2 Kings 2
New Catholic Bible
Stories of Elisha and Joram
Chapter 2
Elijah Is Taken to Heaven.[a] 1 Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal when the Lord was about to take Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Wait here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha answered, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
3 The sons of the prophets came forth from Bethel to Elisha and they said to him, “Do you know that today is the day that the Lord is going to take away your master who is over you?” Elisha answered, “Yes, I know it. Be quiet!”
4 Elijah then said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he answered, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 The sons of the prophets in Jericho came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today is the day that the Lord is going to take away your master who is over you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet!”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” He answered, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
7 Now fifty of the sons of the prophets went out and watched from a distance as the two of them stood at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up. He struck the waters with it, and they split apart, so the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
Elisha Succeeds Elijah. 9 After they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask me for whatever you want before I am taken away.” Elisha said, “Let me please have a double portion[b] of your spirit.” 10 He answered, “You have asked for something that is difficult. If you see me taken away from you, then it will be yours. If not, then it will not be so.”
11 As they were walking along talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up into the heavens in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!” And then he could not see him anymore. He took hold of his clothes and tore them apart.[c]
13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off of him, and he went back and stood by the banks of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off of him, and he struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the waters, they split apart and he crossed over.
15 The sons of the prophets from Jericho who had been watching said, “The spirit of Elijah has come to rest upon Elisha.” They came out to meet him, and they bowed down to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, “Behold, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Let them go out and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on a mountain or in some valley.” But he answered, “Do not send them.”
17 They continued to insist until he became embarrassed and he said, “Send them.” The fifty men searched for three days, but they did not find him. 18 When they came back to him in Jericho where he was staying, he said to them, “Did I not tell you that you should not go?”
19 Healing the Water. The men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, this city is in a pleasant location, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the ground is barren.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put some salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 He went out to the spring of water, and he threw the salt into it, saying, “Thus says the Lord: I have healed these waters. They shall never again produce death or make the land barren.” 22 The waters have remained healed up to the present day, just as Elisha had declared.
23 [d]From there he traveled to Bethel. As he was on his way, some little children came out of the city and they mocked him crying out, “Go away, baldy! Go away, baldy!” 24 He turned around and stared at them. He cursed them in the name of the Lord. Two female bears came out from the woods and mauled the children, forty-two of them.
25 From there he went to Mount Carmel, and then he returned to Samaria.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 2:1 Elisha will be the successor of the prophet who disappears in a mysterious manner; but according to Jewish tradition (Mal 3:23; Mt 17:12; Lk 1:17) Elijah will appear again when the Messiah comes.
- 2 Kings 2:9 A double portion: twice as much as to the other heirs of Elijah’s spirit, in accordance with the law governing the firstborn (Deut 21:17).
- 2 Kings 2:12 The same will be said in connection with Elisha himself (2 Ki 13:14); the meaning is that Elijah was worth an entire army in Israel’s defense.
- 2 Kings 2:23 Go away, baldy!: the age of Elisha’s taunters is questionable, but their message is clear: “We don’t want to hear about your God or any condemnation of our gods.” Elisha’s cursing did not bring the bears, but the Lord heard his cry and punished them for their idolatry and disbelief.
2 Reyes 2
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Eliseo sucesor de Elías
2 Y sucedió que cuando el Señor iba a llevarse a Elías al cielo(A) en un torbellino, Elías venía de Gilgal(B) con Eliseo(C). 2 Y Elías le dijo a Eliseo: «Te ruego que te quedes aquí(D), porque el Señor me ha enviado hasta Betel[a](E)». Pero Eliseo le dijo: «Vive el Señor y vive tu alma, que no me apartaré de ti(F)». Así que ambos descendieron a Betel.
3 Entonces los hijos de los profetas que estaban en Betel salieron al encuentro de Eliseo y le dijeron: «¿Sabes que hoy el Señor va a quitarte a tu señor[b](G)?». Y él dijo: «Sí, yo lo sé; cállense». 4 Elías entonces le dijo: «Eliseo, te ruego que te quedes aquí(H), porque el Señor me ha enviado a Jericó(I)». Pero él dijo: «Vive el Señor y vive tu alma, que no me apartaré de ti(J)». Y fueron juntos a Jericó. 5 También los hijos de los profetas que estaban en Jericó se acercaron a Eliseo y le dijeron: «¿Sabes que hoy el Señor va a quitarte a tu señor[c]?». Y él respondió: «Sí, yo lo sé; cállense(K)». 6 Entonces Elías le dijo: «Te ruego que te quedes aquí, porque el Señor me ha enviado al Jordán(L)». Pero Eliseo dijo: «Vive el Señor y vive tu alma, que no me apartaré de ti». Y los dos siguieron caminando(M).
