2 Kings 2:3-18

3Then 1the 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 2you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be still.”

4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please 3stay here, for the Lord has sent me to 4Jericho.” But he said, “5As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 56The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “7Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over 8you today?” And he 9answered, “Yes, I know; be still.” 6Then Elijah said to him, “Please 10stay here, for the Lord has sent me to 11the 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.

7Now 12fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8Elijah 13took his mantle and folded it together and 14struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9When 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 15double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you 16see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared 17a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a 18whirlwind to heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “19My father, my father, the 20chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw 21Elijah no more. Then 22he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14He 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 23struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

15Now when 24the 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. 16They said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps 25the 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.” 17But when 26they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him. 18They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”