2 Kings 2:3
And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
On the day Elijah was to be taken to heaven, he visited the prophetic school at Bethel on his final journey closing his ministry of righteousness in a dark time. The students there knew the Lord would take Elijah away from Elisha that day, Elisha already knew it himself, and he told them to hold their peace and be quiet about it. Elisha would not turn from his purpose but stayed close to Elijah while he could still be prepared for service, his faith and resolve being tested as he sought the Spirit's power to carry on the work given him. Those schools had been established as a barrier against corruption to promote righteousness, gathering pious, studious young men under teachers versed in divine truth and endowed with God's Spirit to qualify them as leaders and counselors, and Elijah's final work was to visit them with divine instruction before his ascension.
Elijah's Final Journey
This verse belongs to Elijah's final journey on the day he was to be taken up to heaven by translation, closing his prophetic ministry. That ministry had been carried out under God's direction in a dark and troubled time, as a Spirit-guided preacher of righteousness. The journey was Elijah's final visit to the schools of the prophets before he was taken to heaven, including Bethel and Jericho, where he gave the students divine instruction before ascending. It was Elisha's last journey with Elijah, when it was to be revealed that Elijah would be translated.
The sons of the prophets at Bethel knew that the Lord would take Elijah away from Elisha that day. Elisha already knew it himself. He told them to hold their peace and be quiet about it.
His knowledge did not turn him from his purpose, for he stayed close to Elijah while he could still receive preparation for service. His faith and resolve were tested in remaining with his master. He knew he was about to lose his master and sought the Spirit's power to carry on the work God had given him. His request for a double portion was tied to whether he witnessed Elijah's departure when Elijah was taken up to heaven.
Elisha had left a wealthy home and the plow to serve Elijah. He willingly performed humble duties in that service. That service tested and developed his character. It taught him how to serve under a ruler so he could serve God.
God prepared Elijah for translation by moving him from place to place rather than letting him settle at ease. These changes brought Elijah into closer fellowship with God and helped prepare him for spiritual power and a wider ministry to others. The moving required him to leave behind familiar methods and customs, to avoid becoming settled and spiritually stagnant, and to keep him from settling into familiar habits. In this way he grew in moral strength and spiritual soundness, and his influence was meant to help others toward a fuller spiritual experience.
Prophetic Schools as Pattern
At Bethel stood a company of the sons of the prophets, one of the schools of the prophets that Elijah visited before his ascension, with schools established in different places and Bethel and Jericho added in his time. Those sons were the pupils of the school, companies of pious, intelligent, studious young men forming a prophetic community in which Israel's youth were educated, and when Elijah visited them the Spirit of God came upon the students so that they prophesied. Samuel had established those schools as a barrier against corruption and to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the people, and they proved a great blessing promoting the righteousness that exalts a nation and furnishing men qualified to act in the fear of God as leaders and counselors. Their instructors were men versed in divine truth who had enjoyed communion with God and received the special endowment of His Spirit.
Elijah's final earthly work was to visit these schools and give the students divine instruction before he ascended, with the sons at Bethel knowing his departure was imminent. Just before his departure he repeated the most important lessons on education for the students whom he visited and instructed. He impressed upon them that simplicity should mark every part of their education so they could receive heaven's mold and work in the Lord's ways.
Those ancient schools combined physical and mental work in their instruction, including useful physical work and training in practical duties. That Bethel community is the pattern for schools and institutions that educate young people in the Bible and prepare them to teach others and to do the Lord's work. Training-schools for Christian workers were established to teach youth evangelistic work, and when conducted in harmony with His purpose they quickly prepare them for missionary work. Those connected with sanitariums, publishing houses, and schools are to train youth for this work and encourage them to attend these schools rather than binding down for merely mechanical employment those who should enter the ministry, Bible work, canvassing, missionary nursing, and gospel service.
As Elijah educated Elisha as a successor and entrusted him with future responsibilities, the account shows the pattern of an experienced worker giving a younger worker opportunity to learn. So experienced ministers are to teach younger workers in the same way how to share the truth with others. The description of that prophetic community applies to those who need the spirit of Christ and should show love for people with the love Jesus showed.