2 Kings 2

All 25 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

Read 2 Kings 2 in the Bible reader, with audio →

1. 1When the time came for the LORD to take Elijah up into heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha set out together from Gilgal.
2. 2Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here — the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I won't leave your side." So the two of them went down to Bethel.
3. 3The sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take your master from over you today?" He replied, "Yes, I know. Keep quiet."
4. 4Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here — the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I won't leave your side." So they traveled on to Jericho.
5. 5The sons of the prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD will take your master from your head today?" He answered, "Yes, I know. Keep silent."
6. 6Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here — the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I won't leave your side." So the two of them walked on together.
7. 7Fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance to watch, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8. 8Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The river split apart to the left and right, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9. 9Once they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me — what can I do for you before I'm taken away?" Elisha answered, "Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit."
10. 10Elijah said, "That's a difficult request. But if you see me as I'm taken from you, it will be granted. If you don't see it, it won't."
11. 11As they continued walking and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated them. Then Elijah went up into heaven by a whirlwind.
12. 12Elisha watched it happen and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Elisha grabbed his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13. 13He picked up Elijah's cloak, which had fallen from him, and walked back to the bank of the Jordan.
14. 14He took Elijah's cloak and struck the water with it, calling out, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he struck the water, it split apart to the left and right, and Elisha crossed over.
15. 15When the sons of the prophets who were watching at Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
16. 16They said to him, "We have 50 strong men here with us. Let them go search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the LORD picked him up and dropped him on some mountain or in some valley." But Elisha said, "Don't send them."
17. 17They kept pressing him until he was too embarrassed to refuse, so he said, "Send them." They sent 50 men who searched for 3 days but never found him.
18. 18When they returned to Elisha, who had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"
19. 19The men of the city said to Elisha, "Sir, as you can see, the situation of this city is pleasant, but the water is bad, and the ground is barren."
20. 20He said, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.
21. 21He went out to the spring where the water came from and threw the salt into it. Then he declared, "The LORD says: 'I have healed this water. It will no longer cause death or make the land barren.'"
22. 22The water has been pure ever since that day, just as Elisha said it would be.
23. 23From Jericho, Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was going along the way, some little children came out of the city and mocked him, saying, 'Go up, you bald head; go up, you bald head.'
24. 24He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the children.
25. 25From there he traveled to Mount Carmel, and then he returned to Samaria.