2 Kings 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Elijah in the Whirlwind
But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and
as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Then the sons of the prophets who were at
Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your
master away from you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here;
the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as
you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in
Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your
master away from you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord
is sending me to the Jordan.”
But Elisha 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 from the sons of the prophets
came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the
Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which
parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do
for you before I am taken from you.”
So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit
two shares of your spirit.”
10 Elijah replied, “You have asked for
something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If
not, you won’t.”
11 As they continued walking and talking, a
chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of
them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. 12 As Elisha watched,
he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of
Israel!” Then he never saw Elijah again. He took hold of his own clothes and
tore them into two pieces.
Elisha Succeeds Elijah
13 Elisha picked up the mantle that had
fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he
took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters. “Where is the Lord
God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the
right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.
15 When the sons of the prophets from
Jericho who were facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on
Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him.
16 Then the sons of the prophets said to
Elisha, “Since there are 50 strong men here with your servants, please let them
go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has carried him
away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”
He answered, “Don’t send them.”
17 However, they urged him to the point of
embarrassment, so he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men, who looked for three
days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to him in Jericho where he was
staying, he said to them, “Didn't I tell you not to go?”
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha,
“Even though our lord can see that the city’s location is good, the water is
bad and the land unfruitful.”
20 He replied, “Bring me a new bowl and put
salt in it.”
After they had brought him one, 21 Elisha
went out to the spring of water, threw salt in it, and said, “This is what the
Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness
result from it.’” 22 Therefore, the water remains healthy to this very day
according to the word that Elisha spoke.
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As
he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and harassed
him, chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at
them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out
of the woods and mauled 42 of the children. 25 From there Elisha went to Mount
Carmel, and then he returned to Samaria.
Key: Bold - Verse of the Day
Reflection: As we read this story, we transistion from the ministry of Elijah, to the ministry of Elisha. We learn about a ministry where the younger wouldn't leave the side of the older. We see Elijah as a strong mentor in Elisha's life, so much so that when asked, Elisha asks for a double portion of his spirit.
Discussion Topic: Think about your spiritual mentor, how is your relationship with your mentor? Does your mentor benefit from your relationship as well? Why do you think its important to have a spiritual mentor?
Prayer: Father, I give thanks to you. The Maker of Heaven and Earth. You are the true Mentor. Your wisdom and instruction lead and guide us through life, whether we give You credit or not. We give You thanks today for the folks You put in our lives, and the lives you also put in our path. Help us to point to You in all we do. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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