2 Kings 2

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 2

1¶ And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said [unto him, As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

3And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.

4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.

6And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped [it] together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if thou see me [when I am] taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be [so].

11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12And Elisha saw [it], and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent 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 Jordan;

14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15And when the sons of the prophets which [were] to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

17And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

18And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

19¶ And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city [is] pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water [is] naught, and the ground barren.

20And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought [it] to him.

21And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren [land].

22So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

23And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

25And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

2 Kings 2 details the miraculous ascension of the prophet Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, witnessed by his devoted successor Elisha. Before his departure, Elijah parts the Jordan River with his mantle, a feat Elisha replicates immediately after receiving a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Elisha then begins his own prophetic ministry, demonstrating divine power by healing the waters of Jericho and pronouncing judgment upon mocking youths at Bethel.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with Elijah and Elisha journeying from Gilgal to Bethel, Jericho, and finally the Jordan River, with Elisha steadfastly refusing to leave his master despite knowing of Elijah's impending departure. At the Jordan, Elijah parts the waters with his mantle, and they cross on dry ground. Elijah then asks Elisha for a final request, to which Elisha asks for a "double portion" of his spirit. Immediately thereafter, a chariot and horses of fire appear, separating them, and Elijah is taken up into heaven by a whirlwind. Elisha, having witnessed the ascension, takes up Elijah's fallen mantle and uses it to part the Jordan once more, signifying the transfer of prophetic authority. His first acts as a prophet include healing the barren waters of Jericho and cursing youths who mocked him at Bethel, resulting in their attack by bears.

Long Summary

Second Kings chapter two details the final earthly moments of the prophet Elijah and the commencement of Elisha's prophetic ministry. As the LORD prepares to take Elijah into heaven, Elijah and Elisha embark on a journey from Gilgal, stopping at Bethel and Jericho. At each location, Elisha steadfastly refuses to leave Elijah, even as the "sons of the prophets" acknowledge Elijah's imminent departure. Upon reaching the Jordan River, Elijah takes his mantle, strikes the waters, and they miraculously divide, allowing both men to cross on dry ground. On the other side, Elijah asks Elisha for a final request, and Elisha boldly asks for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit, a request Elijah deems difficult but grants if Elisha witnesses his departure. Suddenly, a fiery chariot and horses appear, separating the two, and Elijah is taken up into heaven by a whirlwind. Elisha, witnessing this extraordinary event, cries out and tears his clothes in grief. He then picks up Elijah's mantle, returns to the Jordan, and replicates Elijah's miracle by striking the waters, which again part, confirming to the observing "sons of the prophets" that Elijah's spirit now rests upon Elisha. Though Elisha initially resists, he permits the sons of the prophets to search for Elijah for three days, but they find no trace, solidifying the understanding of Elijah's unique ascension. Elisha then travels to Jericho, where he heals the city's barren waters by casting salt into the spring, demonstrating his divine authority. Continuing to Bethel, Elisha is mocked by a group of youths for his baldness, and in response, he curses them in the name of the LORD, leading to two she-bears attacking forty-two of them. The chapter concludes with Elisha's journey to Mount Carmel and his return to Samaria, marking the beginning of his active prophetic service.

Core Concepts

  • Elijah's AscensionThe miraculous departure of Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, witnessed by Elisha, signifying a unique divine act and the end of Elijah's earthly ministry.
  • Prophetic SuccessionThe formal transfer of prophetic authority from Elijah to Elisha, symbolized by Elisha's request for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit and his subsequent ability to perform similar miracles.
  • The Mantle of ElijahA significant symbol of prophetic power and authority, used by Elijah to part the Jordan River and later taken by Elisha, who uses it to confirm his own divine commission.
  • Divine ConfirmationElisha's ability to replicate Elijah's miracle of parting the Jordan, along with the subsequent healing of Jericho's waters, serves as clear evidence of God's presence and power working through him.
  • Judgment for DisrespectThe severe consequence faced by the youths of Bethel who mocked Elisha, illustrating the seriousness of disrespecting God's anointed prophets.
  • Miraculous HealingElisha's first recorded miracle as a prophet, where he purifies the undrinkable waters of Jericho, demonstrating God's power to restore and bring life.
  • Sons of the ProphetsGroups of prophetic students or disciples who witness and acknowledge the transfer of authority from Elijah to Elisha, playing a supporting role in the narrative.