2 Kings 2:1-10

New English Translation

Elijah Makes a Swift Departure

2 Just before^[a] the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. ² Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ³ Some members of the prophetic guild^[b] in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?”^[c] He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁴ Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. ⁵ Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁶ Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they traveled on together. ⁷ The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha^[d] stood by the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

⁹ When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you,^[e] before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you?”^{[f] 10} Elijah^[g] replied, “That’s a difficult request!^[h] If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”