2 Kings 2:3-18

3Then 1the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel went out to Elisha and said to him, “Are you aware that the Lord will take away your master from over 2you today?” And he said, “Yes, I am aware; say nothing about it.”

4And Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please 3stay here, for the Lord has sent me to 4Jericho.” But he said, “5As surely as the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5Then 6the 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; say nothing about it.” 6And Elijah said to him, “Please 10stay here, for the Lord has sent me to 11the Jordan.” But he said, “As surely 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. 8And Elijah 13took his coat, folded it, 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 me what I should 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.” 11And as they were walking along and talking, behold, 17a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a 18whirlwind to heaven. 12And Elisha was watching it and he was crying out, “19My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he did not see 20Elijah again. Then 21he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13He also took up the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him, and he went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14Then he took the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had 22struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

15Now when 23the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah has settled on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. 16Then they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; please let them go and search for your master, in case 24the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” But he said, “You shall not send anyone.” 17Yet when 25they urged him until he was ashamed to refuse, he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but did not find him. 18They returned to him while he was staying in Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”