2 Kings 2

11. Elisha’s ministry

Elijah Taken into Heaven

22 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven ina whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha zt 5:24:24 were traveling from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told 1 Kgs 19:16:21 Heb 11: me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha replied,” As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you So they went down together to Bethel. 3The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.” 4Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho. 5Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the LORD is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.” 6Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to theJordan River.” 28, 4, But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never 2 Kgs 2:1-2 leave you.” So they went on together. 7Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. 8Then Elijah folded his cloak together and 23 44.04 struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went acrosson dryground! 1 Kgs 19:19 9When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” 10” You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won't.” 11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by 3°). 6.47 horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chari- 22 ata ots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in gs distress.

1:18 The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel and The Bookof the History of the Kings of Judah (8:23) were history books.The inspired writer of 2 Kings selected facts from these books toretell the story of Israel and Judah from God's perspective. Goddirected the writer's thoughts and selection process to make surethat the truth, God’s Word, would be written.2:3 A “group of prophets from Bethel” was similar to a school,a gathering of disciples around a recognized prophet, such asElijah or Elisha. These groups of prophets, located throughoutthe country, helped stem the tide of spiritual and moral declinein the nation begun under Jeroboam. The students at Bethelwere eyewitnesses to the succession of the prophetic ministryfrom Elijah to Elisha.2:8 Elijah’s cloak was a symbol of his authority as a prophet.

explain Elisha’s request. According to custom, the firstborn sonwould receive a double portion of the father’s inheritance (see thenote on Genesis 25:31). Elisha was asking to be Elijah’s succes-sor, or heir, the one who would continue Elijah’s work as leaderof the prophets. But the decision to grant this request was up toGod. Elijah only told Elisha how he would know if his request hadbeen granted.2:9 God granted Elisha’s request because Elisha’s motives werepure. His main goal was not to be better or more powerful thanElijah but to accomplish more for God. {f our motives are pure,we don't have to be afraid to ask great things from God. Whenwe ask God for great power or ability, we need to examine ourdesires and get rid of any selfishness we find. To have the HolySpirit's help, we must be willing to ask.2:11 Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. He is the secondperson mentioned in Scripture to have this honor. Enoch was the

13Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 4He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out,“ Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. 15When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16“Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has left him on some mountain or in some vailey.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.” 17But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah. 18Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn't I tell you not to go?” he asked.

Elisha’s First Miracles

1919One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they toid him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.” 20Flisha said, “Bring me a new bow! with salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the LORD says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.*” 22And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said. 23Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” 24Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them. 25From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria. War between Israel and Moab