When the LORD was about to ^atake Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and ^bElisha were traveling from ^cGilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “^aPlease stay here, for the LORD has sent me to ^bBethel.” But Elisha replied, “^cAs the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Now the ^1asons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know it; be quiet about it.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, ^aplease stay here, for the LORD has sent me to ^bJericho.” But he said, “^cAs the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 ^aThe sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “^bDo you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; be quiet about it.” 6 Elijah said to him, “^aPlease stay here, for the LORD has sent me to ^bthe Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

7 ^aFifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood opposite them to watch at a distance; and the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah ^atook his mantle (coat) and rolled it up and ^bstruck the waters, and they were divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 And when they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a ^adouble ¹portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 He said, “You have asked for a difficult thing. However, if you ^asee me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 As they continued along and talked, behold, ^aa chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared suddenly and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “^aMy father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he no longer saw Elijah. Then ^bhe took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces in grief. 13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell off him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he too had ^astruck the waters, they divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over.

15 When ^athe sons of the prophets who were watching opposite at Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him in respect. 16 Then they said to Elisha, “Behold now, there are among your servants fifty strong men; please let them go and search for your master. It may be that ^athe Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.” 17 But when ^athey urged him until he was embarrassed to refuse them, he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find Elijah. 18 They returned to Elisha while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not go’?”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, this city is in a pleasant place, as my lord Elisha sees; but the water is bad and the land ¹is barren.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put ¹salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then Elisha went to the spring of water and ^athrew the salt in it and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I not the salt have purified and healed these waters; there shall no longer be death or barrenness because of it.’” 22 So the waters have been purified to this day, in accordance with the word spoken by Elisha.

23 Then Elisha went up from Jericho to ¹Bethel. On the way, young boys came out of the city and ^amocked him and said to him, “Go up, you ²baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 When he turned around and looked at them, he ^acursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore to pieces forty-two of the boys. 25 Elisha went from there to ^aMount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

And it came about when the LORD was about to ^atake up Elijah by a ¹whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with ^bElisha from ^cGilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “^aStay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as ^bBethel.” But Elisha said, “^cAs the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then ^athe sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over ¹you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be still.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please ^astay here, for the LORD has sent me to ^bJericho.” But he said, “^cAs the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 ^aThe sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “^bDo you know that the LORD will take away your master from over ¹you today?” And he ²answered, “Yes, I know; be still.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please ^astay here, for the LORD has sent me to ^bthe Jordan.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

7 Now ^afifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah ^atook his mantle and folded it together and ^bstruck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a ^adouble portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you ^asee me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared ^aa chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a ¹whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “^aMy father, my father, the ¹chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw ²Elijah no more. Then ^bhe took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had ^astruck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

15 Now when ^athe sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 They said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps ^athe Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when ^athey urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. 18 They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land ¹is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt ¹in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 He went out to the spring of water and ^athrew salt ¹in it and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I have ²purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or ³unfruitfulness any longer.’” 22 So the waters have been ¹purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and ^amocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” 24 When he looked behind him and saw them, he ^acursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of ¹their number. 25 He went from there to ^aMount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Now it happened when Yahweh was about to ^atake up Elijah by a ¹whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with ^bElisha from ^cGilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “^aStay here please, for Yahweh has sent me as far as ^bBethel.” But Elisha said, “^cAs Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then ^athe 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 over ¹you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

4 And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please ^astay here, for Yahweh has sent me to ^bJericho.” But he said, “^cAs Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 ^aThen the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “^bDo you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over ¹you today?” And he ²answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please ^astay here, for Yahweh has sent me to ^bthe Jordan.” And he said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you.” So the two of them went on.

7 Now ^afifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, but the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah ^atook his mantle and folded it together and ^bstruck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 Now it happened when they crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a ^adouble portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you ^asee me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared ^aa chariot of fire and horses of fire, and it separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a ¹whirlwind to heaven. 12 And Elisha was seeing this and he was crying out, “^aMy father, my father, the ¹chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw ²Elijah no more. Then ^bhe took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” Indeed, he himself also ^astruck the waters, and they were divided here and there! And Elisha crossed over.

15 Then ^athe sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him and said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty excellent men, please let them go and search for your master, lest ^athe Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when ^athey urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. 18 So they returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the habitat of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land ¹is unfruitful.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt ¹in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 And he went out to the spring of water and ^athrew salt ¹in it and said, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘I have ²purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or barrenness any longer.’” 22 So the waters have been ¹purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young boys came out from the city and ^amocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” 24 Then he looked behind him and saw them. And he ^acursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of ¹their number. 25 And he went from there to ^aMount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.