P) you will have it. If not, you won’t.”
11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire(Q) suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.(R) 12 As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”(S) Then he never saw Elijah again. He took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.(T)
Elisha Succeeds Elijah
13 Elisha picked up the mantle(U) that had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.
15 When the sons of the prophets from Jericho who were facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him.
16 Then the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Since there are 50 strong men here with your servants, please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has carried him away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”(V)
He answered, “Don’t send them.”
17 However, they urged him to the point of embarrassment,(W) so he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men, who looked for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to him in Jericho(X) where he was staying, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Even though our lord can see that the city’s location is good, the water is bad and the land unfruitful.”(Y)
20 He replied, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.”(Z)
After they had brought him one, 21 Elisha went out to the spring of water, threw salt in it,(AA) and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it.’” 22 Therefore, the water remains healthy to this very day according to the word that Elisha spoke.
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel.(AB) As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and harassed him,(AC) chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord.(AD) Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the children. 25 From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel,(AE) and then he returned to Samaria.(AF)
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 2:9 Two shares is the inheritance of blessing for the firstborn son; Dt 21:17. Here Elisha is asking for the leadership role among the prophets.
2 Kings 2
Legacy Standard Bible
Elijah Taken to Heaven
2 Now it happened when Yahweh was about to (A)take up Elijah by a [a]whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with (B)Elisha from (C)Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “(D)Stay here please, for Yahweh has sent me as far as (E)Bethel.” But Elisha said, “(F)As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then (G)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 [b]you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
4 And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please (H)stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to (I)Jericho.” But he said, “(J)As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 (K)Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “(L)Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over [c]you today?” And he [d]answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please (M)stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to (N)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 (O)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 (P)took his mantle and folded it together and (Q)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 (R)double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you (S)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 (T)a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and it separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a [e]whirlwind to heaven. 12 And Elisha was seeing this and he was crying out, “(U)My father, my father, the [f]chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw [g]Elijah no more. Then (V)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 (W)struck the waters, and they were divided here and there! And Elisha crossed over.
Elisha Has the Spirit of Elijah
15 Then (X)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 (Y)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 (Z)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 [h]is unfruitful.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt [i]in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 And he went out to the spring of water and (AA)threw salt [j]in it and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have [k]purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or barrenness any longer.’” 22 So the waters have been [l]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 (AB)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 (AC)cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of [m]their number. 25 And he went from there to (AD)Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 2:1 Or windstorm
- 2 Kings 2:3 Lit your head
- 2 Kings 2:5 Lit your head
- 2 Kings 2:5 Lit said
- 2 Kings 2:11 Or windstorm
- 2 Kings 2:12 Lit chariot
- 2 Kings 2:12 Lit him
- 2 Kings 2:19 Lit causes barrenness
- 2 Kings 2:20 Lit there
- 2 Kings 2:21 Lit there
- 2 Kings 2:21 Lit healed
- 2 Kings 2:22 Lit healed
- 2 Kings 2:24 Lit them
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