Elijah Taken to Heaven

2 Kings 2

1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to a take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with b Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, c "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and d as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel. 3 Now e the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master 1 from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"

4 Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho. 5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" So he answered, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"

6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and f it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry g ground.

9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 10 So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly h a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah i went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, j "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, k it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 5:24
    And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
    Hebrews 11:5
    By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:16 - 21
    Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
  3. Cross References
    Ruth 1:15
    And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.
    Ruth 1:16
    But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:26
    And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.
    2 Kings 2:4
    Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
    2 Kings 2:6
    Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.
    2 Kings 4:30
    And the mother of the child said, " As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.
  5. Cross References
    1 Kings 20:35
    Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets s...
    2 Kings 2:5
    Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jerich...
    2 Kings 2:7
    And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went ...
    2 Kings 2:15
    Now when the sons of the prophets who were from...
    2 Kings 4:1
    A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the...
    2 Kings 4:38
    And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a ...
    2 Kings 9:1
    And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons o...
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 14:21
    Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.
    Exodus 14:22
    So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
    Joshua 3:16
    That the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
    2 Kings 2:14
    Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
  7. Cross References
    Joshua 3:17
    Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.
  8. Cross References
    2 Kings 6:17
    And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then 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.
    Psalms 104:4
    Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 5:24
    And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
    Hebrews 11:5
    By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
  10. Cross References
    2 Kings 13:14
    Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!
  11. Cross References
    2 Kings 2:8
    Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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