2 Kings chapter 2

Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha splits the river. Elisha heals a poisoned water supply. Bears kill 42 abusive youths.

 


 

ELIJAH IS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN IN A WHIRLWIND

 

VERSE 1. When the LORD was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

 

VERSE 2. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

I will not leave you. Elisha is very loyal to Elijah, his teacher-mentor-discipler. How can we be loyal to those who train us as disciples?

 

VERSE 3. 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?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”

Hold your peace. That is, “Be quiet!”

 

VERSE 4. Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

I will not leave you. Elisha is very loyal to Elijah, his teacher-mentor-discipler. How can we be loyal to those who train us as disciples?

 

VERSE 5. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” He answered, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”

 

VERSE 6. Elijah said to him, “Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” He said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” Then they both went on.

I will not leave you. Elisha is very loyal to Elijah, his teacher-mentor-discipler. How can we be loyal to those who train us as disciples?

 

VERSE 7. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.

 

VERSE 8. Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters; and they were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground.

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

Centuries earlier, the people crossed the same river on dry ground:

Joshua 3:17. The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.

 

VERSE 9. When they had gone over, 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.”

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Kings and from the entire Bible.

a double portion of your spirit. Elisha is not timid about spiritual things. He believes for great things and asks for them.

In the fullness of time, Elisha will indeed accomplish twice as many miracles as Elijah.

 

VERSE 10. He said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you; but if not, it will not be so.”

 

VERSE 11. As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

a chariot of fire and horses of fire. Horses and chariots appear in the Old Testament. They are not a natural phenomenon of the time-space continuum. What are they? Read more »

Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Neither Enoch nor Elijah died. Instead, they were taken alive into heaven. They demonstrate what will happen to believers at the end of time. Read more »

 

VERSE 12. Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

 

VERSE 13. He also took up Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

 

ELISHA SPLITS THE RIVER

 

VERSE 14. He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

waters, they were divided apart. This reminds us of Moses splitting the Red Sea. And Joshua splitting the Jordan River.

 

VERSE 15. When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho facing 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.

 

VERSE 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 LORD’s Spirit has taken him up, and put him on some mountain or into some valley.” He said, “Don’t send them.”

 

VERSE 17. When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send them.” Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn’t find him.

 

VERSE 18. They came back to him while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go?’ ”

 

ELISHA HEALS A POISONED WATER SUPPLY

 

VERSE 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 is barren.”

 

VERSE 20. He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” Then they brought it to him.

 

VERSE 21. He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, “The LORD says, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or barren wasteland.’ ”

He. The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

threw salt into it. In ancient times, the spiritual offerings of God’s people were to be seasoned with salt. In our day, our conversations are to be seasoned with salt. Read more »

 

VERSE 22. So the waters were healed to this day, according to Elisha’s word which he spoke.

 

BEARS KILL 42 ABUSIVE YOUTHS

 

VERSE 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 baldy!”

 

VERSE 24. He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the LORD’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of those youths.

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

 

VERSE 25. He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

 


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2 KINGS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles, Horses and Chariots of Fire

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.