Only when the boundary is crossed does Elijah directly refer to what all have known, which suggests he will be ‘taken’ imminently. Elisha’s request for a ‘double portion’ (pî-šĕnayim) refers to the customs of inheritance (Deut. 21:17) by which the birth order of the firstborn requires honour above his siblings. The custom focuses upon the heir’s legitimacy, which is acknowledged through the amount of the bequest. Thus Elisha asks for appointment as Elijah’s legitimate heir (Watson 1965) and