The Purpose of Testing
The account of Elijah’s last journey on earth begins with the aged prophet walking with his trusty aid, Elisha (v.1). The two departed from a certain Gilgal, probably not the well-known Gilgal of Joshua’s day, but one located some eight miles north of Bethel in the hill country on the way to Shiloh. As they proceeded southward toward Bethel, Elijah indicated to Elisha that the Lord wanted him to go all the way to Bethel to visit his prophetic school there and so urged Elisha to stay on in Gilgal (v.2). The polite form of Elijah’s command indicates that the prophet’s words were permissive rather than prohibitive.
The reason for the command is not explicatively stated. Elijah no doubt knew that this was the day God would take him to be with himself (cf. vv.1, 10) and that he would leave his work to others—especially to Elisha (1 Kings 19:16). Perhaps he sought an assurance of the Lord’s will with regard to that succession by putting Elisha to the test. More likely the test was primarily for the strengthening of Elisha’s faith. It would appear from the narrative that Elijah had disclosed to his various students that his ministry was nearing a close and that one day soon he would pass by for the last time.
Elisha either knew from separate divine communication or strongly suspected that this day might be Elijah’s last. Strongly desirous of God’s will for his life and concerned that he would indeed succeed Elijah as the Lord’s prophet to Israel, Elisha was determined to be with his tutor until the last. Accordingly he would not be dissuaded; he would go where Elijah went.
Notice that even though Elijah knew this was to be his last day on earth, his life was so ordered that he humbly would be about his normal duties when the Lord would take him. Moreover it would appear that his last concern was that the Lord’s work would continue after his passing; so he wanted to assure himself of the progress of his “seminary students.”
3 When Elijah and Elisha reached Bethel, the company of prophetic students perhaps wondered whether this would be the expected day. Not wishing to impose themselves on Elijah, they delicately drew Elisha aside to inquire of Elijah whether this was that day. Elisha was convinced of it and indicated as much to them but commanded them strongly not to speak of it. Elijah would have no self-gratifying show of form toward himself. Whatever glory would occur on that day would be to God, not to his prophet. Nor would there be tears of sorrow, for it would be a day of joyous triumph for the Lord. Elijah’s wish was for God’s work to go on uninterrupted, with or without his presence.
4 As Elijah prepared to leave for the school at Jericho, about fourteen miles to the southeast, he again gave permission to Elisha to remain behind. Once more Elisha steadfastly refused.
5–7 The scene at Bethel was replayed at Jericho. Again the members of the prophetical school asked Elisha about Elijah’s departure; again Elisha demanded their silence; again Elijah instructed Elisha to stay behind, this time as he headed for the Jordan River, some five miles away (vv.5–6). Once more Elisha averred that he would not leave Elijah’s side. Three times Elijah had tested his successor; thrice Elisha stood the test (cf. Matt 4:1–11; Luke 22:31–62; John 21:15–25). When the two prophets left for the Jordan, fifty of the prophetical students followed at a distance, anxiously awaiting the Lord’s dealing with Elijah (v.7). What a contrast these fifty spiritually concerned young men formed with the squads of fifty that Ahaziah had recently sent to Elijah (cf. ch. 1)!
8 The two great prophets, master and successor, stood at the banks of the Jordan. Taking his prophet’s mantle and rolling it up rodlike—as did Moses of old at the Red Sea (cf. Exod 14:16–28)—Elijah smote the river. Immediately the waters on one side piled up in a heap, the waters on the other side running off towards the Dead Sea. As had happened so long ago, the Jordan again parted; and the two passed through on dry ground (cf. Exod 14:21–22; 15:8; Josh 2:10; 3:14–17; 4:22–24; Ps 114:3–5). Only here the order is reversed. Whereas Israel had crossed into Canaan to take possession of its God-appointed earthly heritage and Elisha, too, must return there to the place of his appointment, Elijah passed out of Canaan through the boundary waters of Jordan to his heavenly service, there to await his future renewed earthly appearance (cf. Mal 4:5; Matt 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33; Rev 11:6). In this regard his ministry anticipated that of his Messiah who came incarnately to an earthly service (John 1:12) and subsequently as resurrected Savior ascended again into heaven, there to await his triumphant, glorious second advent (cf. Zech 14:3, 9; Matt 24:30; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Tim 3:16; Rev 19:11–17).
9 Elijah, sensing the imminency of his departure, asked what further thing he could do for his successor. To the very end he remained concerned for others and for the continuance of God’s work.
Elisha’s reply suggests that he caught the intent of his master’s question. He asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Undoubtedly Elisha did not ask this simply for the privilege of being Elijah’s successor in terms of the Deuteronomic legislation concerning the eldest son’s inheritance (Deut 21:17), for such both he and Elijah knew him to be (cf. 1 Kings 19:16–21). Nor was this simply to give some confirmatory sign for Elisha’s appearance, for this is scarcely a difficult thing” (v.10). Rather, the enormity of the loss of Elijah, that spirit-filled and empowered prophet, must have so gripped the humble Elisha that, claiming his position as first born, he asked for the firstborn’s “double portion”—that is, for especially granted spiritual power far beyond his own capabilities to meet the responsibilities of the awesome task that lay before him. He wished, virtually that Elijah’s mighty prowess might continue to live through him.
10 All this lay beyond Elijah’s power to grant. Nonetheless it was not beyond the divine prerogative. Indeed, doubtless by divine direction, Elijah told Elisha that if God so chose to allow Elisha to see Elijah’s translation, then (and only then) would the full force of Elisha’s request be granted. The sign would indicate to Elisha that God, who alone could grant such a request, had done so.
11–12 And so it would be! Suddenly, as the two walked and talked together, a fiery chariot swooped between them and took Elijah along in its terrific wind up into heaven (v.11). It was over in an instant. Elisha could but cry out in amazed tribute to his departed master-(v.12). Elijah was gone. One era had ended; another had begun.
13–14 In joy mixed with sorrow, Elisha turned from viewing the heavenly spectacle that had assured him of his request to Elijah and saw yet a further sign—Elijah’s fallen mantle lay at Elisha’s feet. The younger prophet had once had that mantle symbolically laid on his shoulders (1 Kings 19:19); now it would rest there permanently. All he need do was pick it up. As he did so, “he picked up” as well the load of service that Elijah had left for him to do. With that very same mantle, he retraced his steps and reached the Jordan (v.13). Repeating Elijah’s actions, he cried out for divine intervention on his behalf (v.14). Once again the Jordan parted, bringing not only full confirmation of his prophetic office to Elisha, but divine accreditation for him before the eyes of the fifty students who had witnessed the entire event