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ELIJAH TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN

HEALING OF THE WATER

ELISHA IS JEERED

2 KINGS 2:1-25

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Elijah Taken up to Heaven

Healing of the Waters

Elijah is Jeered

Text:

2 Kings 2:1-25,

1. When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a

whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

2. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to

Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as

you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3. The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha

and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your

master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be

quiet.”

4. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has

sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD

lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to

Jericho.

5. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha

and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take

your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so

be quiet.”

6. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me

to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives

and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them

walked on.

7. Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood

at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had

stopped at the Jordan.



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8. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with

it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of

them crossed over on dry ground.

9. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what

can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me

inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10. you have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see

me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it

will not.”

11. As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly

a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the

two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The

chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no

more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

13. Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from

him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

14. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck

the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of

Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the

right and to the left, and he crossed over.

15. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were

watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And

they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

16. “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men.

Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the

LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain

or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.”

17. But they persisted until he was too embarrassed to refuse.

So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who

searched for three days but did not find him.

18. When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho,

he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”



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19. The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this

town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and

the land is unproductive.”

20. “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So

they brought it to him.

21. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it,

saying, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water.

Never again will it cause death or make the land

unproductive.’”

22. And the water has remained pure to this day, according to

the word Elisha had spoken.

23. From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking

along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at

him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here,

baldy!”

24. He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse

on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of

the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

25. And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned

to Samaria. (NIV)

Introduction:

I. 2 Kings 2 serves as the transition between the work of two (2)

great men of God, Elijah and Elisha. (See Long.)

A. Are the events recorded in 2 Kings 2 in or out of

chronological order?

1. 2 Chronicles 21:12, Jehoram received a letter

from Elijah the prophet, which said: “This is what

the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘You

have not followed the ways of your father

Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. (NIV)



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2. If this letter was written at the time it was delivered,

the events are not in chronological order. (Coffman)

3. If, however, Elijah wrote this letter well in advance

and gave it to Elisha for future delivery, the sequence of

events could well be in the order presented. (Coffman)

II. Many supernatural events form an essential part of the history

recorded in 2 Kings 2.

A. Coffman well wrote that Judaism and Christianity are

anchored in the supernatural; and apart from the supernatural

aspect of it, it is totally worthless.

Commentary:

Elijah Taken up to Heaven

2 Kings 2:1, When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to

heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way

from Gilgal. (NIV)

I. When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a

windstorm, . . .

A. “Elijah never died, but he was translated into heaven by

the direct action of God, in like manner to that which was

done for Enoch.” (Coffman)

1. Genesis 5:18-24, When Jared had lived 162 years,

he became the father of Enoch. After he became the

father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other

sons and daughters. Altogether, Jared lived a total

of 962 years, and then he died. When Enoch had



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lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.

After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch

walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other

sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total

of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God;

then he was no more, because God took him away.

(NIV)

B. The fact that God was about to take Elijah to heaven had

evidently been revealed to Elijah, Elisha, and the schools of

prophets in Bethel and Jericho. (Clarke)

C. The Pulpit Commentary defined this “whirlwind” as a

“storm or atmospheric disturbance.”

II. Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

A. Gilgal, according to Youngblood, is the name of a

campsite and two (2) cities in the Old Testament. “Gilgal

was a village from which Elijah ascended into heaven.

Gilgal was perhaps in the territory of Ephraim, about eight

(8) miles northwest of Bethel.”

1. Amos 4:4, “Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and

sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning,

your tithes every three years. (NIV)

2. Hosea 4:15, “Though you, Israel, commit

adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not

go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not

swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’ (NIV)

3. 1 Samuel 10:8, “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I

will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt

offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait



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seven days until I come to you and tell you what you

are to do.” (NIV)

4. 1 Samuel 11:15, So all the people went to Gilgal

and made Saul king in the presence of the LORD.

There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the

LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great

celebration. (NIV)

B. Bromiley wrote, “The Gilgal of Elijah and Elisha has been

identified by some scholars” as the Gilgal located near the

Jordan from which the Israelites launched their conquest of

Canaan; “but the description of the journey of these prophets

to Transjordan by way of Bethel and Jericho suggests the

existence of another Gilgal in the hill country above Bethel.”

1. If this Gilgal is the one near the Jordan, as many

assume, the journey taken by Elijah was indeed a

circuitous one. (See Kother via Long.)

C. Elisha appears to have been Elijah’s minister, attendant, as

Joshua was Moses’ attendant. (The Pulpit Commentary)

1. Exodus 24:1-3, Then the LORD said to Moses,

“Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and

Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to

worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to

approach the LORD; the others must not come

near. And the people may not come up with him.”

When Moses went and told the people all the

LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one

voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”

(NIV)



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2. 1 Kings 19:21, So Elisha left him and went back.

He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He

burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and

gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to

follow Elijah and became his servant. (NIV)

1 Kings 2:2, Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has

sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD

lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down

to Bethel. (NIV)

I. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to

Bethel.”

A. Two (2) Old Testament cities were named Bethel. This

Bethel which is located about twelve (12) miles north of

Jerusalem is mentioned more often in the Bible than any

other city except Jerusalem. Under Jeroboam, Bethel became

a great center of idolatry. (Youngblood)

B. Elijah appears on multiple occasions to discourage Elisha

from following him to the place of his translation. (See

Long.)

1. Elisha was Elijah’s chosen successor.

a. 1 Kings 19:16, Also, anoint Jehu son of

Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son

of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you

as prophet. (NIV)

2. Elisha repeatedly told Elijah, “I will not leave you.”

(Long)



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a. 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6, Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay

here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But

Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and

as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went

down to Bethel. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay

here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to

Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the

LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave

you.” So they went to Jericho. Then Elijah said

to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to

the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the

LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave

you.” So the two of them walked on. (NIV)

3. Long suggested Elijah’s attitude was similar to his

earlier attitude toward Elisha.

a. 1 Kings 19:19-21, So Elijah went from there

and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was

plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he

himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah

went up to him and threw his cloak around

him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after

Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother

goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with

you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have

I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went

back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered

them. He burned the plowing equipment to

cook the meat and gave it to the people, and

they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and

became his servant. (NIV)



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4. Elijah appears reluctant to turn over his prophetic

office to another which is quite a contrast with Moses

and Joshua. (Long)

a. Deuteronomy 31:1-29. Then Moses went out

and spoke these words to all Israel: “I am now

a hundred and twenty years old and I am no

longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to

me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ The

LORD your God himself will cross over ahead

of you. He will destroy these nations before

you, and you will take possession of their land.

Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the

LORD said. And the LORD will do to them

what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the

Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their

land. The LORD will deliver them to you, and

you must do to them all that I have

commanded you. Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,

for the LORD your God goes with you; he will

never leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses

summoned Joshua and said to him in the

presence of all Israel, “Be strong and

courageous, for you must go with this people

into the land that the LORD swore to their

ancestors to give them, and you must divide it

among them as their inheritance. The LORD

himself goes before you and will be with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not

be afraid; do not be discouraged.” So Moses

wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical

priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of

the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. Then

Moses commanded them: “At the end of every



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seven years, in the year for canceling debts,

during the Festival of Tabernacles, when all

Israel comes to appear before the LORD your

God at the place he will choose, you shall read

this law before them in their hearing.

Assemble the people—men, women and

children, and the foreigners residing in your

towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the

LORD your God and follow carefully all the

words of this law. Their children, who do not

know this law, must hear it and learn to fear

the LORD your God as long as you live in the

land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

The LORD said to Moses, “Now the day of

your death is near. Call Joshua and present

yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will

commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came

and presented themselves at the tent of

meeting. Then the LORD appeared at the tent

in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over

the entrance to the tent. And the LORD said to

Moses: “You are going to rest with your

ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute

themselves to the foreign gods of the land they

are entering. They will forsake me and break

the covenant I made with them. And in that

day I will become angry with them and forsake

them; I will hide my face from them, and they

will be destroyed. Many disasters and

calamities will come on them, and in that day

they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on

us because our God is not with us?’ And I will

certainly hide my face in that day because of all

their wickedness in turning to other gods.

“Now write down this song and teach it to the



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Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may

be a witness for me against them. When I have

brought them into the land flowing with milk

and honey, the land I promised on oath to their

ancestors, and when they eat their fill and

thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship

them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

And when many disasters and calamities come

on them, this song will testify against them,

because it will not be forgotten by their

descendants. I know what they are disposed to

do, even before I bring them into the land I

promised them on oath.” So Moses wrote

down this song that day and taught it to the

Israelites. The LORD gave this command to

Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous,

for you will bring the Israelites into the land I

promised them on oath, and I myself will be

with you.” After Moses finished writing in a

book the words of this law from beginning to

end, he gave this command to the Levites who

carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside

the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God.

There it will remain as a witness against you.

For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you

are. If you have been rebellious against the

LORD while I am still alive and with you, how

much more will you rebel after I die! Assemble

before me all the elders of your tribes and all

your officials, so that I can speak these words

in their hearing and call the heavens and the

earth to testify against them. For I know that

after my death you are sure to become utterly

corrupt and to turn from the way I have



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commanded you. In days to come, disaster will

fall on you because you will do evil in the sight

of the LORD and arouse his anger by what

your hands have made.” (NIV)

b. Deuteronomy 34:9, Now Joshua son of Nun

was filled with the spirit of wisdom because

Moses had laid his hands on him. So the

Israelites listened to him and did what the

LORD had commanded Moses. (NIV)

5. Long wrote that Elijah’s attitude on this occasion “is

in character with the self-centered prophet who saw

himself as the only faithful servant remaining in Israel.”

a. 1 Kings 19:10, 14, He replied, “I have been

very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The

Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn

down your altars, and put your prophets to

death with the sword. I am the only one left,

and now they are trying to kill me too.” He

replied, “I have been very zealous for the

LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have

rejected your covenant, torn down your altars,

and put your prophets to death with the sword.

I am the only one left, and now they are trying

to kill me too.” (NIV)

6. Coffman wrote that we do not know why Elijah

discouraged Elisha from going with him to the

translation site.

II. But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I

will not leave you.”



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A. Clarke suggested the reason(s) Elijah discouraged Elisha

from following him to the departure site were:

1. Elijah’s humility caused him to be reluctant to have

his moment of ultimate glory observed by Elisha and,

perhaps, others.

2. Elijah wanted to test Elisha’s dedication and asked

Elisha three times not to follow him to the departure

site.

a. 1 Kings 2:2, 4, 6, “I am about to go the way

of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like

a man, and that the LORD may keep his

promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how

they live, and if they walk faithfully before me

with all their heart and soul, you will never fail

to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

Deal with him according to your wisdom, but

do not let his gray head go down to the grave in

peace. (NIV)

B. Elisha’s statement here is a typical statement of that period

indicating firm resolve.

1. Elisha could not bear to leave Elijah one minute

before it was absolutely necessary.

a. Judges 8:19, Gideon replied, “Those were

my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As

surely as the LORD lives, if you had spared

their lives, I would not kill you.” (NIV)

b. Ruth 3:13, Stay here for the night, and in the

morning if he wants to do his duty as your



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guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you.

But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD

lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”

(NIV)

c. 1 Samuel 1:26, and she said to him, “Pardon

me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the

woman who stood here beside you praying to

the LORD. (NIV)

2. This statement indicates strong attachment, deep

fidelity and perhaps some curiosity as to how the events

would unfold. (The Pulpit Commentary)

III. So they went down to Bethel (from Gilgal).

A. This expression, “they went down,” shows that this Gilgal

is not that of the Jordan Valley, but the mountain city

between Shochem and Bethel. (The Pulpit Commentary)

2 Kings 2:3, The company of the prophets at Bethel came out

to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to

take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha

replied, “so be quiet.” (NIV)

I. The company (sons) of the prophets at Bethel came out to

Elisha and asked, . . .

A. The companies of fifty (50) prophets each in chapter 2

correspond in number to the groups of fifty (50) who were

sent by Ahaziah in chapter one. (See Long.)

B. Long advised that “the company of the prophets (literally,

“sons of prophets”) . . .may refer to a guild or “school” of



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prophets which may have been established by Samuel and

later led by Elijah, then Elisha.”

1. 1 Kings 20:35, By the word of the LORD one of

the company of the prophets said to his companion,

“Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.

