1And it cameabout when the LORDwas about to takeup Elijahby a whirlwindto heaven,that Elijahwentwith Elishafrom Gilgal.2Elijahsaidto Elisha,"Stayhereplease,for the LORDhas sentme as faras Bethel."But Elishasaid,"As the LORDlivesand as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they wentdownto Bethel.3Then the sonsof the prophetswho[were at] Bethelcameout to Elishaand saidto him, "Do you knowthat the LORDwill takeaway your masterfrom overyou today?"And he said,"Yes,I know;be still."
4Elijahsaidto him, "Elisha,pleasestayhere,for the LORDhas sentme to Jericho."But he said,"As the LORDlives,and as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they cameto Jericho.5The sonsof the prophetswho[were] at JerichoapproachedElishaand saidto him, "Do you knowthat the LORDwill takeaway your masterfrom overyou today?"And he answered,"Yes,I know;be still."6Then Elijahsaidto him, "Pleasestayhere,for the LORDhas sentme to the Jordan."And he said,"As the LORDlives,and as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So the twoof them wenton.
7Now fiftymenof the sonsof the prophetswentand stoodopposite[them] at a distance,while the twoof them stoodby the Jordan.8Elijahtookhis mantleand foldedit togetherand struckthe waters,and they were dividedhereand there,so that the twoof them crossedoveron dryground.
9When they had crossedover,Elijahsaidto Elisha,"AskwhatI shall dofor you beforeI am takenfrom you." And Elishasaid,"Please,let a doubleportionof your spiritbe upon me."10He said,"You have askeda hardthing.[Nevertheless], ifyou seeme when I am takenfrom you, it shall be sofor you; but ifnot, it shall not be [so]."11As they were goingalong and talking,behold,[there appeared] a chariotof fireand horsesof firewhich separatedthe twoof them. And Elijahwentup by a whirlwindto heaven.12Elishasaw[it] and criedout, "My father,my father,the chariotsof Israeland its horsemen!"And he sawElijah nomore.Then he tookholdof his own clothesand torethem in twopieces.13He also tookup the mantleof Elijahthat fellfrom him and returnedand stoodby the bankof the Jordan.14He tookthe mantleof Elijahthat fellfrom him and struckthe watersand said,"Whereis the LORD,the Godof Elijah?"And when he alsohad struckthe waters,they were dividedhereand there;and Elishacrossedover.
15Now when the sonsof the prophetswho[were] at Jerichoopposite[him] sawhim, they said,"The spiritof Elijahrestson Elisha."And they cameto meethim and bowedthemselves to the groundbefore him.16They saidto him, "Beholdnow,thereare with your servantsfiftystrongmen,pleaselet them goand searchfor your master;perhapsthe Spiritof the LORDhas takenhim up and casthim on somemountainorinto somevalley."And he said,"You shall not send."17But when they urgedhim untilhe was ashamed,he said,"Send."They senttherefore fiftymen;and they searchedthreedaysbut did not findhim.18They returnedto him while he was stayingat Jericho;and he saidto them, "Did I not sayto you, 'Do not go'?"
19Then the menof the citysaidto Elisha,"Beholdnow, the situationof this cityis pleasant,as my lordsees;but the wateris badand the landis unfruitful."20He said,"Bringme a newjar,and putsaltin it." So they brought[it] to him.21He wentout to the springof waterand threwsaltin it and said,"Thussaysthe LORD,I have purifiedthesewaters;there shall not be from theredeathor unfruitfulnessanylonger.'"22So the watershave been purifiedto thisday,according to the wordof Elishawhichhe spoke.
23Then he wentup from thereto Bethel;and as he was goingup by the way,youngladscameout from the cityand mockedhim and saidto him, "Goup, you baldhead;goup, you baldhead!"24When he lookedbehindhim and sawthem, he cursedthem in the nameof the LORD.Then twofemale bearscameout of the woodsand toreup forty-twoladsof their number.25He wentfrom thereto MountCarmel,and from therehe returnedto Samaria.
