1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel 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 Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
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.
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 mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided 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, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double 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 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, 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;
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 parted 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 Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
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 Spirit 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?
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 cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I 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 Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald 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 Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
The second chapter of the book of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible continues the narrative of the prophet Elijah and his successor, Elisha. This chapter also introduces a new king of Israel, Jehoram, and covers events such as the translation of Elijah, the healing of the waters of Jericho, and the punishment of the mocking youths. The main themes of this chapter include the power of faith, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of following God's chosen leaders.
The chapter begins with Elijah and Elisha traveling from Gilgal to Bethel. Along the way, Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind as he is being called to go to Jericho. However, Elisha insists on accompanying Elijah to Jericho. This shows Elisha's loyalty and determination to stay with his mentor and continue learning from him.
Upon reaching Jericho, the two prophets are met by a group of 50 prophets who warn Elisha that God will take Elijah away from him. Elisha, however, remains adamant and determined to stay with Elijah until the very end. This shows his unwavering faith and trust in God's plan.
As they continue their journey to the Jordan River, Elijah performs a miracle by parting the waters so that they could cross on dry ground. This is reminiscent of Moses parting the Red Sea and shows the power and authority that God has given to Elijah.
As they reach the other side of the Jordan, Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him before he is taken up to heaven. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, a request that is only granted to the firstborn son in a family. This shows Elisha's desire to continue the work of God and his dedication to following in Elijah's footsteps.
As Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha cries out in grief and tears his clothes in mourning. This is a significant event as it marks the end of Elijah's earthly ministry and the beginning of Elisha's. It also shows the power and might of God, who takes Elijah up to heaven in a miraculous way.
After witnessing Elijah's translation, Elisha returns to Jericho and performs his first miracle by healing the waters of the city. The people of Jericho had complained to Elisha about the bad water and how it was causing the land to be unfruitful. Elisha then throws salt into the spring, declaring that God has healed the waters and made the land fruitful once again.
This miracle not only shows Elisha's power and authority as a prophet of God but also highlights the importance of obedience and faith. The people of Jericho had complained and doubted, but Elisha's faith and trust in God's power resulted in the healing of the waters.
As Elisha continues his journey to Bethel, he is met by a group of youths who mock him and call him names. Elisha curses them in the name of the Lord, and two female bears come out of the woods and attack the youths, killing 42 of them. This event may seem harsh, but it serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and disrespect towards God's chosen leaders.
The mocking youths were not only showing disrespect towards Elisha, but also towards God, and their punishment serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to do the same. It also shows the power and authority that God has given to Elisha as his chosen prophet.
The final part of this chapter introduces Jehoram as the new king of Israel. Jehoram was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, two of the most wicked rulers in Israel's history. Jehoram's reign is marked by disobedience and idolatry, just like his parents. He also kills his own brothers to secure his throne, fulfilling the prophecy that Elijah had given to Ahab and Jezebel.
This introduction of a new king serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of following God's chosen leaders. Jehoram's reign ultimately leads to the downfall and destruction of the kingdom of Israel, highlighting the dire consequences of turning away from God.
Chapter 2 of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible carries several important messages and lessons for readers. The first and most prominent theme is the power of faith and trust in God. Elisha's unwavering faith and loyalty to Elijah, as well as his belief in God's power, allowed him to witness miracles and continue the work of God after Elijah's translation. This chapter also showcases the power and authority that God gives to his chosen leaders, as seen in Elijah's translation and Elisha's healing of the waters.
The consequences of disobedience and disrespect towards God and his chosen leaders are also highlighted in this chapter. The mocking youths and Jehoram both suffer severe consequences for their disobedience, serving as warnings for others who may be tempted to do the same. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of following God's chosen leaders and the dire consequences of turning away from God and his teachings.
Overall, chapter 2 of 2 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible serves as a reminder of the power and might of God, the importance of faith and obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. It also serves as an introduction to Elisha, who continues the work of God and carries on the legacy of Elijah. This chapter ultimately highlights the unwavering love and mercy of God, who continues to guide and protect his people, even in the face of disobedience and sin.
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