(NIV)

2. 2 Kings 2:3, 5, 7, 15, The company of the prophets

at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you

know that the LORD is going to take your master

from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so

be quiet.” The company of the prophets at Jericho

went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that

the LORD is going to take your master from you

today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

Fifty men from the company of the prophets went

and stood at a distance, facing the place where

Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. The

company of the prophets from Jericho, who were

watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on

Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to

the ground before him. (NIV)

3. 2 Kings 4:1, 38, The wife of a man from the

company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your

servant my husband is dead, and you know that he

revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming

to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha returned

to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region.

While the company of the prophets was meeting

with him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large

pot and cook some stew for these prophets.” (NIV)



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4. 2 Kings 6:1, The company of the prophets said to

Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is

too small for us. (NIV)

5. 2 Kings 9:1, The prophet Elisha summoned a man

from the company of the prophets and said to him,

“Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of

olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. (NIV)

6. 1 Samuel 7:16, From year to year he went on a

circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging

Israel in all those places. (NIV)

C. Coffman stated “sons” or “company” of the prophets were

“followers of and students attending the schools of the

prophets.”

II. “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from

you today?”

A. Long observed that interestingly it is not stated how so

many came to know in advance what would happen to Elijah.

(See Long.)

B. Both Elisha and various groups of the sons of the prophets

had evidently been divinely informed of Elijah’s imminent

translation to heaven.

C. These “sons of prophets” approached Elisha, the attendant,

rather than Elijah himself.

III. “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.”

A. Elisha seems to be rebuking these “sons of the prophets.”



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1. They were to keep quiet about this matter.

2 Kings 2:4, Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the

LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as

the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they

went to Jericho. (NIV)

I. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent

me to Jericho.”

A. Jericho is well known to all Bible students who know that

it’s walls fell under Joshua’s leadership and as mentioned by

Jesus in the parable of the good Samaritan who was on the

road from Jerusalem to Jericho, Jericho is one of the oldest

inhabited cities in the world, about eight (8) miles northwest

of the point at which the Jordan River enters the Dead Sea,

five (5) miles west of the Jordan River and seventeen (17)

miles northeast of Jerusalem. (See Youngblood.)

B. The journey from Bethel to Jericho was very difficult and

Elisha could have opted out of this rugged journey to Jericho.

(See The Pulpit Commentary.)

II. And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I


A. Elisha was determined to stay with Elijah until the

moment he was taken into glory.

III. So they went to Jericho.

A. This is the first mention of Jericho since it was rebuilt by

Hiel in defiance of Joshua’s curse and this is the first mention

of a prophetic community there, Coffman wrote.



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2 Kings 2:5, The company of the prophets at Jericho went up

to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is

going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,”

he replied, “so be quiet.” (NIV)

I. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and

asked him, . . .

A. Bethel and Jericho were approximately twenty (20) miles

apart.

B. After the Levites and priests left Israel for Judah and

ne’er-do-wells were appointed in their places, the faithful

instruction of the people fell to the prophets which required a

number of training schools. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

II. “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from

you today?”

A. These prophets asked the same question as had been

previously asked.

III. “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.”

A. They received the same answer!

2 Kings 2:6, Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD

has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the

LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of

them walked on. (NIV)

I. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the

Jordan.”

A. Elijah continues to test Elisha’s faithfulness.



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II. And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I


A. Elisha remains unwaveringly loyal.

III. So the two of them walked on.

A. This beautiful picture of unity should characterize; . . .

1. all Christians.

2. all married couples.

2 Kings 2:7, Fifty men from the company of the prophets went

and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and

Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. (NIV)

I. Fifty (50) men of the company of the prophets went and stood

at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped

at the Jordan.

A. These student prophets were respectful and kept their

courteous distance.

2 Kings 2:8, Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the

water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left,

and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. (NIV)

I. Elijah took his cloak (sheepskin), rolled it up and struck the

water with it.

A. The Jordan River has for many centuries been a symbol of

death. (Coffman)



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B. “Cloak” here is a reference to the “mantle,” sheepskin or a

type of hairy clothing which was worn by ancient prophets.

(Coffman)

1. Those who wore such prophetic mantles or cloaks

were accorded special honor. (Coffman)

II. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two (2) of

them crossed over on dry ground.

A. Long reminds us that this parting of the waters of the

Jordan River “mirrors the parting of the Red Sea by Moses

and of the Jordan River when Joshua led Israel into Canaan.”

1. Exodus 14:21, Then Moses stretched out his hand

over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the

sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into

dry land. The waters were divided, (NIV)

2. Joshua 3:17, The priests who carried the ark of

the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of

the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel

passed by until the whole nation had completed the

crossing on dry ground. (NIV)

3. Joshua 4:18, And the priests came up out of the

river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground

than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place

and ran at flood stage as before. (NIV)

B. Elijah didn’t even have to wade the river on his way to

heaven!

1. God took his faithful servant home in style!



22

C. Some five hundred (500) years had passed since the

waters of the Jordan River had parted under Joshua’s

leadership.

1. Joshua 3:17, The priests who carried the ark of

the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of

the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel

passed by until the whole nation had completed the

crossing on dry ground. (NIV)

2. Joshua 4:18, And the priests came up out of the

river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground

than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place

and ran at flood stage as before. (NIV)

D. God’s power and intervention in the affairs of men is

again clearly seen here.

2 Kings 2:9, When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha,

“Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

(NIV)

I. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha. “Tell me, what I

can do for you before I am taken from you?”

A. Elijah was taken from Elisha, but he, like Enoch, did not

die.

B. In this final tender moment, Elijah offers to bless his

faithful servant.

II. “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.



23

A. Long defines “a double portion of your spirit” as either

double prophetic power and/or succession to Elijah’s

prophetic office.

B. God had selected Elisha to be Elijah’s successor.

1. Why would Elijah hinder or not unhesitatingly

promote Elisha to the prophetic office he has held?

2. Deuteronomy 21:17, He must acknowledge the

son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving

him a double share of all he has. That son is the first

sign of his father’s strength. The right of the

firstborn belongs to him. (NIV)

a. Elisha was asking to be recognized as Elijah’s

heir in relationship to the other prophets of that

day. (Coffman)

b. As a “son,” student of Elijah, Elisha was asking

for a double portion, the rights of a firstborn son.

c. Elisha was asking for twice (2) as much of

Elijah’s spirit as any other prophet would receive,

making him heir, as a firstborn, to Elijah’s

prophetic office and role.

