2 Kings 2:1-14

Modern English Version

Elijah Ascends to Heaven

2 Then when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, “Tarry here, I ask you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said to him, “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 who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord is taking away your master from you?”

And he said, “Yes, I know. Keep silent.”

⁴ Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they entered Jericho.

⁵ The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord is taking away your master from you?”

And he said, “Yes, I know. Keep silent.”

⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.” And the two of them went on.

⁷ Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, and the two of them stood by the Jordan. ⁸ Then Elijah took his robe and rolled it up and struck the water, and it was divided from one side to the other. Then the two of them crossed on dry ground.

⁹ And as they were crossing, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for something, and I will do it for you before I am taken away from you.”

And Elisha said, “Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

¹⁰ He said, “You have asked for a difficult thing, but if you see me when I am taken from you, it will happen to you. If not, it will not.”

¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² Elisha was watching and crying, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he did not see him again. Then he grabbed his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

¹³ He picked up the robe of Elijah that fell from him, and he returned and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ And he took the robe of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord, God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, it parted from one side to the other, and Elisha crossed over.