Elijah Is Taken to Heaven

Elijah and Elisha travel together on what becomes their final journey. Elijah repeatedly tells Elisha to remain behind, but Elisha refuses to leave him.

They pass through Bethel and Jericho, where groups of prophets tell Elisha that his master will be taken away that day. Elisha already knows and asks them to be silent.

At the Jordan, Elijah rolls up his mantle and strikes the water. The river divides, and the two cross on dry ground.

Elijah asks what he can do for Elisha before being taken away. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, language associated with the inheritance of a firstborn heir. Elijah says the request will be granted if Elisha sees him being taken.

As they continue talking, a chariot and horses of fire appear between them, and Elijah goes up in a whirlwind. Elisha watches and cries out, then tears his clothes in grief.

Elijah’s mantle has fallen. Elisha picks it up, returns to the Jordan, and strikes the water, asking where the God of Elijah is. The water divides for him as it had for Elijah.

The prophetic community at Jericho sees Elisha return and recognizes that Elijah’s spirit rests on him. They nevertheless search for Elijah for three days and do not find him.

The story is both departure and succession. Elijah’s extraordinary exit does not end the prophetic work; Elisha crosses back over the same river carrying the mantle into the next stage.