2 Kings 2:1

THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH AND HIS SUCCESSION BY ELISHA

This chapter and through 2 Kings 10 compose what is often referred to as the Elisha Cycle. It does not occur in its proper chronological sequence, as most scholars affirm, based upon the fact that 2 Chronicles 21:12 mentions "a writing" of Elijah which came to Jehoram the king of Judah in the fifth year of his reign. It is significant that the Hebrew word for "letter" does not appear in that passage.[1] "Such a writing might very well have been written by Elijah and handed to Elisha to be delivered to Joram at the proper time."[2] Furthermore, "the fifth year of Jehoram" might very well have referred to the fifth year of his co-regency with his father. Conclusions based upon 2 Chronicles 21:12 that Elijah was still on earth at that time must, at best, be considered very precarious. If he was still living then and wrote a personal letter to Jehoram, then of course, the narrative of his ascension in this chapter is out of chronological sequence. Later in Kings, we learn that Elisha anointed Jehu in the place of Elijah who had originally been instructed to do so, but who apparently assigned the task to Elisha. It is quite in keeping with what happened in that event that Elijah wrote a certain "writing" for Elisha to deliver to Jehoram at a later time.

The strong presence of the supernatural in the events recorded in this chapter has resulted in the declaration by a certain class of critics that these narratives are "pure imagination,"[3] but such views are merely the opinions of servants of Satan who are actually unable to find anything supernatural in the entire Bible, not even the creation itself. The Christian faith is anchored in the supernatural; and apart from the supernatural aspect of it, it is totally worthless.

ELIJAH AND ELISHA JOURNEY FROM GILGAL TO BETHEL

"And it came to pass when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Bethel. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."

"Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:1). We hold these words to be the inspired affirmation of the sacred author of Kings that Elijah never died, but that he was translated into heaven by the direct action of God, in like manner to that which was done to Enoch. Therefore, the assertion that, "The text does not say that Elijah never died," is incorrect.

"Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal" (2 Kings 2:1). This was a Gilgal in the country of Ephraim, not far from Bethel, "about fifteen miles north of Lydda, the modern Jiljilyeh."[4] "This place is mentioned in Amos 4:4 and in Hosea 4:15, along with Bethel, as a seat of false worship."[5]

"Tarry here, I pray thee" (2 Kings 2:2). We do not know why Elijah evidently wished to face the event of leaving the earth without any witnesses.

"The sons of the prophets ... at Bethel" (2 Kings 2:3). The word `sons' here has the meaning of, "Followers and students attending the schools of the prophets."[6] There are no less than nine different meanings in the Biblical usages of the word `son.' "We know of such `sons of the prophets' in both Bethel and Jericho, there being at least fifty of them."[7]