LESSON II.—SEPTEMBER 11.—ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN.
(1) “And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. (2) And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. (3) And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. (4) And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. (5) And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. (6) And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. (7) And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan. (8) And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. (9) And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. (10) And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. (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, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” Golden Text.—“He was not; for God took him.” Gen. 5:24. (1) What was God about to do with Elijah? With whom and from what place did Elijah then go? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) Before leaving Gilgal, what did Elijah say to his servant? What was Elisha’s reply? Verse 2. (3) At Beth-el what did the students say to Elisha? What was his answer? Verse 3. Note 2. (4) Before leaving Beth-el what did Elijah tell Elisha to do? How did Elisha again answer his master? Verse 4. (5) What question was again put to Elisha at Jericho? How did he answer this time? Verse 5. (6) How did Elijah again test his servant? And how was Elisha’s devotion again proved? Verse 6. Note 3. (7) How was the curiosity of the students at Jericho manifested? Where did they see Elijah and Elisha? Verse 7. (8) How did the two men get across the river? Verse 8. (9) After they had crossed the river, what did the prophet say to his servant? What did Elisha request? Verse 9. Note 4. (10) What did Elijah say about this request? Verse 10. Note 5. (11) As the two men went on and talked, what appeared to them? What followed this appearance? Verse 11. Notes 6 and 7. 1. *Elijah’s ascension** took place about ten years after his flight from Jezebel and his experience at Mount Horeb. Elisha had been with him as servant and student during this time, and schools for young men—called schools of the prophets—had been established at Gilgal, Beth-el, Jericho, and on the Jordan. The students at these schools were called sons of the prophets, because the prophets were the teachers, and recognized as fathers*. The Gilgal here mentioned was not the Gilgal near Jordan, where the children of Israel camped on entering the promised land. The town here referred to was situated in the mountains of Ephraim. 2. *It was known** to Elijah and Elisha, and even to the young men at the schools, that Elijah’s departure in some way was at hand. But Elisha seems to have deemed it too solemn a subject for conversation at that time; so he said to the young men, “Hold ye your peace;” or, as men would say to-day, “Don’t speak of it.*” 3. *The humble** spirit of the true prophet actuated Elijah. He was not desirous of being seen by men when he should be honored of God. He preferred that even his own servant should not be a witness of it. The false prophet always draws attention to himself, is always anxious for display, that he may be honored of men. Another motive also seems to have actuated him, namely, the testing of Elisha’s faith. The servant’s qualification* as a successor to Elijah depended largely on his fidelity at this time, as the sequel proved. 4. Elijah, having proved the constancy and faith of his servant, deemed him a fit subject for further favor. He no longer asks Elisha to tarry while he himself should go on. The “double portion” that Elisha asked of his “father” in the faith was not twice as much of the Spirit of God as Elijah had, but the “double portion” of the oldest son (Deut. 21:17)—possibly of the disposition which he so much admired in his master, which was about to be signally rewarded. The request was on the same principle of Solomon’s request for wisdom when he came to the throne. It had been shown to Elisha that Elijah’s mantle would fall to him. 1 Kings 19:19. 5. Elisha had asked “a hard thing” from a human standpoint. Increased spiritual gifts are not bestowed upon those who take life easy, but upon those who are to use them heroically, faithfully—those who have already used their endowments, be they never so meager, in the earnest service of the Master. The promise that Elisha’s request should be granted was based upon his watchfulness and endurance. So the final reward of the saints is to those who endure to the end, and are then found watching. See Mark 13:13, 35–37. 6. *“Chariot of fire.”*—The marginal reading is “chariots,” which seems to be the true sense, as in verse 12. This was evidently a source of future encouragement to Elisha, in times of apparent danger, as he must have been continually aware of the presence of the mighty army of heaven. See 2 Kings 6:14–18; Heb. 1:14, 7. One commentator notes on the expression, “And parted them both asunder,” “surrounding Elijah as with a flaming war host.” And on the sentence, “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven,” another says, “Literally ‘Elijah went up in a storm into the sky.’” No doubt Elisha saw a grand demonstration in the departure of Elijah from the earth. Tho so few on earth were aware of the event, the hosts of heaven were rejoicing.