2 Kings 2:1

2 Kings 2:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
• New International Version (NIV)When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

Context of 2 Kings 2:1

The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal, 2and Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

2 Kings 2:1 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י בְּהַעֲל֤וֹת יְהוָה֙ אֶת־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ אֵלִיָּ֛הוּ וֶאֱלִישָׁ֖ע מִן־הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• would take upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: establishH5927
• Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• into heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• by a whirlwindסְעָרָהsa‛ar se‛ârâh · tempestH5591
• wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• with Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• from Gilgalגִּלְגָּלgilgâl · GilgalH1537

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:1

• Genesis 5:24Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.
• 1 Kings 19:4but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.”
• Luke 9:51When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem.
• Acts 1:9After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
• Hebrews 11:5By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.
• Revelation 11:12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.
• 1 Kings 18:12But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you off to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth.
• 1 Kings 19:11Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
• Job 38:1Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:
• 1 Kings 19:16You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
• Joshua 4:19The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and camped at Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho.
• Joshua 5:9The Lord then said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you.” Therefore, that place is still called Gilgal today.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1When the Lord would take up Elijah - It appears that God had revealed this intended translation, not only to Elijah himself, but also to Elisha, and to the schools of the prophets, both at Beth-el and Jericho, so that they were all expecting this solemn event.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The events of this chapter are related out of their chronological order. Elijah‘s translation did not take place until after the accession of Jehoram in Judah 2 Chronicles 21:12, which was not until the fifth year of Jehoram of Israel 2 Kings 8:16. The writer of Kings, having concluded his notices of the ministry of Elijah in chapter 1, and being about to pass in 2 Kings 4:38.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline Elijah divides Jordan. (1-8) Elijah is taken up into heaven. (9-12) Elisha is manifested to be Elijah's successor. (13-18) Elisha heals the waters of Jericho, Those that mocked Elisha destroyed. (19-25) Verses 1-8 The Lord had let Elijah know that his time was at hand. He therefore went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing. The removal of Elijah was a type and figure of the ascension of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-18Elijah was taken up into heaven. At that moment, the role of prophet passed to Elisha, shown by the transfer of Elijah’s mantle (cloak).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-102Ki 2:1-10. Elijah Divines Jordan. 1-7. when the Lord would take up Elijah--A revelation of this event had been made to the prophet; but, unknown to him, it had also been revealed to his disciples, and to Elisha in particular, who kept constantly beside him. Gilgal--This Gilgal (Jiljil) was near Ebal and Gerizim; a school of the prophets was established there. At Beth-el there was also a school of the prophets, which Elijah had founded, notwithstanding…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:1

• Ascension
• Elisha
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Servant
• Translation
• Whirlwind

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Elisha
• Gilgal
• Double
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Education
• Friend; Friendship

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings