Elijah Taken up in a Whirlwind
Elijah tries three times to leave Elisha behind — at Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho — and three times Elisha refuses: as the Lord lives, I will not leave you. Companies of prophets at each stop tell Elisha that his master is to be taken today, and each time he answers that he knows, and to be quiet about it.
At the Jordan Elijah rolls up his cloak and strikes the water, and they cross over. Asked what he wants, Elisha requests a double portion of his spirit — the share of the firstborn heir. A chariot of fire and horses of fire separate them and Elijah goes up in a whirlwind.
Elisha picks up the fallen cloak, strikes the water with it, and crosses back. Elijah's departure without dying made him the figure Jewish tradition expected to return, and the Gospels take up the theme with John the Baptist.
Where in scripture
[19] So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him, and put his mantle on him. [20] Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” [21] He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their meat with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
1 Kings 19:19–21
[1] When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. [2] Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. [3] The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.” [4] Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. …
2 Kings 2:1–18 — opening verses
[5] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. [6] He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Malachi 4:5–6
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
