2 Kings, 2

1. Yahweh took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. It happened this way: Elijah and Elisha had left Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha,

2. "I beg you to stay here, for Yahweh is sending me to Bethel." Elisha said, "I swear by Yahweh and by your life that I will never leave you." So they went down to Bethel together.

3. The fellow prophets in Bethel went out to welcome Elisha and said to him, "Don't you know that today Yahweh will take your master away from you?" He answered them, "Yes, I also know it. So, be quiet."

4. Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for Yahweh is only sending me to Jericho." Elisha answered, "I swear by Yahweh and by your life that I will never leave you."

5. So they went on to Jericho. The fellow prophets in Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you not know that Yahweh is to take your master away today?" Elisha answered, "Yes, I know it. Be quiet."

6. Elijah said once more to Elisha, "Stay here, I beg you, for Yahweh is only sending me to the Jordan." But Elisha answered, "I swear by Yahweh and by your life that I will never leave you." And as they went on their way,

7. fifty fellow prophets of Jericho followed them at a certain distance. When Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan

8. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it, and struck the water with it. The water parted to both sides and they crossed over on dry ground.

9. After they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "What shall I do for you before I am taken away from you? Ask me." Elisha said, "Grant that I may have the best of your spirit."

10. Elijah answered, "Your request is most difficult. Yet if you see me while I am being taken from you, then you shall have it. But if not, you shall not have it."

11. As they were talking on the way, a chariot of fire with horses of fire stood between them, and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12. Elisha saw him and cried out, "Father, my father, chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" When Elisha lost sight of him, he took hold of his own clothes and tore them.

13. He then picked up the mantle which had fallen from Elijah and returned to the banks of the Jordan.

14. There he struck the water with the mantle, but it did not part. So he asked, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" And as he struck the water again it parted. Elisha crossed over.

15. The fellow prophets of Jericho saw him from the other side, and said, "The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha." And as they came to him, they bowed to the ground before him saying,

16. "There are fifty valiant men here with us. Let them go in search of Elijah, for it may be that the spirit of Yahweh has left him in some mountain or valley." Elisha replied, "Do not send anyone."

17. But they insisted so much that Elisha let them go, and they sent fifty men to search for Elijah.

18. After three days they had not found him and they returned to Elisha, who had stayed in Jericho. He commented, "Did I not tell you not to go?"

19. The men of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord can see, but the water is bad, and so the land is unproductive."

20. He said to them, "Bring me a new pot with salt in it." When they brought it to him,

21. Elisha went to the fountain and threw salt in it saying, "This is what Yahweh says: I have healed this water, never more will it cause death or sickness."

22. And the water has remained wholesome to this day, just as Elisha said.

23. From there, he went up to Bethel. He was on his way when some youths came out from the city and made fun of him saying, "Go up, baldhead! Go up, baldhead!"

24. Elisha turned around, looked at them and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. At once, two she-bears came out of the forest and killed forty-two of them.

25. From there Elisha set out for Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Versets liés à 2 Kings, 2:

2 Kings 2 reports Elijah's rise to heaven in a whirlwind of fire and the prophetic succession of Elisha. Elijah is taken by a fire car and Elisha inherits Elijah's cloak as his prophetic successor. Here are five verses related to the topics covered in 2 Kings 2:

Exodus 13:21: "And the LORD went before them, day in a cloud column to guide them along the way, and at night in a column of fire to illuminate them, to walk day and night." This verse resembles God's manifestation in a column of cloud and fire, similar to the whirlwind of fire that led Elijah, suggesting divine presence and protection.

2 Kings 1:10: "Elijah answered, saying to the captain of fifty, If I am a man of God, fire from heaven, and devour him to you and your fifty. Then he fell fire to heaven and devoured him to Him and his own fifty." This verse highlights the power of Elijah as God's prophet, who is able to invoke fire from heaven to protect his divine authority.

2 Kings 4:14: "Then he said, What shall we do for her? Replied Gehazi, In fact she has no son, and her husband is old." This verse introduces the story of a woman who hosts Elisha and her connection to the theme of prophetic succession, as she is rewarded with a child for hosting the prophet and later seeks Elisha's help when her son gets sick.

2 Kings 13:14: "And Elisha was sick of the disease that he died; and came to him Joas, king of Israel, and cried upon his face, saying, My father, my father! The car of Israel, and his knights, and his knights ! This verse records Elisha's death and its importance as a prophet to Israel, calling him "Israel's car" and highlighting his role as a significant figure for King Joas.

1 Kings 19:19: "And from there, he found Elisha the son of a naughty, who poured twelve oxen together, and he was with the twelfth; and Elijah passed him and threw his cloak upon him." This verse tells how Elijah found Elisha and chose it as his prophetic successor, preparing the terrain for the prophetic succession that occurs in 2 Kings 2.

Versets liés à 2 Kings, 2:

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