Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

1And it came to pass, at YHWH taking up Elijah by a whirlwind into the heavens, that Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal. 2And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for YHWH has sent me as far as Bethel.”

And Elisha said, “As YHWH lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.”

And they went down to Bethel.

3And the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today YHWH will take away your master from over your head?”

And he said, “Yes, I know. Keep silent.”

4And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here please, for YHWH has sent me to Jericho.”

And he said, “As YHWH lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.”

And they came to Jericho.

5And the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha, and they said to him, “Do you know that today YHWH will take away your master from over your head?”

And he answered, “Yes, I know. Keep silent.”

6And Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for YHWH has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he said, “As YHWH lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.”

And the two of them went on.

7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, and the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8And Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up, and he struck the waters, and they were divided here and here, and the two of them passed over on the dry ground.

9And so it was at their passing over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I may do for you before I am taken away from you.”

And Elisha said, “Let be, please, a double portion of your spirit upon me.”

10And he said, “You have made it difficult by asking. If you see me taken from you, it will be so for you. But if not, it will not be.”

11And it came to pass, as they were walking, walking on and speaking, that behold a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and they separated between the two of them, and Elijah went up in the whirlwind into the heavens.

12And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen,” and he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

13And He took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him, and he returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14And he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters, and he said, “Where is YHWH, God of Elijah—even he?”

And he struck the waters, and they were divided here and here. And Elisha passed over.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

15And saw him the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho facing him, and they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed before him to the ground.

16And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty men, sons of valor. Let them go, please, and search for your master, lest the Spirit of YHWH has taken him up and cast him upon one of the mountains, or into one of the valleys.”

And he said, “You⁺ shall not send anyone.”

17And they urged him until he was ashamed, and he said, “Send them.”

And they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days, and they did not find him.

18And they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho. And he said to them, “Did not I say to you⁺ not to go?”

Elisha Heals the Waters of Jericho

19And the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, please, the site of the city is good, as my lord sees. And the waters are bad and the ground barren.”

20And he said, “Bring me a new bowl and put in it salt.”

And they brought it to him. 21And he went out to the source of the waters, and he cast in there the salt and said, “Thus says YHWH, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there anymore death or barrenness.†’”

22And the waters were healed up to this day, according to the word of Elisha that he spoke.

Elisha Mocked

23And he went up from there to Bethel, and he was going up the road, and some little youths† came from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, baldhead! Go up, baldhead!”

24And he turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of YHWH.

And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled of them forty-two youths.

25And he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.