7 Y cincuenta hombres de los hijos de los profetas fueron y se pararon frente(N) a ellos, a lo lejos, mientras ellos dos se detuvieron junto al Jordán. 8 Entonces Elías tomó su manto(O), lo dobló y golpeó las aguas, y estas se dividieron a uno y a otro lado, y los dos pasaron por tierra seca(P). 9 Cuando ya habían pasado, Elías le dijo a Eliseo: «Pide lo que quieras que yo haga por ti antes de que yo sea separado de ti». Y Eliseo le respondió: «Te ruego que una doble porción de tu espíritu sea sobre mí(Q)». 10 Elías le dijo: «Has pedido una cosa difícil. Sin embargo, si me ves cuando sea llevado(R) de tu lado, así te sucederá; pero si no, no será así.»
11 Mientras ellos iban andando y hablando, de pronto, apareció un carro de fuego y caballos de fuego(S) que separó a los dos. Y Elías subió al cielo en un torbellino. 12 Eliseo lo vio y clamó: «Padre mío, padre mío, los carros de Israel y su gente de a caballo(T)». Y no lo vio más. Entonces tomó sus vestidos y los rasgó(U) en dos pedazos. 13 También recogió el manto de Elías que se le había caído, y regresó y se paró a la orilla del Jordán. 14 Y tomando el manto de Elías que se le había caído, golpeó las aguas, y dijo: «¿Dónde está el Señor, el Dios de Elías?». Y cuando él golpeó también las aguas, estas[d] se dividieron a uno y a otro lado, y Eliseo pasó(V).
15 Cuando lo vieron los hijos de los profetas que estaban en Jericó frente a él(W), dijeron: «El espíritu de Elías reposa sobre Eliseo». Entonces fueron a su encuentro y se postraron ante él, 16 y le dijeron: «Aquí entre tus siervos hay cincuenta hombres fuertes; te rogamos que los dejes ir a buscar a tu señor; tal vez el Espíritu del Señor lo ha levantado y lo ha echado en algún monte o en algún valle(X)». Y él dijo: «No los envíen». 17 Pero cuando le insistieron hasta la saciedad(Y), dijo: «Envíenlos». Entonces enviaron cincuenta hombres; y buscaron durante tres días, pero no lo hallaron. 18 Volvieron a Eliseo que se había quedado en Jericó, y él les dijo: «¿No les dije: “No vayan”?».
19 Entonces los hombres de la ciudad dijeron a Eliseo: «El emplazamiento de esta ciudad es bueno, como mi señor ve, pero el agua es mala y la tierra estéril». 20 Y él dijo: «Tráiganme una vasija nueva, y pongan sal en ella». Y se la trajeron. 21 Eliseo fue al manantial de las aguas, echó sal en él, y dijo: «Así dice el Señor: “He purificado[e] estas aguas; de allí no saldrá[f] más muerte ni esterilidad(Z)”». 22 Y las aguas han quedado purificadas[g] hasta hoy, conforme a la palabra que habló Eliseo.
23 Después subió de allí a Betel[h]; y mientras subía por el camino, unos muchachos salieron de la ciudad y se burlaban(AA) de él, diciéndole: «¡Sube, calvo; sube, calvo!». 24 Cuando él miró hacia atrás y los vio, los maldijo(AB) en el nombre del Señor. Entonces salieron dos osas del bosque y despedazaron de ellos a cuarenta y dos muchachos. 25 De allí, Eliseo fue al monte Carmelo(AC), y desde allí regresó a Samaria.
2 Kings 2
New King James Version
Elijah Ascends to Heaven
2 And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to (A)take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with (B)Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, (C)“Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and (D)as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now (E)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 [a]from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.”
But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and (F)it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry (G)ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly (H)a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah (I)went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, (J)“My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, (K)it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were (L)from[b] Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, (M)lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.”
And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”
17 But when they urged him till he was (N)ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
Elisha Performs Miracles
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and (O)cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have [c]healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” 22 So the water remains (P)healed 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 the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”
24 So he turned around and looked at them, and (Q)pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
25 Then he went from there to (R)Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 2:3 Lit. from your head
- 2 Kings 2:15 Or at Jericho opposite him saw
- 2 Kings 2:21 purified
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
