2 Kings 2:1–11

ELIJAH IN THE WHIRLWIND

2The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven^v in a whirlwind.^w Elijah and Elisha^x were traveling from Gilgal,^{y 2}and Elijah said to Elisha,^z “Stay here;^aa the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”^ab

But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”^ac So they went down to Bethel.

³Then the sons of the prophets^ad who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”^ae

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁴Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”^a

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

⁵Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁶Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”^b

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

⁷Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood observing them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. ⁸Elijah took his mantle,^c rolled it up, and struck the water, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.^{d 9}When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”^e

¹⁰Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,^f you will have it. If not, you won’t.”

¹¹As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire^g suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.^h