Elijah Taken to Heaven

2 Kings 2

1 Now when the Lord was about to m take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and n Elisha were on their way from o Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, p "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, q "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 And r the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet."

4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, p please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to t Jericho." But he said, q "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 r The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet."

6 Then Elijah said to him, p "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of r the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah u took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, v and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." 10 And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so." 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, w chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! x The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes y and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" And when he had struck the water, v the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 5:24
    Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:19 - 21
    So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.
  3. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:38
    And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, "Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.
    Joshua 5:9
    And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
  4. Cross References
    Ruth 1:15 - 16
    And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.
  5. Cross References
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  6. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:1
    Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets...
    2 Kings 4:38
    And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was ...
    2 Kings 5:22
    And he said, "All is well. My master has sent m...
    2 Kings 6:1
    Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "S...
    2 Kings 9:1
    Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons ...
    1 Kings 20:35
    And a certain man of the sons of the prophets s...
  7. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:2
    And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
  8. Cross References
    Joshua 6:26
    Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.
    1 Kings 16:34
    In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:2
    And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
  10. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:3
    And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet.
  11. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:2
    And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
  12. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:3
    And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet.
  13. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:19
    So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.
  14. Cross References
    Exodus 14:21
    Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
    Joshua 3:16
    The waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.
  15. Cross References
    2 Kings 6:17
    Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
  16. Cross References
    2 Kings 13:14
    Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!
  17. Cross References
    1 Kings 11:30
    Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.
  18. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:8
    Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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