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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 2
Elisha and the prophets know Elijah is to be translated—Elijah
divides waters of Jordan, and is taken up into heaven in a
whrilwind—Mantle of Elijah falls on Elisha, who also divides waters of
Jordan—Elisha heals waters of Jericho—Youths torn by bears for
mocking Elisha.
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1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah
into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with aElisha
from bGilgal.
2 And aElijah said unto Elisha,
Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to
bBeth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD
liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not cleave
thee. So they went down to Beth-el.
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3 And the asons 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 from 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 aJericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
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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, Tarry, 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.
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7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his amantle, and
wrapped it together, and smote the awaters, and they
were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
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The Sign of Moses and Joshua and of Elijah and Elisha
The parting of the Red Sea and of Jordan by Moses and then
Joshua was repeated by Elijah and Elisha; and for the same purpose. That the
people of faith might know who it was that the 'mantle' of being 'The Prophet'
of God was the sign so repeated. Interestingly enough it was Elijah and
Elisha whose followers were 'the sons of the prophets' and they likely being
the 'keepers of the covenant', that covenant which was kept through Joseph
and Ephraim of the responsibilities of fulfilling the covenant of Abraham of
blessing the nations of the earth since that part of the covenant had already
been divided apart unto the house of David, he also being of the house of
Joseph (see Messiah ben David ~
Messiah ben Joseph).
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9 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over,
that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken
away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a
adouble portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and
talked, that, behold, there appeared a
achariot of fire, and horses of
firea, and parted them both
asunder; and bElijah went up by a
cwhirlwind into
heaven.
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11a a chariot of fire, and horses of
fire Whether this is the common mode of those who are translated
such as Moses and Alma or not, it is at least interesting to consider. That
the description had to be made in terms which the writer was familiar with
might account for the 'horses of fire' even though they might not have been
actual 'horses' they were the apparent mode which caused the motion of the
vehicle referenced as 'a chariot of fire', it also likely not an actual
chariot like those of the period.
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12 ¶ And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
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14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from
him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah?
and when he also had smitten the waters, they aparted
hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets which
were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of
aElijah doth brest on Elisha. And they
came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
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16 ¶ And they said unto him, Behold now, there
be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek
thy master: lest peradventure the aSpirit of the LORD hath
taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
17 And when they urged 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?
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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 water is naught, and the ground barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new
acruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters,
and cast the asalt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD,
I have healed these bwaters; there shall not be from thence
any more death or cbarren land.
22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
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23 ¶ And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and
as he was going up by the way, there came forth alittle
children out of the city, and bmocked him, and said unto
him, Go up, thou cbald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed 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 mount
aCarmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
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