2 Kings 2:10, you have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said,

“yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—

otherwise, it will not.” (NIV)

I. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see

me when I am taken up from you, it will be yours — otherwise

not.”



24

A. Elisha’s request was “difficult” in that it was beyond

Elijah’s ability to perform. (Coffman and Clarke)

1. Only God could grant Elisha’s request.

2. Elijah here gave Elisha a sign by which he would

immediately know that his request had been granted.

2 Kings 2:11, As they were walking along and talking together,

suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and

separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a

whirlwind. (NIV)

I. As they were walking along and talking together, . . .

A. The beauty of this sacred fellowship cannot be

exaggerated!

1. Such friendship, fellowship, if ever found, is an

unspeakably wonderful gift from God.

II. suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and

separated the two of them, and . . .

A. Elijah is once again associated with fire. (Long)

1. 1 Kings 18:38, Then the fire of the LORD fell and

burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the

soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

(NIV)

2. 2 Kings 1:9-15, Then he sent to Elijah a captain

with his company of fifty men. The captain went up

to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and

said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come



25

down!’” Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a

man of God, may fire come down from heaven and

consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell

from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.

At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with

his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God,

this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’”

“If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire

come down from heaven and consume you and your

fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven

and consumed him and his fifty men. So the king

sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third

captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah.

“Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for

my life and the lives of these fifty men, your

servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and

consumed the first two captains and all their men.

But now have respect for my life!” The angel of the

LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be

afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with

him to the king. (NIV)

3. Psalm 104:4, He makes winds his messengers,

flames of fire his servants. (NIV)

III. Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind (a storm).

A. A whirlwind (storm, tornado), is often associated with

Jehovah. (See Long.)

1. Job 38:1, Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the

storm. He said: (NIV)

2. Job 40:6, Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the

storm: (NIV)



26

3. Isaiah 29:6, the LORD Almighty will come with

thunder and earthquake and great noise, with

windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring

fire. (NIV)

4. 1 Kings 19:9-18, There he went into a cave and

spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to

him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He

replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD

God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your

covenant, torn down your altars, and put your

prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one

left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The

LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in

the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to

pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the

mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the

LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the

wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was

not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a

fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the

fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he

pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood

at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him,

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I

have been very zealous for the LORD God

Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your




LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and

go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there,

anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu

son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha



27

son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you

as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape

the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death

any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve

seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not

bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not

kissed him.” (NIV)

5. Jeremiah 30:23, See, the storm of the LORD will

burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on

the heads of the wicked. (NIV)

B. Elijah was taken into heaven without ever personally

anointing Elisha as his successor.

1. This was an absolutely spectacular conclusion of a

fantastic life! (McGee)

2 Kings 2:12, Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My

father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw

him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in

two. (NIV)

I. And Elisha saw this and cried out, . . .

A. Elisha now had the sign that he would be Elijah’s

successor, that a double portion of Elijah’s spirit was his.

II. “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

A. At the end of his life a similar exclamation was made

regarding Elisha who was also a great prophet of God.

1. 2 Kings 13:14, Now Elisha had been suffering

from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of



28

Israel went down to see him and wept over him.

“My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and

horsemen of Israel!” (NIV)

B. Clarke explained this to mean that God was of more value

to Israel than all manner of horses and chariots.

1. Ecclesiastes speaks of Elijah as being like fire and

may refer here to Elijah as Israel’s great protector as

well. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

C. Elijah, the great prophet of Israel, had a departure from

earth as marvelous as his life had been. (The Pulpit

Commentary)

D. This passage has been variously translated including, “My

master, my master! Thy intercession was of more use to

Israel than horses and chariots.” (Adam Clarke via Coffman)

E. Servants used this title to address their superiors, younger

prophets so addressed older prophets, and Elisha uses the

term here to show profound respect for his mentor Elijah.

1. 2 Kings 5:13, Naaman’s servants went to him and

said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do

some great thing, would you not have done it? How

much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be

cleansed’!” (NIV)

2. 2 Kings 6:21, When the king of Israel saw them,

he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall

I kill them?” (NIV)

3. 2 Kings 13:14, Now Elisha had been suffering

from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of



29

Israel went down to see him and wept over him.

“My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and

horsemen of Israel!” (NIV)

III. And Elisha saw him no more.

A. The separation from such an outstanding friend caused

Elisha profound grief.

1. This was a highly charged emotional experience

including events before, during, and after Elijah’s

translation.

2. The stresses involved in being a man of God,

tribulations, persecutions, ridicule, can exact a heavy

physical and emotional cost.

a. Ask Jesus, Paul, James the son of Zebedee, et.

al.

IV. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

A. This is a clear sign of horror, grief, mourning,

astonishment, feelings of humility and bewilderment at the

loss of Elijah’s companionship. (Coffman)

1. 1 Kings 19:19, So Elijah went from there and

found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with

twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the

twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his

cloak around him.

2. Genesis 37:29, When Reuben returned to the

cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore

his clothes. (NIV)



30

3. 2 Samuel 13:19, Tamar put ashes on her head and

tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her

hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as

she went. (NIV)

4. Job 1:20, At this, Job got up and tore his robe and

shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in

worship (NIV)

5. Job 2:12, When they saw him from a distance,

they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep

aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust

on their heads. (NIV)

2 Kings 2:13, Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had

fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the

Jordan. (NIV)

I. He picked up the cloak, mantle that had fallen from Elijah and

went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

A. Elisha took upon himself the symbol of Elijah’s prophetic

role; i.e., Elijah’s cloak, mantle.

B. Elijah’s prophetic power and responsibilities now resided

with Elisha.

1. The cloak was a symbol of this prophetic

appointment.

2 Kings 2:14, He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and

struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of

Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the

right and to the left, and he crossed over. (NIV)



31

I. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the

water with it.

A. Elisha now is called upon to demonstrate his ability to

assume Elijah’s prophetic role.

B. God’s power parted the waters as proof that Elisha was

prophet in Elijah’s place.

1. Elisha did not separate the water, the mantle/cloak

did not part the water, striking the water did not cause

the water to separate.

2. God parted the waters!

II. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked.

A. Evidently the waters did not separate when struck the first

time which led to Elisha’s asking, “Where now is the Lord,

the God of Elijah?”

