Elisha Succeeds Elijah

21 And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven , that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal . 2 Elijah said to Elisha , " Stay here please , for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel ." But Elisha said , " As the Lord lives and as you yourself live , I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel . 3 Then 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 from over you today ?" And he said , "Yes , I know ; be still ." 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha , please stay here , for the Lord has sent me to Jericho ." But he said , " As the Lord lives , and as you yourself live , I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho . 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, " Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today ?" And he answered , "Yes , I know ; be still ." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here , for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan ." And he said , "As the Lord lives , and as you yourself live , I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite e them at a distance , while the two of them stood by the Jordan . 8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters , and they were divided here and there , so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground .

9 When they had crossed over , Elijah said to Elisha , "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said , "Please , let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 10 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 As they were going along and talking , behold , there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven . 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, " My father , my father , the chariots of Israel and its horsemen !" And he saw Elijah no more . Then 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 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said , "Where is the Lord , the God of Elijah ?" And when he also had struck the waters , they were divided here and there ; and Elisha crossed over . 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite e him saw him, they said , "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha ." And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, "Behold now , there are with your servants fifty strong men , please let them go and search for your master ; perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley ." And he said , "You shall not send ." 17 But when 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 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 situation of this city is pleasant , as my lord sees ; but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful ." 20 He said , "Bring me a new jar , and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 21 He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said , "Thus says the Lord , 'I have purified these waters ; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer .' " 22 So the waters have been 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 lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead ; go up, you baldhead !" 24 When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord . Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two e lads of their number. 25 He went from there to Mount Carmel , and from there he returned to Samaria .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 2:1-32

Commentary on 2 Kings 2:1-8

(Read 2 Kings 2:1-8)

The Lord had let Elijah know that his time was at hand. He therefore went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing. The removal of Elijah was a type and figure of the ascension of Christ, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Elisha had long followed Elijah, and he would not leave him now when he hoped for the parting blessing. Let not those who follow Christ come short by tiring at last. The waters of Jordan, of old, yielded to the ark; now, to the prophet's mantle, as a token of God's presence. When God will take up his faithful ones to heaven, death is the Jordan which they must pass through, and they find a way through it. The death of Christ has divided those waters, that the ransomed of the Lord may pass over. O death, where is thy sting, thy hurt, thy terror!

Commentary on 2 Kings 2:9-12

(Read 2 Kings 2:9-12)

That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply, still exists as of old, and we are told to ask large supplies from it. Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his last hours, would be proper means for Elisha to obtain much of his spirit. The comforts of departing saints, and their experiences, help both to gild our comforts and to strengthen our resolutions. Elijah is carried to heaven in a fiery chariot. Many questions might be asked about this, which could not be answered. Let it suffice that we are told, what his Lord, when he came, found him doing. He was engaged in serious discourse, encouraging and directing Elisha about the kingdom of God among men. We mistake, if we think preparation for heaven is carried on only by contemplation and acts of devotion. The chariot and horses appeared like fire, something very glorious, not for burning, but brightness. By the manner in which Elijah and Enoch were taken from this world, God gave a glimpse of the eternal life brought to light by the gospel, of the glory reserved for the bodies of the saints, and of the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. It was also a figure of Christ's ascension. Though Elijah was gone triumphantly to heaven, yet this world could ill spare him. Surely their hearts are hard, who feel not, when God, by taking away faithful, useful men, calls for weeping and mourning. Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God. Christ bequeathed to his disciples his precious gospel, like Elijah's mantle; the token of the Divine power being exerted to overturn the empire of Satan, and to set up the kingdom of God in the world. The same gospel remains with us, though the miraculous powers are withdrawn, and it has Divine strength for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

Commentary on 2 Kings 2:13-18

(Read 2 Kings 2:13-18)

Elijah left his mantle to Elisha; as a token of the descent of the Spirit upon him; it was more than if he had left him thousands of gold and silver. Elisha took it up, not as a sacred relic to be worshipped, but as a significant garment to be worn. Now that Elijah was taken to heaven, Elisha inquired, 1. After God; when our creature-comforts are removed, we have a God to go to, who lives for ever. 2. After the God that Elijah served, and honoured, and pleaded for. The Lord God of the holy prophets is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; but what will it avail us to have the mantles of those that are gone, their places, their books, if we have not their spirit, their God? See Elisha's dividing the river; God's people need not fear at last passing through the Jordan of death as on dry ground. The sons of the prophets made a needless search for Elijah. Wise men may yield to that, for the sake of peace, and the good opinion of others, which yet their judgment is against, as needless and fruitless. Traversing hills and valleys will never bring us to Elijah, but following the example of his holy faith and zeal will, in due time.

Commentary on 2 Kings 2:19-25

(Read 2 Kings 2:19-25)

Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of the gospel; wickedness and evil have been changed into fruitfulness in the works of righteousness, which are, through Christ, to the praise and glory of God. Here is a curse on the youths of Bethel, enough to destroy them; it was not a curse causeless, for it was Elisha's character, as God's prophet, that they abused. They bade him "go up," reflecting on the taking up of Elijah into heaven. The prophet acted by Divine impulse. If the Holy Spirit had not directed Elisha's solemn curse, the providence of God would not have followed it with judgment. The Lord must be glorified as a righteous God who hates sin, and will reckon for it. Let young persons be afraid of speaking wicked words, for God notices what they say. Let them not mock at any for defects in mind or body; especially it is at their peril, if they scoff at any for well doing. Let parents that would have comfort in their children, train them up well, and do their utmost betimes to drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts. And what will be the anguish of those parents, at the day of judgment, who witness the everlasting condemnation of their offspring, occasioned by their own bad example, carelessness, or wicked teaching!