^2:1Just before¹ the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. ^2:2Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”² But Elisha said, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ^2:3Some members of the prophetic guild³ in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?”⁴ He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

^2:4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”⁵ But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. ^2:5Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

^2:6Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they traveled on together. ^2:7The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha⁶ stood by the Jordan. ^2:8Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

^2:9When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you,⁷ before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.”⁸

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Footnotes

1 Or “when.”
2 For location see ; ; ; ; .
3 Heb “the sons of the prophets.”
4 Heb “from your head.” The same expression occurs in v. 5.
5 For location see ; ; ; ; ; .
6 Heb “the two of them.” The referents (Elijah and Elisha) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 Heb “Ask! What can I do for you.…?”
8 Heb “May a double portion of your spirit come to me.”