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1 Just before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2 Elijah told Elisha, |Stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Bethel.| But Elisha said, |As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.| So they went down to Bethel. 3 Some members of the prophetic guild in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, |Do you know that today the LORD is going to take your master from you?| He answered, |Yes, I know. Be quiet.| 4 Elijah said to him, |Elisha, stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.| But he replied, |As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.| So they went to Jericho. 5 Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, |Do you know that today the LORD is going to take your master from you?| He answered, |Yes, I know. Be quiet.| 6 Elijah said to him, |Stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.| But he replied, |As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.| So they traveled on together. 7 The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, |What can I do for you, before I am taken away from you?| Elisha answered, |May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.| 10 Elijah replied, |That's a difficult request! If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don't, it will not happen.| 11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm. 12 While Elisha was watching, he was crying out, |My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!| Then he could no longer see him. He grabbed his clothes and tore them in two. 2 Kings 2:1-12, New English Translation. Copyright © 1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press.
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