2 Kings 2:1 - Meaning and Application

Elijah’s life and ministry are not dated as closely as those of many Bible figures. We are not told how old he was, when he first appeared in Ahab’s reign, or when he disappeared in Joram’s time. So we cannot know exactly how long he served, though it is usually thought to have been about twenty years.

Here we are told that God had decided to take Elijah up into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1). He would not die as other men do, but would be taken body and soul into heaven, as Enoch was. He would also undergo whatever change was needed to fit him for life in that spiritual world, as those living at Christ’s return will do. We are not told why God gave Elijah this special honor above the other prophets.

We may think of three reasons. First, God remembered Elijah’s past service, which was outstanding and unusual, and meant to reward it and encourage the sons of the prophets to follow his example of zeal and faithfulness, even when it cost them. Second, God looked at the dark and corrupt state of the church and gave a clear proof of life after this one, drawing the hearts of the faithful few upward to himself and to that better life. Third, God was looking ahead to the gospel age and, in Elijah’s taking up, gave a picture of Christ’s ascension and of heaven being opened to all believers.

Elijah had often lived by faith and prayer with heaven in view, and now he is taken there to assure us of our own hope. If we live our lives with heaven as our true home while we are still on earth, we will soon be there too. The soul, and that is the real person, will be happy there forever.

Elisha had also decided that he would stay with Elijah as long as he remained on earth. Elijah seemed to try to send him away, asking him to stay at Gilgal, then Bethel, then Jericho (2 Kings 2:2, 2 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 2:6). Some think Elijah did this out of humility, since he knew what glory God had planned for him and did not want to appear proud or have it spread among people. God’s true servants do not usually want to be announced as favorites, the way earthly rulers’ favorites do. More likely, Elijah was testing Elisha, so that Elisha’s steady loyalty would be more clearly seen, much as Naomi urged Ruth to go back.

Elijah’s requests came to nothing. Elisha would not stay behind anywhere while his master moved on toward heaven and left him on earth. “Whatever happens, I will not leave you.” He did this not only because he loved Elijah, but also because he wanted as long as possible to be helped by Elijah’s holy, heavenly talk. That fellowship had always been useful, and likely more so now than ever. We should seek spiritual good from one another while we are together, because our time together is short.

Elisha also wanted to be sure about Elijah’s departure and to see him when he was taken up, so that his faith would be strengthened and his understanding of the unseen world would grow. He had followed Elijah for a long time, and he did not want to leave him now, when he expected a final blessing at parting. Those who follow Christ should not grow weary and fall short at the end.

Before Elijah left, he visited the schools of the prophets and took leave of them. It seems there were such schools in many cities of Israel, perhaps even in Samaria. We find sons of the prophets, and a good number of them, even at Bethel, where one of the calves had been set up, and at Jericho, which had recently been rebuilt in open disregard of God’s curse. In Judah they had priests, Levites, and the temple service, but in Israel God kindly made up for that lack through these schools, where men were trained in religion and devotion. Faithful people also came there to join in worship and hear instruction when they lacked the means for sacrifice or incense.

In this way, religion was kept alive in a time of widespread rebellion against God. God was powerfully at work among these prophets, and many of the children of the desolate were greater than the children of the married wife. None of the high priests were equal to Elijah and Elisha, and, as far as we know, neither of them ever served in the temple at Jerusalem. Elijah likely had a hand in founding these places of religious training, and now he visited them before his departure to instruct, encourage, and bless them.

Those who are about to go to heaven should care about the people they leave behind on earth. They should leave with them their own experiences, witness, advice, and prayers (2 Peter 1:15). When Christ said with triumph, “Now I am no longer in the world,” he also said with tenderness, “But these are,” and prayed, “Father, keep them.”

The sons of the prophets had learned, either from Elijah himself, from the Spirit’s work among them, or from the solemn nature of his farewell, that he was soon to be taken away. So they told Elisha, both at Bethel (2 Kings 2:3) and at Jericho (2 Kings 2:5), “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” They did not say this to taunt him or to suggest that he would now be equal with them. They were showing how deeply they felt the matter and warning Elisha to prepare for the loss.

Do we not know that our closest relatives and dearest friends must soon be taken from us? The Lord takes them, and we do not lose them until he calls for what belongs to him. He removes our superiors from above us, our inferiors from below us, and our equals from beside us. So let us faithfully do the duty of every relationship, so that we may look back on it with peace when that bond is broken.

Elisha knew this very well, and his heart was already heavy with sorrow, as the disciples were in a similar situation (John 16:6). So he did not need to be told again, nor did he want to hear it. He would not let himself be disturbed from thinking about this serious matter, or pulled away from attending to his master. “I know it. Be quiet.” He was not speaking sharply or disrespectfully to the sons of the prophets. He wanted them, and himself, to be calm and still, waiting for what God would do with reverence and silence, “I know it; be silent” (Zechariah 2:13).

They stood back at a distance to watch it, though they did not come near (2 Kings 2:7). Fifty of them stood far off, hoping to satisfy their curiosity, but God arranged it so they could see with their own eyes the honor heaven gave to that prophet, who had been despised and rejected by people. God’s works deserve careful attention. When heaven opens, the call is, “Come up here, and see.”

The miraculous parting of the Jordan was the opening sign before Elijah was taken into the heavenly Canaan, just as it had been before Israel entered the earthly Canaan (2 Kings 2:8). He had to cross Jordan before being taken up, because it was his native land, because it was near the place where Moses died, and because this would bring honor to that part of the country, which was most looked down on.

Elijah and Elisha could have crossed Jordan by ferry, like other travelers, but God chose to glorify Elijah in his departure, just as he had glorified Joshua in his entrance, by parting this river (Joshua 3:7). As Moses, with his rod, divided the sea, Elijah, with his cloak, divided Jordan. Both were signs of their office, the marks of their calling. In old times, the waters gave way to the ark; now they gave way to the prophet’s cloak, which, for those who did not have the ark, was a clear sign of God’s presence.

When God takes his faithful people up to heaven, death is the Jordan they must cross just before they are received there. Yet they find a way through it, and it becomes a safe and comforting path. Christ’s death has split those waters open, so the redeemed of the Lord may pass over. “O death, where is your sting, your hurt, your terror?”