1 It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel." Elisha said, "As Yahweh 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 Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?" He said, "Yes, I know it; hold your peace." 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." He said, "As Yahweh 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 Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?" He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace." 6 Elijah said to him, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." 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 wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 It happened, when they had gone over, that 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 shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that 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: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over. 15 When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against 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 Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley. He said, "You shall not send them." 17 When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." They sent therefore 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 miscarries." 20 He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." They brought it to him. 21 He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.'" 22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha 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 baldhead!" 24 He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. 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.
Elijah, about to be taken up to heaven, goes in company with Elisha from Gilgal to Beth-el, 2-Kings 2:1, 2-Kings 2:2. Thence to Jericho, 2-Kings 2:3-5. And thence to Jordan, 2-Kings 2:6, 2-Kings 2:7. Elijah smites the waters with his mantle; they divide, and he and Elisha pass over on dry ground, 2-Kings 2:8. Elijah desires Elisha to ask what he should do for him; who requests a double portion of his spirit, which is promised on a certain condition, 2-Kings 2:9, 2-Kings 2:10. A chariot and horses of fire descend; and Elijah mounts, and ascends by a whirlwind to heaven, 2-Kings 2:11. Elisha gets his mantle, comes back to Jordan, smites the waters with it, and they divide, and he goes over, 2-Kings 2:12-14. The sons of the prophets see that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha, 2-Kings 2:15. They propose to send fifty men to seek Elijah, supposing the Spirit of the Lord might have cast him on some mountain or valley; after three days' search, they return not having found him, 2-Kings 2:16-18. The people of Jericho apply to Elisha to heal their unwholesome water, 2-Kings 2:19. He casts salt into the spring in the name of Jehovah, and the water becomes wholesome, 2-Kings 2:20-22. Forty-two young persons of Bethel, mocking him, are slain by two she-bears, 2-Kings 2:23, 2-Kings 2:24. He goes to Carmel, and returns to Samaria, 2-Kings 2:25.
INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 2
This chapter relates, how that Elisha accompanied Elijah to several places, and on the other side Jordan Elijah was taken up from him to heaven, which occasioned great lamentation in him, 2-Kings 2:1, but having the mantle of Elijah, he divided the waters of Jordan, and passed over, 2-Kings 2:13, and the sons of the prophets at Jericho, perceiving the spirit of Elijah on him, showed him great respect, and proposed sending men to seek his master, which they did in vain, 2-Kings 2:15, when he healed the waters at Jericho, at the request of the men of it, 2-Kings 2:19, and the chapter is concluded with the destruction of forty two children at Bethel by bears, who mocked him, 2-Kings 2:23.
(2-Kings 2:1-8) Elijah divides Jordan.
(2-Kings 2:9-12) Elijah is taken up into heaven.
(2-Kings 2:13-18) Elisha is manifested to be Elijah's successor.
(2-Kings 2:19-25) Elisha heals the waters of Jericho, Those that mocked Elisha destroyed.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.