B. The question here suggests that Elisha was not sure of the

result at that time; that is, had he received a double portion of

Elijah’s spirit? Never again did Elisha doubt. (Coffman

quoting Albert Barnes)

III. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left,

and he crossed over.

A. When Elisha struck the water a second time, the waters

separated right and left.

B. However, Coffman wrote, “The Vulgate version renders

this place in such a manner as to indicate that Elisha struck

the Jordan twice, once in vain, and a second time



32

successfully; but none of the other versions accepts this,”

Adam Clarke wrote via Coffman, who further added, “There

is surely a strong possibility of this being a true

understanding of what happened; . . .”

C. Elisha crossed over the Jordan to begin a new life of

prominent service for God. (See McGee.)

2 Kings 2:15, The company of the prophets from Jericho, who

were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.”

And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before

him. (NIV)

I. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching,

said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.”

A. This convinced all who observed that Elisha now was

prophet of God, Elijah’s successor.

B. Elisha’s parting the waters with Elijah’s mantle proved to

Elisha and the people who observed that Elisha was indeed

Elijah’s successor and that Elijah had been endowed with a

double portion of Elijah’s spirit. (Coffman)

II. And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before

him.

A. The wondrous separating of the waters of the Jordan and

wearing Elijah’s cloak convinced the sons of the prophets

that Elisha now occupied the office of Elijah and they

showed him great respect.

B. The student prophets did homage before Elisha

acknowledging him as now prophet instead of Elijah.



33

1. Was this bowing to the ground before Elisha the right

thing to do?

2. Acts 10:23-26, Then called he them in, and lodged

them. And on the morrow Peter went away with

them, and certain brethren from Joppa

accompanied him.

And the morrow after they

entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for

them, and he had called together his kinsmen and

near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius

met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped

him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I

myself also am a man. (KJV)

2 Kings 2:16, “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty

able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the

Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on

some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha replied, “do

not send them.” (NIV)

I. “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty (50) able (sons

of strength) men. Let them go and look for your master.

A. Knowing that Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, they

may have thought the tornado/cyclone took Elijah some

distance and then left him someplace.

1. This was a reasonable supposition if the whirlwind

had been an ordinary, natural storm.

2. This was a supernatural storm which delivered Elijah

to heaven.

II. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him

down on some mountain or in some valley.”



34

A. This reminds the reader of Moses’ glorious departure from

this life.

1. Deuteronomy 34:1-9, Then Moses climbed Mount

Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,

across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him

the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of

Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh,

all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean

Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the

Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.

Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I

promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I

have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not

cross over into it.” And Moses the servant of the

LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said.

He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth

Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave

is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when

he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength

gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains

of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and

mourning was over. Now Joshua son of Nun was

filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had

laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to

him and did what the LORD had commanded

Moses. (NIV)

B. These strong men would be able to search the mountains,

ravines and desolate back country for Elijah.

III. “No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.”



35

A. Elisha did not heed Elijah when told not to follow him and

the prophets did not now obey Elisha when told not to look

for Elijah.

B. Elisha was telling them their search for Elijah would be

futile because he would not be found!

2 Kings 2:17, But they persisted until he was too embarrassed

to refuse. So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men,

who searched for three days but did not find him. (NIV)

I. But they persisted until he was too ashamed to refuse. So he

said, “Send them.”

A. The NEB translated this as, he “had not the least strength

to refuse.”

B. When Elisha saw it was useless to insist further that no

search be made for Elijah, he yielded to their request well

knowing their search would be futile.

C. Elisha was saying, “Go then, but it will be a total waste of

time,” . . .and it was.

II. And they sent fifty (50) men, who searched for three (3) days,

but did not find him.

A. Fifty (50) men searching for three (3) days would have

been able to mount quite a search.

B. This removes any question from any who reads this

historical record as to the truthfulness of what is said about

Elijah’s destiny.



36

2 Kings 2:18, When they returned to Elisha, who was staying

in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

(NIV)

I. When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he

said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

A. Elisha was definitely correct in his instructions about

searching for the body of Elijah. (See Long.)

1. His prophetic perception was evident! (See Long.)

2. Elisha said, “I told you so!”

Note: Elisha’s first miracles showed his power both to bless and

to punish. (The Pulpit Commentary)

Healing of the Water

2 Kings 2:19, The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our

lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is

bad and the land is unproductive.” (NIV)

I. The men of the city (Jericho) said to Elisha, “Look our lord,

this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and

the land is unproductive.”

A. Long wrote this may have resulted from the curse Joshua

had placed on Jericho.

1. 1 Kings 16:34, In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel

rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of

his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at

the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance



37

with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of

Nun. (NIV)

2. Joshua 6:26-27, At that time Joshua pronounced

this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the

one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:

“At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its

foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up

its gates.” So the LORD was with Joshua, and his

fame spread throughout the land. (NIV)

B. Moses had turned the bitter waters of Marah into sweet

water. (Long)

1. Exodus 15:22-27, Then Moses led Israel from the

Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For

three days they traveled in the desert without

finding water. When they came to Marah, they

could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That

is why the place is called Marah. So the people

grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to

drink?” Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the

LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into

the water, and the water became fit to drink. There

the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them

and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen

carefully to the LORD your God and do what is

right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his

commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring

on you any of the diseases I brought on the

Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve

springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped

there near the water. (NIV)



38

C. This spring is thought to have been located just north of

Jericho. (Layman’s Bible Commentary via Coffman.)

D. The NIV states “the land is unproductive” which is in

keeping with the bad water, but “the land miscarrieth” may

mean that the land was unfruitful, but the Hebrew verb here

for “casting of fruit” is used only for human infertility and

the destruction of babes.” (See Wycliff Old Testament Bible

Commentary via Coffman.)

E. Jericho was indeed well situated, pleasant in climate, and

in later years, vegetation and scenery with the mountains of

Moab could be seen in the distance. (The Pulpit

Commentary)

1. Deuteronomy 34:3, the Negev and the whole

region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,

as far as Zoar. (NIV)

2. Luke 19:4, And he ran before, and climbed up

into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass

that way. (KJV)

3. Water was, however, a problem.

2 Kings 2:20, “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in

it.” So they brought it to him. (NIV)

I. “Bring me a new bowl (cruse),” “and put salt in it.” So they

brought it to him.

