2 Kings 2

2:1-18 Elijah’s translation into heaven transferred the prophetic mantle to Elisha.

2:2-6 Stay here: Three times, Elijah urged Elisha to remain behind while he traveled on. Each time, Elisha refused with a solemn vow, determined to be with his master to the end.

2:8 Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it: Such symbolic actions visually represented God’s power (see Exod 14:16, 21, 26-27; 17:8-13; 1 Kgs 11:30-31; Ezek 4; 5:1-4).

2:9-10 A firstborn son, as the primary heir, inherited a double share of his father’s estate (Deut 21:17); Elisha asked that Elijah’s God-given spiritual abilities and privileges might continue to live through him.

2:11 Chariot of fire . . . horses of fire . . . whirlwind: These things represent God’s appearance in mighty power (cp. Isa 66:15). • Elijah was carried . . . into heaven, like Enoch (Gen 5:24), without dying. Some believe that Enoch and Elijah will reappear at the time of the end (see study note on Rev 11:1-13).

2:12 Elijah was Elisha’s spiritual father and personal mentor. Cp. the tribute given him at his death, 13:14.

2:13-15 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and successfully parted the Jordan River. Elisha was indeed Elijah’s successor, as the other prophets recognized.

2:16-18 The prophets searched the wilderness, perhaps to be certain that Elijah had not temporarily disappeared (cp. 1 Kgs 18:12). Elisha already knew that the search was pointless.

2:20-22 Elisha used a new bowl (Deut 21:3) filled with salt (Lev 2:13; Ezek 43:24) to symbolize calling upon God to purify the people and the environment. Elisha made it clear that the Lord, not he or the salt, had purified this water.

2:23 The group of boys could have been young adults; the Hebrew term has a wide range of meanings, at times being used of a young adult still unskilled in his profession, such as when Solomon petitioned the Lord for wisdom because he was young and inexperienced (1 Kgs 3:7). Joshua’s spies at Jericho were designated by the same term (Josh 6:22-23). • To call someone baldy was disrespectful. The young men told Elisha to go away (literally go up), mocking Elisha’s God-given position as successor to Elijah.