Self-interpreting Bible

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2 Kings 2

1Elijah, having tried in vain to persuade Elisha to leave him, with his mantle divideth Jordan, and they both pass over on dry ground. 9Elijah conditionally alloweth Elisha's request of a double portion of his spirit, and is taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot. 12Elisha seeth it, and taking up Elijah's mantle divideth again the waters of Jordan, and is acknowledged for Elijah's successor. 16The young prophets with difficulty obtain leave to seek for Elijah, and return without finding him. 19Elisha with salt healeth the unwholesome waters of Jericho. 23Bears destroy the children that mocked him.


1 AND it came to pass, when the LORD would atake up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went bwith Elisha from cGilgal.

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, dTarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As ethe LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, fI will not leave thee. So they went down to gBeth-el.

3 And the hsons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master ifrom thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to jJericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

    6 And Elijah said unto him, kTarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

    7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood 1to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

    • 1: Heb. in sight, or over against, Ac. 1.9. , Ac. 1:9

    8 And Elijah took lhis *mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were mdivided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

    9 ¶And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, nAsk what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a odouble portion of thy spirit be upon me.

    10 And he said, 2Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou psee me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

    • 2: Heb. Thou hast done hard in asking.
    • p: Ac. 1:10

    11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared qa chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both *asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

    12 ¶And Elisha saw it, and he cried, rMy father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he ssaw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and trent them in two pieces.

    13 He utook up also the *mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the 3bank of Jordan;

    14 And he took the *mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and vsmote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

    15 And when the sons of the prophets which were wto view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and xbowed themselves to the ground before him.

    16 ¶And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty 4strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest *peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon 5some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

    • 4: Heb. sons of strength.
    • *: peradventure-perhaps.
    • 5: Heb. one of the mountains, 1Ki. 18.12. Eze. 8.3. Ac. 8.39. , 1Ki. 18:12 , Eze. 8:3 , Ac. 8:39

    17 And when they yurged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

    18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?

      19 ¶And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the zwater is *naught, and the ground 6barren.

      20 And he said, Bring me a new *cruse, and put asalt therein. And they brought it to him.

      21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and bcast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, cI have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

      22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

        23 ¶And he went up from thence unto dBeth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and emocked him, and said unto him, fGo up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

        24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and gcursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

        25 And he went from thence to hmount Carmel, and from thence he returned to iSamaria.