A. A piece of wood was placed in the bitter waters of Marah

to sweeten them and salt was placed in the water at Jericho to

purify them.



39

B. The water was to be treated by salt from a new (clean)

bowl.

1. The salt was symbolic and did not of itself purify the

water in any way.

2. Leviticus 2:13, Season all your grain offerings

with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of

your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all

your offerings. (NIV)

1 Kings 2:21, Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt

into it, saying, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed

this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land

unproductive.’” (NIV)

I. Then he went out to the spring and threw salt into it, saying, . . .

A. The salt did not heal the water: God did!

II. “This is what the Lord says, ‘I have healed this water. Never

again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’ ”

A. This was a permanent fix!

1. God does all things well!

2. God, not Elisha, nor salt, purified the water!

B. This was the second miracle performed by Elisha; that is,

(1) parting Jordan’s waters and (2) purifying the water at

Jericho.

2 Kings 2:22, And the water has remained pure to this day,

according to the word Elisha had spoken. (NIV)



40

I. And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according

to the word Elisha had spoken.

A. Elijah and Elisha are now established as equals.

1. 1 Kings 17:7-24, Some time later the brook dried

up because there had been no rain in the land. Then

the word of the LORD came to him: “Go at once to

Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I

have directed a widow there to supply you with

food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to

the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks.

He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a

little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she

was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please,

a piece of bread.” “As surely as the LORD your

God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—

only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in

a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and

make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat

it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid.

Go home and do as you have said. But first make a

small loaf of bread for me from what you have and

bring it to me, and then make something for yourself

and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God

of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up

and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the

LORD sends rain on the land.’” She went away and

did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every

day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of

oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the

LORD spoken by Elijah. Some time later the son of

the woman who owned the house became ill. He

grew worse and worse, and finally stopped



41

breathing. She said to Elijah, “What do you have

against me, man of God? Did you come to remind

me of my sin and kill my son?” “Give me your son,”

Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried

him to the upper room where he was staying, and

laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the LORD,

“LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on

this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to

die?” Then he stretched himself out on the boy

three times and cried out to the LORD, “LORD my

God, let this boy’s life return to him!” The LORD

heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to

him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and

carried him down from the room into the house. He

gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is

alive!” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I

know that you are a man of God and that the word

of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.” (NIV)

B. The water was permanently purified and would not ever

again produce illness nor disease.

1. “. . .to this day. . .” refers to the date the book of 2

Kings was written.

Elisha Is Jeered

1 Kings 2:23, From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was

walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and

jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of

here, baldy!” (NIV)

I. From there Elisha went up to Bethel (house of God).



42

A. The word “up” is to be understood literally as the journey

from Jericho to Bethel which begins in the deep Jordan

valley and ascends up some three thousand (3,000) feet to the

highlands of Benjamin where Bethel was located. (The

Pulpit Commentary)

II. As he was walking along the road, some youths (young men,

small boys, little boys, children) came out of the town and jeered at

him.

A. Bethel was a center of rebellious idolatry where it could

be expected the sinful people there would ridicule a true

prophet of Jehovah. (Long)

B. Coffman observed, quoting Adam Clarke, that “young

men” is applied to Isaac at age 28, to Joseph at age 39 and to

Ahab’s bodyguard (the militia).

1. 1 Kings 20:14, “But who will do this?” asked

Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the LORD

says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial

commanders will do it.’” “And who will start the

battle?” he asked. The prophet answered, “You

will.” (NIV)

2. Solomon.

a. 1 Kings 3:7, “Now, LORD my God, you have

made your servant king in place of my father

David. But I am only a little child and do not

know how to carry out my duties. (NIV)

3. Jeremiah.



43

a. Jeremiah 1:6-7, “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I

said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too

young.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say,

‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I

send you to and say whatever I command you.

(NIV)

4. Rehoboam’s advisors were called “young men” but

they were people instrumental in government.

a. 1 Kings 12:8, But Rehoboam rejected the

advice the elders gave him and consulted the

young men who had grown up with him and

were serving him. (NIV)

5. These youths were not “little boys” running through

the woods, but a gang of rebellious idolaters set on no

good!

6. Genesis 21:5-12, Abraham was a hundred years

old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said,

“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who

hears about this will laugh with me.” And she

added, “Who would have said to Abraham that

Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a

son in his old age.” The child grew and was weaned,

and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a

great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom

Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was

mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that

slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will

never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it

concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be

so distressed about the boy and your slave woman.



44

Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is

through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.

(NIV)

7. Genesis 41:12, Now a young Hebrew was there

with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We

told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for

us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.

(NIV)

C. McGee wrote that there was a school for false prophets at

Bethel, a major center for idolatry, which was an imitation of

the school of prophets in Judah.

1. These false prophets, McGee continued, formed a

gang that mocked and ridiculed Elisha.

III. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you

baldhead!”

A. Long suggests this sarcasm was used in view of the fact

that Elijah was a hairy man.

B. These disrespectful youths were taunting Elisha to “go on

up” in a whirlwind to heaven like Elijah, Long suggested, so

they could be rid of him, Coffman added.

C. Also insinuated is the idea that Elisha did not measure up

to Elijah.

D. Coffman quoting Wycliffe wrote that, “Baldness was a

mark of a leper,” which would indicate they regarded Elisha

as an outcast, unclean.



45

1. Leviticus 13:42-44, But if he has a reddish-white

sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling

disease breaking out on his head or forehead. The

priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on

his head or forehead is reddish-white like a defiling

skin disease, the man is diseased and is unclean.

The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of

the sore on his head. (NIV)

2. Leviticus 13:40-41, “A man who has lost his hair

and is bald is clean. If he has lost his hair from the

front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is

clean. (NIV)

E. God and his people through all the annals of time have

faced mockers.

1. Jesus certainly continually faced hecklers full of

ridicule and sarcasm.

2. We can expect the same!

3. These mockers had no respect for God nor man,

especially the elderly and prophets in particular.

F. The behavior of these boys was a direct result of lessons

learned from parents that were defiant, disobedient, and

disrespectful of God’s commands.

