2 Kings, Chapter 2
Synopsis: Elijah is walking with Elisha. Elijah is obviously Elisha’s mentor. It is known that Elijah is about to be taken up to heaven. Elijah tells Elisha three times to stay put as he travels around but three times Elisha refuses and follows Elijah. In front of 50 men Elijah parts the river Jordan and he and Elisha walk across. Suddenly a chariot of fire and horse of fire takes Elijah into heaven. Elisha now repeats the miracle of parting the Jordan river and everyone thinks Elisha is the new Elijah. Against Elisha’s wishes the 50 men go looking for Elijah, can’t find him, and Elisha says told you so. In Jericho Elisha fixes the bad water with a miracle using salt. And then, lastly, he is mocked by children for being bald. Elisha curses them and then two bears mauls 42 of the boys. Elisha then goes to Samaria.
In summary the route is: start in Gilgal, go to Bethel, then Jericho, then to the river Jordan, then back to Jericho, then to Mount Carmel and finally to Samaria.
There seem to be three things that leap out at me.
the triple repeated story of Elijah traveling, and Elisha refusing to leave his side.
Elijah, chariots of fire, taken up to heaven. Seemingly bypassing death.
the odd “baldy” story. Especially the numbers used, 2 bears and 42 children.
I guess there is also the miracle of parting the Jordan twice, once by Elijah and once by Elisha. And also Elisha’s miracle of cleansing the water in Jericho. A lot happens in this chapter!