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JUNE 7
with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and
there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And
he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has
said, ‘Come down!’ ” 2:1 by a whirlwind. Literally, “in the whirl-
10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain wind.”This was a reference to the specific storm
of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come with lightning and thunder in which Elijah was
down from heaven and consume you and your taken to heaven (v. 11). The Lord’s presence
fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven was connected with a whirlwind in Job 38:1;
11
and consumed him and his fifty. Then he sent 40:6; Jer. 23:19; 25:32; 30:23; Zech. 9:14. Elisha.
to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. The record of this prophet, who was the suc-
And he answered and said to him: “Man of cessor to Elijah, begins in 1 Kings 19:16 and
God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down extends to his death in 2 Kings 13:20.
quickly!’ ”
12 So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I 2:3 the sons of the prophets. See 1 Kings
am a man of God, let fire come down from 20:35. take away.The same term was used of
Enoch’s translation to heaven in Genesis 5:24.
heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” The question from the sons of the prophets
And the fire of God came down from heaven implied that the Lord had revealed Elijah’s
and consumed him and his fifty. imminent departure to them.Elisha’s response
13 Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with that he didn’t need to hear about it (keep
his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty silent) explicitly stated that Elijah’s departure
went up, and came and fell on his knees had been revealed by the Lord to him also (v.
before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said 5). from over you. I.e., from supervising you,
to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the an allusion to the habit of students sitting
life of these fifty servants of yours be precious beneath the feet of their master,elevated on a
14
in your sight. Look, fire has come down from platform. Elisha would soon change from
heaven and burned up the first two captains of being Elijah’s assistant to serving as the leader
fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be among the prophets.
precious in your sight.”
15 And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
“Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” 4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here,
So he arose and went down with him to the please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jeri-
king. Then he said to him, “Thus says the cho.”
16
LORD: ‘Because you have sent messengers to But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your
inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came
because there is no God in Israel to inquire of to Jericho.
His word? Therefore you shall not come down 5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at
from the bed to which you have gone up, but Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do
you shall surely die.’ ” you know that the LORD will take away your
17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of master from over you today?”
the LORD which Elijah had spoken. Because So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
he had no son, Jehoram became king in his 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please,
place, in the second year of Jehoram the son for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your
18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of
7
he did, are they not written in the book of the them went on. And fifty men of the sons of the
chronicles of the kings of Israel? prophets went and stood facing them at a dis-
And it came to pass, when the LORD was tance, while the two of them stood by the Jor-
8
2 about to take up Elijah into heaven by a dan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up,
whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from and struck the water; and it was divided this
Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, way and that, so that the two of them crossed
2
please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” over on dry ground.
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as 9 And so it was, when they had crossed over,
your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do
went down to Bethel. for you, before I am taken away from you?”
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of
Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, your spirit be upon me.”
“Do you know that the LORD will take away 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing.
your master from over you today?” Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken

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