2 Kings 2
1NOW when the Lord was about to take up Elias as it were with a whirlwind into heaven, Elias went with Elisha from Galgala.
2Now Elias had said to Elisha, Tarry here I pray thee, for God hath sent me to Baithel. But Elisha said, As the Lord liveth and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went to Baithel.
3And the sons of the prophets who were at Baithel, came to Elisha and said to him, Dost thou know that the Lord will take thy master to-day from over thy head? And he said, I know it. Hold your peace.
4Then Elias said to Elisha, Tarry here I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, I will not forsake thee. So they went to Jericho.
5And the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho, came to Elisha and said to him, Dost thou know that to-day the Lord will take away thy master from over thy head? And he said, I indeed know it; hold your peace.
6Then Elias said to him, Tarry here I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to the Jordan. But Elisha replied, As the Lord liveth and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they both proceeded on.
7And fifty men, sons of the prophets stood over against them at a distance when they two stopped at the Jordan.
8And Elias took his mantle and having rolled it up, he smote the water, and the water parted this way and that, so that they both crossed on dry ground.
9And when they had crossed, Elias said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken up from thee. Whereupon Elisha said, Let there be, I pray thee, a double portion of thy spirit on me.
10And Elias said, Thou hast put me to a stand by this request. If thou seest me taken up from thee, it shall be so to thee; but if not; it cannot be granted.
11And as they proceeded on conversing as they went, behold a chariot of fire, with horses of fire, made a separation between them; and Elias was carried up with a whirlwind as it were into heaven.
12And Elisha saw and cried with a loud voice, My father! my father! The chariot of Israel and the driver thereof! And when he saw him no more, he took hold of his garment and rent it in two pieces.
13Then he took up the mantle of Elias which fell from on high, and on his return back, he stood on the bank of the Jordan,
14and took the mantle of Elias which had fallen from him, and smote the water and said, Where is the God of Elias now! And when he had smitten the waters they parted this way and that, so Elisha crossed over.
15And when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him, saw him, they said, The spirit of Elias hath rested on Elisha, so they went to meet him, and made obeisance to him by bowing to the ground.
16Then they said to him, Behold there are with thy servants fifty valiant men. Let them, we pray thee, go and seek thy master. Perhaps a blast of the Lord hath lifted him up and cast him by the Jordan, either on one of the mountains, or one of the hills. And Elisha said, You shall not send.
17But when they pressed him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. So they sent fifty men. And when they had searched three days, but did not find him,
18they returned to Elisha, who abode at Jericho. And Elisha said to them, Did I not tell you, you should not go?
19Then the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold the situation of the city is good as our lord seeth, but the water is bad and the ground barren.
20Thereupon Elisha said to them, Bring me a new pitcher and put salt therein. And when they had got one and brought it to him,
21Elisha went to the spring of the waters, and threw the salt in there and said, Thus saith the Lord, I cure the waters. There shall no more be thence death or barren ground.
22So the waters were healed, and continue so to this day, according to the word which Elisha spoke.
23Then he went up thence to Baithel, and as he was going up he met in the way, little boys who had come out of the city, and who mocked him saying, Ascend baldhead! Ascend!
24And looking back upon them, he beheld them, and denounced a curse against them, in the name of the Lord. And behold there came two bears from the forest, and they tore forty-two of the boys.
25Thence he went to mount Karmel, and thence returned to Samaria.