The time came for the Lord to take Elijah to heaven. He said to Elisha, “Stay here. The Lord is sending me to Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will not leave you.” So they went together. At Bethel, a group of prophets said, “Do you know the Lord will take your master today?” Elisha answered, “Yes, I know. Be still.”

Elijah again told him to stay behind as he went to Jericho, and later to the Jordan River, but each time Elisha refused. When they reached the Jordan, Elijah rolled up his cloak, struck the water, and the river parted so they could cross on dry ground. Fifty prophets stood at a distance and watched.

On the other side, Elijah asked, “What do you want me to do for you before I am taken?”

Elisha said without hesitation, “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.”

Elijah answered, “You have asked a difficult thing. But if you see me when I am taken, it will be granted.”

As they walked on, suddenly a chariot of fire with fiery horses appeared and separated them. Then Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it all and cried, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” He tore his clothes in grief.

Then he noticed Elijah’s cloak lying on the ground. He picked it up, returned to the Jordan, and struck the waters with it, crying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” At once the waters parted again, and he crossed. The prophets who had been watching said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha,” and they honoured him as their leader.

Back in Jericho, the people told him, “This is a good city, but the spring is bad and makes the land unfruitful.” Elisha asked for a new bowl with salt. He went to the spring, threw in the salt, and declared, “The Lord has healed this water.” From then on, the water remained pure.

As he travelled toward Bethel, some boys mocked him, shouting, “Go on up, Baldy!” Elisha turned, pronounced a curse, and two bears came out of the forest, attacking forty-two of them.