2 Kings 2:1–11

Elijah Taken to Heaven

¹When the Lord was going to take Elijah to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal. ²Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Bethel.” 

Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel. 

³Some of the disciples of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha. They asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” 

He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” 

⁴Elijah said, “Elisha, please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Jericho.” 

Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Jericho. 

⁵Then some of the disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho approached Elisha. They asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” 

He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” 

⁶Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to the Jordan River.” 

Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” 

⁷Fifty disciples of the prophets stood at a distance as Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan River. ⁸Elijah took his coat, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The water divided to their left and their right, and the two men crossed ⸤the river⸥ on dry ground. 

⁹While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?” 

Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 

¹⁰Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.” 

¹¹As they continued walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses separated the two of them, and Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm.