2:1 Elijah has devoted his life to prophetic ministry. As he approaches the end of his ministry on earth, it becomes known to him and those around him that rather than die, he will be taken up into heaven. Elijah is traveling with the prophet Elisha, whom God appointed in 1 Kings 19. Elijah is one of very few in scripture who transfigure directly into the Spirit (Moses is suspected to have done so as well, and Jesus after His resurrection).
In Matthew 17, the prophets Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus in the spiritual form. The prophetic ministry of each prophet changed humanity and so we can understand the spectacular nature of their departure from earth.
2:2 Elijah tells Elisha to remain where he is while Elijah will travel to Bethel. Elisha's mentor is leaving; this is an opportunity for Elisha to abandon prophetic ministry. Instead, Elisha remains committed. He chooses to remain with Elijah until (and through, really) the transfiguration.
2:3 When they arrive in Bethel, other prophets asks Elisha if he is aware that God plans to take Elijah. Elisha is deeply emotional about Elijah's departure, confirms that he is indeed aware and asks them not to keep talking about it.
2:4 Again, Elijah gives Elisha an opportunity to leave. Elisha chooses to travel with Elijah to Jericho. Elisha's insistence on remaining on this spiritual journey is evidence that is is prepared and committed to the live of prophetic ministry. Elisha has witnessed Elijah's strength and God-given ability. It would be easy for Elisha to fear his live without this powerful and godly man. But Elisha understands that God's power and ability will not depart when Elijah does.
2:5 In Jericho Elisha is again approached about Elijah's imminent leave. Still, Elisha is unwilling to be deterred. It would be easy to be trampled by the gossip and fear of the people around him. Essentially, all of these people are worried about Elisha. But Elijah refuses to perceive Elijah's transfiguration as abandonment.
2:6 Elijah tells Elisha that he leaves for the Jordan River and to stay. Elisha insists on accompanying Elijah.
2:7 The sons of the prophets stand at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as they stare at the Jordan.
2:8 In the sight of the men and Elisha, Elijah rolls up his mantle (cloak which identifies him as a prophet) and strikes the river's water with it. The water is divided upon impact and Elisha and Elijah cross over the newly dry ground. Elijah joins Moses and Joshua as persons in the Bible who are made able to divide waters.
2:9 Elisha's refusal to leave Elijah has declared his stalwart faith. Elijah allows Elisha to ask for something before he departs from him. Elisha requests to have the spirit of Elijah upon him. He wishes to have the same spiritual power and direction from God as Elijah, even though he has been the mere student of him.
2:10 Elisha wants to continue the work of God as Elijah has been so committed to. The request is a bold one and difficult, which Elijah points out. It is not difficult for God to grant such, but it is an immense responsibility to inherit. Elijah himself felt the weight of it and was overwhelmed by it at times. But Elisha does not ask because he suspects it will be easy, he asks because it is his heart's desire to do the work of God.
Elijah explains the Elisha's request will be granted if he remains throughout Elijah's departure. Indeed a worker of God must be committed throughout, because the work is long and arduous.
2:11 Elijah and Elisha continue to speak their farewell and suddenly a chariot of fire appears and separates them. In a whirlwind of spiritual flame, Elijah goes up into heaven.
2:12-13 Elisha responds emotionally to the appearance of a symbolic chariot, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen. Its appearance further evidence of God's plan to retrieve His children. Elisha deeply loves Elijah, and uses a term of endearment for him: My father, my father. Through example, Elijah was Elisha's parent of prophetic ministry. Elisha is absolutely distraught at his departure because he loves him and wants to continue to be with him.
Elisha picks up Elijah's mantle, which had fallen from the prophet and stands by the bank of the Jordan. He raises the mantle and strikes the water, calling out to God: Where is the Lord God of Elijah? The answer comes as the water is again divided. The Lord God of Elijah is with Elisha. Elisha crosses over the now split river.
2:15 The sons of the prophets witness the transfer of prophet ministry. They notice that Elisha's request was answered, Elijah's spirit not rests on him. Elisha is a beloved child of God because he has chosen to serve God despite the difficulty of the work. Elijah lived a modest life, frequently fleeing and confronting enemies. Tumultuous though the life of a prophet is, it honored Elisha to continue such work for God.
2:16 We begin to notice a messianic-parallel: Elijah very much represented the refined and complete prophetic ministry. Now that Elijah is unseen, the people are desperate to find him. But Elisha, who has now chosen to inherit the prophetic ministry knows that Elijah is present. Similarly, Jesus is confidently aware of God's presence but humanity has difficulty believing in the unseen.
2:17 The people around Elisha continue to pester him about looking for Elijah and finally he allows them to fruitlessly search. Had they searched spiritually, they would have found him.
2:17 The people around Elisha continue to pester him about looking for Elijah and finally he allows them to fruitlessly search. Had they searched spiritually, they would have found him.
2:18 When they return without having found the prophet, Elisha explains that the search was unnecessary.
2:19 Elisha is approached by the men of the city, their request is for water. If we are symbolic in our analysis, we can determine that the water represents the Word (will, and philosophy) of God. They approach a prophet to rejuvenate the barren (faithless) land. Their water is bad: riddled with corruption and faithlessness.
2:20 Elisha requests a bowl of salt. Matthew 5:13 states “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Jesus tells us that our righteous actions give the earth life and purpose, significance.
2:21-22 Therefore with salt, God heals the barren land, and the bad water. In the most desperate times on earth, it was only through God's prophets that humanity received salt. Elisha's righteousness and obedience to God provided the necessary materials to heal a broken, corrupted land, a polluted body of water. So will our salt, our righteousness and obedience to God heal our own land.
2:23 Some young men find Elisha and begin to mock him. They mock Elisha on the surface but the undercurrent of their malicious behavior is a challenge and a mocking of God. Though described as youths, the term is used for a wide range of ages in scripture. They taunt Elisha to go up, as Elijah did. God will not perform circus tricks to convince us to believe in him. Our relationship with Him is soul deep and build on trust and our ability to spiritually perceive. Deuteronomy 6:16 and Matthew 4:7 encourage us against testing God. The reason, as we plainly see in this verse, is because tests are the evil's way of acknowledging God. If they ever believe in Him, it is because they have seen, not because they have built a relationship with him. John 20:29, blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.
2:24 And so these evil men are mauled by two female bears. God and Elisha are building upon Elijah's work. Their efforts are focused on healing and realigning this land with righteousness. Any entity that endeavors to thwart Him is removed.
2:25 Elisha travels to Mount Carmel and then returns to Samaria. He is ready to selflessly dedicate his life to God, to go where He instructs, when He instructs. Elisha decreases (increasing in humility and servitude) and allows God to increase, John 3:30. As God increases, as more hosts and vessels of His righteousness come to be, evil is diminished.
2:20 Elisha requests a bowl of salt. Matthew 5:13 states “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Jesus tells us that our righteous actions give the earth life and purpose, significance.
2:21-22 Therefore with salt, God heals the barren land, and the bad water. In the most desperate times on earth, it was only through God's prophets that humanity received salt. Elisha's righteousness and obedience to God provided the necessary materials to heal a broken, corrupted land, a polluted body of water. So will our salt, our righteousness and obedience to God heal our own land.
2:23 Some young men find Elisha and begin to mock him. They mock Elisha on the surface but the undercurrent of their malicious behavior is a challenge and a mocking of God. Though described as youths, the term is used for a wide range of ages in scripture. They taunt Elisha to go up, as Elijah did. God will not perform circus tricks to convince us to believe in him. Our relationship with Him is soul deep and build on trust and our ability to spiritually perceive. Deuteronomy 6:16 and Matthew 4:7 encourage us against testing God. The reason, as we plainly see in this verse, is because tests are the evil's way of acknowledging God. If they ever believe in Him, it is because they have seen, not because they have built a relationship with him. John 20:29, blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.
2:24 And so these evil men are mauled by two female bears. God and Elisha are building upon Elijah's work. Their efforts are focused on healing and realigning this land with righteousness. Any entity that endeavors to thwart Him is removed.
2:25 Elisha travels to Mount Carmel and then returns to Samaria. He is ready to selflessly dedicate his life to God, to go where He instructs, when He instructs. Elisha decreases (increasing in humility and servitude) and allows God to increase, John 3:30. As God increases, as more hosts and vessels of His righteousness come to be, evil is diminished.
