2 Kings 2:1–11

Elijah Ascends to Heaven

2And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to ^atake up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with ^bElisha from Gilgal. ²Then Elijah said to Elisha, ^c“Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and ^das your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

³Now ^ethe sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master ¹from over you today?”

And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

⁴Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.”

But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.

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

So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”

But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. ⁷And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. ⁸Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and ^fit was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ^gground.

⁹And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

¹⁰So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” ¹¹Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly ^ha chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah ⁱwent up by a whirlwind into heaven.