2 Kings 2

1When the moment came for Yahweh to bring Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal.

2Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for Yahweh has sent me to Bethel." Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

3The sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today Yahweh will take your master from over your head?" He said, "Yes, I know it too; be silent."

4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

5The sons of the prophets at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today Yahweh will take your master from over your head?" He said, "Yes, I know it too; keep silent."

6Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” He said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not abandon you.” The two of them went on.

7Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

8Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted this way and that, so the two of them crossed on dry ground.

9After they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I will do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit come upon me."

10He said, "You have made a difficult request. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be thus for you; but if not, it will not be thus."

11As they kept walking and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire came between the two of them and separated them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12Elisha saw and cried out, "My father, my father, Israel's chariot and its horsemen!" He saw him no more, seized his garments, and tore them in two pieces.

13He took up Elijah's mantle that had fallen from him, returned, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14He took Elijah's mantle that had fallen from him, struck the waters, and said, "Where is Yahweh, God of Elijah?" He also struck the waters, and they parted to this side and that; Elisha crossed over.

15When the sons of the prophets stationed across from him at Jericho saw him, they said, "Elijah's spirit has settled on Elisha." They came to meet him and prostrated themselves to the ground before him.

16They said to him, "Look, there are fifty valiant men among your servants; please let them go and search for your master, lest the Spirit of Yahweh has lifted him and hurled him onto one of the mountains or into one of the valleys." He said, "No, you shall not send."

17They pressed him until he was ashamed, and he said, "Send." They sent fifty men who searched three days but did not find him.

18They returned to him while he remained in Jericho, and he said to them, "Didn't I say to you, 'Do not go'?"

19The men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, please, the city's location is good, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land miscarries."

20He said, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it." They brought it to him.

21He went out to the waters' source, threw salt there, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'I have healed these waters; death or barrenness will no more arise from there.'"

22The waters were healed to this day according to Elisha's word that he spoke.

23He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the road, some young boys came out from the city and mocked him, saying to him, "Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!"

24He turned around and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two she-bears came out from the forest and tore forty-two of the youths.

25From there he went to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.