2 Kings 2:1

Contextual Overview

¹The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal, ¹ It happened, when the LORD would take up Eliyah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Eliyah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 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. ¹ Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ¹ It was almost time for the Lord to take Elijah by a whirlwind up into heaven. While Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal, ¹ Just before the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. ¹When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.¹ Now it came about, when the LORD was about to bring Elijah up by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah left Gilgal with Elisha.¹ And when the Lord would take vp Eliiah into heauen by a whirle winde, Eliiah went with Elisha from Gilgal. ¹Now it happened when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

take up: Genesis 5:24, 1 Kings 19:4, Luke 9:51, Acts 1:9, Hebrews 11:5, Revelation 11:12

by a whirlwind: 1 Kings 18:12, 1 Kings 19:11, Job 38:1

Elisha: 1 Kings 19:16-21

Gilgal: Joshua 4:19, Joshua 5:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:46 - an heap 2 Kings 2:11 - by a whirlwind 2 Kings 4:38 - Elisha 2 Chronicles 21:12 - a writing Luke 2:15 - into

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the eretz.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the sky and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,.... Thereby lifting him up from the earth, and which, as it was the purpose and will of God, Elijah had notice of, as appears by his motions to different places, under a divine direction:

that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal, where it seems they met, a place where the Israelites first pitched when they came over Jordan, and where the tabernacle was for some time, and was famous for religious services, see Joshua 4:19.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The events of this chapter are related out of their chronological order. Elijah’s translation did not take place until after the accession of Jehoram in Judah 2 Chronicles 21:12, which was not until the fifth year of Jehoram of Israel 2 Kings 8:16. The writer of Kings, having concluded his notices of the ministry of Elijah in chapter 1, and being about to pass in 2 Kings 3:0 to the ministry of Elisha, thought it best to insert at this point the final scene of Elijah’s life, though it did not occur until several years later.

Gilgal - The modern Jiljilieh, on the highland between Nablous and Beitin (Bethel), about eight and a half miles from the latter, is now commonly supposed to be the Gilgal here mentioned. Some regard it as the ordinary residence of Elisha 2 Kings 4:38.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER II

Elijah, about to be taken up to heaven, goes in company with

Elisha from Gilgal to Beth-el, 1, 2.

Thence to Jericho, 3-5.

And thence to Jordan, 6, 7.

Elijah smites the waters with his mantle; they divide, and he

and Elisha pass over on dry ground, 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, 9, 10.

A chariot and horses of fire descend; and Elijah mounts, and

ascends by a whirlwind to heaven, 11.

Elisha gets his mantle, comes back to Jordan, smites the waters

with it, and they divide, and he goes over, 12-14.

The sons of the prophets see that the spirit of Elijah rests on

Elisha, 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, 16-18.

The people of Jericho apply to Elisha to heal their unwholesome

water, 19.

He casts salt into the spring in the name of Jehovah, and the

water becomes wholesome, 20-22.

Forty-two young persons of Bethel, mocking him, are slain by

two she-bears, 23, 24.

He goes to Carmel, and returns to Samaria, 25.

NOTES ON CHAP. II

Verse 2 Kings 2:1. 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.