1. Deuteronomy 6:5, Love the LORD your God with

all your heart and with all your soul and with all

your strength. (NIV)

2. Deuteronomy 32:46, he said to them, “Take to

heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you



46

this day, so that you may command your children to

obey carefully all the words of this law. (NIV)

3. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Hear, O Israel: The LORD

our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your

God with all your heart and with all your soul and

with all your strength. These commandments that I

give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress

them on your children. Talk about them when you

sit at home and when you walk along the road, when

you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as

symbols on your hands and bind them on your

foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your

houses and on your gates. (NIV)

1 Kings 2:24, He turned around, looked at them and called

down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two

bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

(NIV)

I. He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on

them in the name of the Lord.

A. Deuteronomy 27:14-16, The Levites shall recite to all

the people of Israel in a loud voice: “Cursed is anyone

who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the LORD, the

work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all

the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who

dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people

shall say, “Amen!” (NIV)

B. “This was a righteous and moral act of God’s judgment

upon the wicked,” Coffman concluded.



47

1. Elisha’s words alone, without God’s intervention,

would have been of no effect at all.

II. Then two (she) bears came out of the woods (forest) and

mauled forty-two (42) of the youths. The Net Bible states “Two

female bears.”

A. Rebellious, disrespectful gangs of out of control young

people are certainly nothing new.

B. Long wrote, “As Elijah called down fire from heaven,

Elisha brought she-bears out of the woods.”

C. These forty-two (42) mauled youths attest to the fact that

it is not smart to reject Jehovah nor ridicule his prophet!

1. McGee rightly refers to these youths as “hoodlums.”

D. It was clear that as Long well stated, Elisha had the ear of

God and the spirit of Elijah!

1. God’s punishment of these youths was just,

righteous, as are all God’s actions.

E. Jesus as well as Elisha pronounced judgment on the

faithless evil doers.

1. Matthew 11:21-23, Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe

unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which

were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon,

they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and

ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable

for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for

you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto

heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the



48

mighty works, which have been done in thee, had

been done in Sodom, it would have remained until

this day. (KJV)

F. The bears mauled the mockers. Elisha was never again

mocked! What does that tell you?

G. This was the third (3rd

) miracle performed by Elisha in

rapid succession.

1. Elisha was clearly seen to be God’s choice to serve in

Elijah’s prophetic role.

1 Kings 2:25, And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there

returned to Samaria. (NIV)

I. And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to

Samaria.

A. It was on Mount Carmel that Elijah won a great victory

over the prophets of Baal. Mount Carmel overlooks the

Mediterranean Sea near the present city of Haifa and rises to

an elevation of four hundred seventy (470) feet.

(Youngblood)

B. The city of Samaria, the capital city of the Northern

Kingdom, was built circa 880 B.C. by Omri, the sixth (6th

)

king of the Northern Kingdom, and was located about forty-

two (42) miles from Jerusalem. (Youngblood)

1. Samaria became Elisha’s home.

2. While he lived in the world he was most certainly not

of the world.



49

a. 2 Kings 6:9, The man of God sent word to

the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that

place, because the Arameans are going down

there.” (NIV)

b. 2 Kings 8:4, The king was talking to Gehazi,

the servant of the man of God, and had said,

“Tell me about all the great things Elisha has

done.” (NIV)

Conclusion:

I. Elijah was a great man of God!

A. Malachi 4:5-6, “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to

you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD

comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their

children, and the hearts of the children to their parents;

or else I will come and strike the land with total

destruction.” (NIV)

B. John 1:21, And they asked him, What then? Art thou

Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet?

And he answered, No. (KJV)

C. Matthew 17:1-9, And after six days Jesus taketh Peter,

James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into

an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before

them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment

was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto

them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered

Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be

here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one

for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he

yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:



50

and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my

beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face,

and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them,

and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had

lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus

charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the

Son of man be risen again from the dead. (KJV)

II. Elijah was not perfect.

A. Elijah became despondent when confronted with Israel’s

devotion to pagan idols. God used him to deliver messages

of repentance to wicked King Ahab who instead of seeing a

Godly prophet standing before him, referred to Elijah as “my

enemy!”

1. 1 Kings 21:17:-22, Then the word of the LORD

came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Go down to meet

Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is

now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to

take possession of it. Say to him, ‘This is what the

LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and

seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what

the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up

Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes,

yours!’” Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found

me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered,

“because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes

of the LORD. (NIV)

B. Elijah, with good reason, often feared for his life.



51

1. 1 Kings 18:16-40; 19:1-5, So Obadiah went to

meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet

Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that

you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made

trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and

your father’s family have. You have abandoned the

LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals.

Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet

me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred

and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred

prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So

Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled

the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before

the people and said, “How long will you waver

between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow

him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people

said nothing. Then Elijah said to them, “I am the

only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has

four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for

us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves,

and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood

but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and

put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you

call on the name of your god, and I will call on the

name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—

he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say

is good.” Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,

“Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since

there are so many of you. Call on the name of your

god, but do not light the fire.” So they took the bull

given them and prepared it. Then they called on

the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal,

answer us!” they shouted. But there was no

response; no one answered. And they danced

around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah



52

began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said.

“Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought,

or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must

be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed

themselves with swords and spears, as was their

custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed,

and they continued their frantic prophesying until

the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no

response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to

me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of

the LORD, which had been torn down. Elijah took

twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended

from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had

come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” With the

stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD,

and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold

two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the

bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said

to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it

on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it again,” he

said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he

ordered, and they did it the third time. 35

The water

ran down around the altar and even filled the

trench. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah

stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of

Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today

that you are God in Israel and that I am your

servant and have done all these things at your

command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these

people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that

you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the

fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice,

the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up

the water in the trench. When all the people saw



53

this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he

is God! The LORD—he is God!” Then Elijah

commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal.

Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and

Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley

and slaughtered there. Now Ahab told Jezebel

everything Elijah had done and how he had killed

all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a

messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with

me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I

do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came

to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

while he himself went a day’s journey into the

wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down

under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had

enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no

better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under

the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched

him and said, “Get up and eat.” (NIV)

C. Elijah often felt afraid and alone.

1. 1 Kings 19:7:-18, The angel of the LORD came

back a second time and touched him and said, “Get

up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So

he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that

food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he

reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he

went into a cave and spent the night. And the word

of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing

here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous

for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have

rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and

put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the



54

only one left, and now they are trying to kill me

too.” The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the

mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the

LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and

powerful wind tore the mountains apart and

shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the

LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was

an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the

earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but

the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire

came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he

pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood

at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him,

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I

have been very zealous for the LORD God

Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your




LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and

go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there,

anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu

son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha

son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you

as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape

the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death

any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve

seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not

bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not

kissed him.” (NIV)

III. Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and

continued God’s work as Elijah’s successor.



