2 Kings 2:1-25

2:1-3 | Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho were like modern-day Bible colleges or seminaries for prophets in training. The younger men received instruction in Scripture under more experienced prophets.

2:2-6 | Faithfulness and loyalty to Elijah were essential traits for Elijah’s successor. Some suggest Elisha was disobedient in not staying, but Elijah was testing Elisha. (He passed.) When Elijah tested him a third time, Elisha still refused to put his own comfort first.

2:5 | Take away uses the same Hebrew verb that describes Enoch’s entrance into heaven (Gen. 5:24).

2:9 | A man’s principal heir received a double portion of his material goods. Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, the energizing power characterizing Elijah’s ministry. Elisha wanted God’s empowerment far more than wealth.

2:11-12 | The chariot and horses of fire were likely an angel squadron on special assignment. Elisha’s exclamation speaks to the reason God commanded Israel’s kings not to stockpile horses (Deut. 17:16) or fear armies with chariots (Deut. 20:1); every powerful resource is found in God, who fights for His people (6:17; Deut. 20:3-4; Ps. 104:4).

2:13 | Elijah had placed his prophetic mantle (likely some sort of shawl or cloak) on Elisha as Israel’s next prophet (1 Kgs. 19:19). Now Elisha demonstrated his acceptance of the call.

2:14 | Performing the same miracle as Elijah demonstrated that Elisha had received a double portion of his mentor’s spirit. This put him in the tradition of Moses and Joshua, who respectively parted the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21-22) and the Jordan River (Josh. 3:9-17). Like Joshua (“Yahweh Saves”), Elisha would live up to the meaning of his name (“God Saves”).

2:15 | When the sons of the prophets saw Elisha, they sensed the spirit of Elijah on him. God always provided a prophetic voice to guide His people, sending John the Baptist (Luke 1:17), Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, who empowered the apostles and all who followed them.

2:19-22 | That Elisha healed (“purified”) this salty water manifested God’s unique power operating through him.

2:23-24 | These youths were young men, not children, and possibly false prophets of Baal. Go up implies Elisha should go into heaven as Elijah had. Baldhead might allude to the outcast lepers of that day or to Elisha’s actual head (whether bald by heredity or shaven by choice), but more likely it was a derisive comment (Isa. 3:17-24). Their contempt reflected disrespect for the Lord (Deut. 27:13-16).