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JUNE 7
from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it he went out to the source of the water, and
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shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the
continued on and talked, that suddenly a char- LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there
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iot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and sep- shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ” So
arated the two of them; and Elijah went up by the water remains healed to this day, accord-
a whirlwind into heaven. ing to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and
as he was going up the road, some youths
came from the city and mocked him, and said
2:11 chariot of fire…with horses of fire.The to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you bald-
horse-drawn chariot was the fastest means of head!”
transport and the mightiest means of warfare 24 So he turned around and looked at them,
in that day. Thus, the chariot and horses sym- and pronounced a curse on them in the name
bolized God’s powerful protection, which was of the LORD. And two female bears came out of
the true safety of Israel (v. 12). As earthly king- the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
doms are dependent for their defense on such 25 Then he went from there to Mount Carmel,
military force as represented by horses and and from there he returned to Samaria.
chariots, one single prophet had done more
by God’s power to preserve his nation than all
their military preparations.
2:24 pronounced a curse. Because these
young people of about 20 years of age or
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My older (the same term is used of Solomon in
father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its 1Kin.3:7) so despised the prophet of the Lord,
horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he Elisha called upon the Lord to deal with the
took hold of his own clothes and tore them rebels as He saw fit. The Lord’s punishment
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into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of was the mauling of 42 youths by two female
Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back bears. The penalty was clearly justified, for to
and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he ridicule Elisha was to ridicule the Lord Himself.
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took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from The gravity of the penalty mirrored the gravity
him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is of the crime.The appalling judgment was God’s
the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also warning to any and all who attempted to inter-
had struck the water, it was divided this way fere with the newly invested prophet’s ministry.
and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who
were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The Psalm 71:9–16
spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
to meet him, and bowed to the ground before Do not forsake me when my strength
him. Then they said to him, “Look now, there fails.
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are fifty strong men with your servants. Please 10 For my enemies speak against me;
let them go and search for your master, lest And those who lie in wait for my life
perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him take counsel together,
up and cast him upon some mountain or into 11 Saying, “God has forsaken him;
some valley.” Pursue and take him, for there is none
And he said, “You shall not send anyone.” to deliver him.”
17 But when they urged him till he was 12
ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
they sent fifty men, and they searched for 13 Let them be confounded and
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three days but did not find him. And when consumed
they came back to him, for he had stayed in Who are adversaries of my life;
Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, Let them be covered with reproach
‘Do not go’?”
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, and dishonor
“Please notice, the situation of this city is Who seek my hurt.
pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, 14 But I will hope continually,
and the ground barren.” And will praise You yet more and more.
20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and 15 My mouth shall tell of Your
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put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then righteousness
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