2 Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament and continues the history of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, picking up where 1 Kings concludes. It covers the prophetic ministries of Elijah and Elisha, the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria (722 BC), and the subsequent decline of the southern kingdom of Judah until its fall to Babylon and the destruction of Solomon's Temple (586 BC). The book includes accounts of kings such as Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah, and concludes with the Babylonian exile, demonstrating God's faithfulness to his covenant and his judgment for persistent idolatry. It is considered canonical by all major Christian and Jewish traditions.
2 Kings
Chapter 2
It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
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.
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.
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.
The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today? He answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.
Elijah said to him, Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan. He said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So the two of them went on.
Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.
Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them went over on dry ground.
It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you. Elisha said, Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.
He said, You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you; but if not, it will not be so.
It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen! He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah? When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over.
When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
They said to him, See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go seek your master. Perhaps the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley. He said, You shall not send anyone.
When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send them. They therefore sent fifty men; and they sought three days, but didn't find him.
They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, Didn't I tell you, Don't go?
The men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land miscarries.
He said, Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it. Then they brought it to him.
He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, Thus says Yahweh, I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.
So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some young fellows came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!
He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of those youths.
He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.