2 Kings 2 · Verse 1

2 Kings 2:1

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Kings 2:1, King James Version

2 Kings 2:1 in other translations

BSBShortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,
WEBWhen the LORD was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
ASVAnd it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, at Jehovah's taking up Elijah in a whirlwind to the heavens, that Elijah goeth, and Elisha, from Gilgal,
DARBYAnd it came to pass when Jehovah would take up Elijah into the heavens by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
BBENow when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a great wind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

What does 2 Kings 2:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 2:1-7
2Ki 2:1-10. Elijah Divines Jordan. 1-7. when the Lord would take up Elijah--A revelation of this event had been made to the prophet; but, unknown to him, it had also been revealed to his disciples, and to Elisha in particular, who kept constantly beside him. Gilgal--This Gilgal (Jiljil) was near Ebal and Gerizim; a school of the prophets was established there. At Beth-el there was also a school of the prophets, which Elijah had founded, notwithstanding that place was the headquarters of the calf-worship; and at Jericho there was another [2Ki 2:4]. In travelling to these places, which he had done through the impulse of the Spirit (2Ki 2:2, 4-6), Elijah wished to pay a farewell visit to these several institutions, which lay on his way to the place of ascension and, at the same time, from a feeling of humility and modesty, to be in solitude, where there would be no eye-witnesses of his glorification. All his efforts, however, to prevail on his attendant to remain behind, were fruitless. Elisha knew that the time was at hand, and at every place the sons of the prophets spoke to him of the approaching removal of his master. Their last stage was at the Jordan. They were followed at a distance by fifty scholars of the prophets, from Jericho, who were desirous, in honor of the great occasion, to witness the miraculous translation of the prophet. The revelation of this striking event to so many was a necessary part of the dispensation; for it was designed to be under the law, like that of Enoch in the patriarchal age, a visible proof of another state, and a type of the resurrection of Christ.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Elijah, about to be taken up to heaven, goes in company with Elisha from Gilgal to Beth-el, 2Kgs 2:1, 2Kgs 2:2. Thence to Jericho, 2Kgs 2:3-5. And thence to Jordan, 2Kgs 2:6, 2Kgs 2:7. Elijah smites the waters with his mantle; they divide, and he and Elisha pass over on dry ground, 2Kgs 2:8. Elijah desires Elisha to ask what he should do for him; who requests a double portion of his spirit, which is promised on a certain condition, 2Kgs 2:9, 2Kgs 2:10. A chariot and horses of fire descend; and Elijah mounts, and ascends by a whirlwind to heaven, 2Kgs 2:11. Elisha gets his mantle, comes back to Jordan, smites the waters with it, and they divide, and he goes over, 2Kgs 2:12-14. The sons of the prophets see that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha, 2Kgs 2:15. They propose to send fifty men to seek Elijah, supposing the Spirit of the Lord might have cast him on some mountain or valley; after three days' search, they return not having found him, 2Kgs 2:16-18. The people of Jericho apply to Elisha to heal their unwholesome water, 2Kgs 2:19. He casts salt into the spring in the name of Jehovah, and the water becomes wholesome, 2Kgs 2:20-22. Forty-two young persons of Bethel, mocking him, are slain by two she-bears, 2Kgs 2:23, 2Kgs 2:24. He goes to Carmel, and returns to Samaria, 2Kgs 2:25. Verse 1 When the Lord would take up Elijah - It appears that God had revealed this intended translation, not only to Elijah himself, but also to Elisha, and to the schools of the prophets, both at Beth-el and Jericho, so that they were all expecting this solemn event.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 2:1-8
Chapter Outline Elijah divides Jordan. (1-8) Elijah is taken up into heaven. (9-12) Elisha is manifested to be Elijah's successor. (13-18) Elisha heals the waters of Jericho, Those that mocked Elisha destroyed. (19-25) Verses 1-8 The Lord had let Elijah know that his time was at hand. He therefore went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing. The removal of Elijah was a type and figure of the ascension of Christ, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Elisha had long followed Elijah, and he would not leave him now when he hoped for the parting blessing. Let not those who follow Christ come short by tiring at last. The waters of Jordan, of old, yielded to the ark; now, to the prophet's mantle, as a token of God's presence. When God will take up his faithful ones to heaven, death is the Jordan which they must pass through, and they find a way through it. The death of Christ has divided those waters, that the ransomed of the Lord may pass over. O death, where is thy sting, thy hurt, thy terror!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Kings 2:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
בְּהַעֲל֤וֹתbe.ha.'a.Lotwhen took upH5927
יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ'e.li.Ya.huElijahH452
בַּֽסְעָרָ֖הbas.'a.Rahby the whirlwindH5591
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִםha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064
וַיֵּ֧לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
אֵלִיָּ֛הוּ'e.li.Ya.huElijahH452
וֶאֱלִישָׁ֖עve.'e.li.Sha'and ElishaH477
מִן\־min-fromH4480
הַגִּלְגָּֽל\׃ha.gil.Gal<the> GilgalH1537

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 2:1

  • Genesis 5:24

    And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

  • Hebrews 11:5

    By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

  • 1 Kings 19:16-21

    And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel–meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. …

  • 1 Kings 19:11

    And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

  • Joshua 4:19

    And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.

  • Joshua 5:9

    And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

  • Job 38:1

    Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

  • Revelation 11:12

    And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

  • 1 Kings 19:4

    But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

  • 2 Kings 4:38

    And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.

  • 2 Kings 2:11

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

  • 1 Kings 18:12

    And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan;
9 and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven.
12 Elisha, dividing Jordan with Elijah's mantle, is acknowledged his successor.
16 The young prophets, hardly obtaining leave to seek Elijah, cannot find him.
19 Elisha with salt heals the unwholesome waters.
23 Bears destroy the children that mocked Elisha.

take up.
Ge 5:24; 1Ki 19:4; Lu 9:51; Ac 1:9; Heb 11:5; Re 11:12
by a whirlwind.
1Ki 18:12; 19:11; Job 38:1
Elisha.
1Ki 19:16-21
Gilgal.
Jos 4:19; 5:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Kings 2:1

    And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

  • 2 Kings 2:2

    And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth–el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth–el.

Read all of 2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ACONTECIÓ que, cuando quiso Jehová alzar á Elías en un torbellino al cielo, Elías venía con Eliseo de Gilgal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et il arriva que, lorsque l’ Éternel fit monter Élie aux cieux dans un tourbillon, Élie et Élisée partirent de Guilgal.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, als Jehova den Elia im Sturmwinde gen Himmel auffahren ließ, da gingen Elia und Elisa von Gilgal hinweg.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Factum est autem cum levare vellet Dominus Eliam per turbinem in cælum, ibant Elias et Eliseus de Galgalis.