55

A. It is wonderful to note that Elisha responded with

enthusiasm to Elijah’s call to join him as a prophet of the

Lord.

1. Elisha had great respect for Elijah when all around

him, the Israelites were worshiping Baal and many

other foreign gods.

2. In spite of the influence of the pagan culture of the

Israelites, Elisha was a God fearing man who was ready

when called to serve the Lord as a successor to the

prophet Elijah.

B. Elisha’s prophetic work continued during the reigns of

Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash.

C. Elisha prophesied in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

IV. God sought a righteous man (Elisha) to continue Elijah’s

prophetic work. God continues to seek (and does find) individuals

who are righteous to deliver His message of deliverance from sin

to the lost.

A. God’s spirit fortified the prophets of Old Testament times

just as His spirit empowers His saints today. God gently

comforted and strengthened Elijah when he was in the depths

of despair.

B. We should not forget that God’s love, power, protection

and strength is available for us at all times.



56

Questions

2 Kings 2:1-25

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. 2 Kings ___________________ serves as the ______________

between the ____________________ of _____________________

________________________ __________________________ of

______________________, ___________________________ and

_________________________.

2. Are the events of 2 Kings 2 placed in the biblical record in

chronological order? Why or why not? _____________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

3. How important to Judaism and Christianity is the belief in the

supernatural? __________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

4. What three (3) Bible characters were translated/ascended into

heaven? ______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



57

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

5. Was Elijah taken to heaven in a whirlwind, a fiery chariot, or

both? _________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

6. Who had advance knowledge of Elijah’s imminent departure to

God? (Consider all of 2 Kings 2 in your answer.)

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

7. Trace Elijah’s journey from beginning to end as described in 2

Kings 2. List all places mentioned. _________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

8. Trace Elisha’s return journey from Elijah’s departure site to his

permanent home. List all places mentioned in 2 Kings 2. _______

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



58

9. Give full information about and locate Gilgal. ______________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

10. What was the relationship between Elijah and Elisha? _______

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

11. Why did Elijah tell Elisha not to follow him to the departure

site? _________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

12. Why did Elisha refuse to leave Elijah? ___________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

13. God had chosen Elisha to be Elijah’s successor. Why had

Elijah not already formally consecrated him to this office? Did

Elijah ever anoint Elisha to be his successor? If not, why not? ___

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



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______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

14. Locate and give full information about Bethel. What does

“Bethel” mean? ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

15. List the places visited by Elijah in his journey to his departure

site in the order of their elevation above sea level beginning with

the city located at the highest elevation. _____________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

16. Who were the sons (company) of the prophets? What was their

function? Why were they especially needed in Israel at that time?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

17. List all groups of fifty (50) mentioned in chapters 1 and 2.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



60

18. How did select people come to know Elijah’s departure was

imminent? ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

19. Why did Elisha tell the sons of the prophets not to speak of

Elijah’s imminent departure? ______________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

20. List things of which we should not speak. _________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

21. Give full information about and locate Jericho. ____________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

22. From beginning to end, how many miles did Elijah travel to get

to his departure site? Describe the terrain through which he

traveled. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



61

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

23. How were the waters of the Jordan River parted? When had

they been parted before? Describe Elijah’s mantle/cloak. How

many years had passed between these two partings of the water?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

24. What request did Elisha make of Elijah? Did Elijah grant

Elisha’s request? If not, why not? __________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

25. What is meant by “a double portion of your (Elijah’s) spirit?”

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

26. Did Elisha receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit? If so,

how did he get it? _______________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



62

27. Tell of the best friend you ever had, one who walked with you

through life in good times and bad. _________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

28. List four (4) occasions on which Elijah was associated with

fire. __________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

29. Cite several examples of God’s being associated with storms.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

30. Explain, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen

of Israel!” Who was being addressed as “My father?” _________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

31. How was the reference to “father” used in the Old and New

Testaments? ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



63

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

32. Elijah had been miraculously taken to heaven and Elisha had

been appointed to fill Elijah’s role. Why then did he tear his

clothes as a sign of grief? _________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

33. How many times did Elisha have to strike the waters in the

Jordan River with Elijah’s cloak before they separated? If more

than once, why were multiple strikes required? ________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

34. Why did Elisha ask, “Where now is the Lord, the God of

Elijah?” ______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

35. What proved to the sons of the prophets at Jericho that Elisha

had been elevated to Elijah’s prophetic role? _________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



64

______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

36. Was it right for the sons of the prophets to bow themselves to

the ground before Elisha? Shouldn’t such adoration be reserved

only for God? _________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

37. What did fifty (50) men of the sons of the prophets from

Jericho do? What resulted from such action? Why did they insist

on doing this? _________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

38. What good resulted from what the sons of the prophets from

Jericho did? ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

39. How important, vital, essential were the new bowl and salt in

purifying the waters of the spring at Jericho? _________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



65

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

40. Who or what actually purified the spring water at Jericho?

How long did the waters remain purified? ____________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

41. What effects did the bad water have on Jericho, its land, and

people? _______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

42. Who were the people who were mauled by the bears? What

behooved them to ridicule Elisha? __________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

43. List the things these youths did, said and what was meant,

inferred by each of these insults? __________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________



66

44. Why was Bethel an appropriate place for these hoodlums,

bullies to live? _________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

45. List the first three miracles performed by Elisha following

Elijah’s departure. ______________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

46. Trace Elisha’s journey from Elijah’s departure site to his

permanent residence. ____________________________________

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47. Locate and give full information about Mt. Carmel. _________

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48. Locate and give full information about Samaria. ____________

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49. What qualities made Elijah a great man of God? ___________

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50. Elisha prophesied in the ________________ ______________

during the reigns of __________________, __________________

_________________________ and ________________________.

2 Kings 2 - Bible Study Workshopbiblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/2_kings/2Kings2.pdfElijah took...

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Transcript of 2 Kings 2 - Bible Study Workshopbiblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/2_kings/2Kings2.pdfElijah took...