2 Kings 2:1-14

¹Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. The Lord was going to use a strong wind to take Elijah up to heaven. ²Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here. The Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “I won’t leave you. And that’s just as sure as the Lord and you are alive.” So they went down to Bethel. ³There was a group of prophets at Bethel. They came out to where Elisha was. They asked him, “Do you know what the Lord is going to do? He’s going to take your master away from you today.” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied. “So be quiet.” ⁴Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha. The Lord has sent me to Jericho.” Elisha replied, “I won’t leave you. And that’s just as sure as the Lord and you are alive.” So they went to Jericho. ⁵There was a group of prophets at Jericho. They went up to where Elisha was. They asked him, “Do you know what the Lord is going to do? He’s going to take your master away from you today.” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied. “So be quiet.” ⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here. The Lord has sent me to the Jordan River.” Elisha replied, “I won’t leave you. And that’s just as sure as the Lord and you are alive.” So the two of them walked on. ⁷Fifty men from the group of prophets followed them. The men stopped and stood not far away from them. They faced the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan River. ⁸Elijah rolled up his coat. Then he struck the water with it. The water parted to the right and to the left. The two of them went across the river on dry ground. ⁹After they had gone across, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me. What can I do for you before I’m taken away from you?” “Please give me a double share of your spirit,” Elisha replied. ¹⁰“You have asked me for something that’s very hard to do,” Elijah said. “But suppose you see me when I’m taken away from you. Then you will receive what you have asked for. If you don’t see me, you won’t receive it.” ¹¹They kept walking along and talking together. Suddenly there appeared a chariot and horses made of fire. The chariot and horses came between the two men. Then Elijah went up to heaven in a strong wind. ¹²Elisha saw it and cried out to Elijah, “My father! You are like a father to me! You, Elijah, are the true chariots and horsemen of Israel!” Elisha didn’t see Elijah anymore. Then Elisha took hold of his own garment and tore it in two. ¹³He picked up the coat that had fallen from Elijah. He went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan River. ¹⁴Then he struck the water with Elijah’s coat. “Where is the power of the Lord?” he asked. “Where is the power of the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water, it parted to the right and to the left. He went across the river.