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 .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 2:1-8
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!