the people. After
the feast, he went with Elijah.
Long after, when
Elijah was old and the Lord was ready to take him into heaven, he
led Elisha down to the Jordan. While fifty of the sons of the
prophets stood to watch from afar, Elijah took off his mantle,
smote the waters so that they were divided, and the two crossed on
dry ground to the other side.
Then Elijah said,
"Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away."
And Elisha answered, "I pray that a double portion of your
spirit be within me."
"You have
asked a very difficult thing," Elijah told him.
"Nevertheless,
if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so. If not,
your prayer will not be answered."
As they still
talked, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire that
swept between them and bore Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind.
And Elisha saw it
and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariot and
horsemen of Israel!"
He picked up the
mantle which had fallen from Elijah and smote the waters of the
Jordan. When they parted to that he could recross on dry ground,
the sons of the prophets came and bowed before him. For they saw
that the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha.
|