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Contemporary English Version

2 Kings 2:1

Not long before the Lord took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ascension;   Elisha;   Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena;   Servant;   Translation;   Whirlwind;   Thompson Chain Reference - Meteorology;   Whirlwind;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Elisha;   Gilgal;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Elisha;   Gilgal;   Prophecy, prophet;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elijah;   Miracle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heaven;   Prophet;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ebal;   Gilgal;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ascension;   Elijah;   Gilgal;   Hell;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Whirlwind;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Gilgal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Elisha;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Gil'gal;   Jer'icho;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Education;   Elijah;   Gilgal;   Kings, Books of;   Whirlwind;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Gilgal;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal,
Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when the LORD would take up Eliyah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Eliyah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
King James Version
And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
English Standard Version
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
New Century Version
It was almost time for the Lord to take Elijah by a whirlwind up into heaven. While Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal,
New English Translation
Just before the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.
Amplified Bible
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.
New American Standard Bible
Now it came about, when the LORD was about to bring Elijah up by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah left Gilgal with Elisha.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when the Lord would take vp Eliiah into heauen by a whirle winde, Eliiah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Complete Jewish Bible
The time came for Adonai to take Eliyahu up into heaven in a whirlwind. Eliyahu and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,
Darby Translation
And it came to pass when Jehovah would take up Elijah into the heavens by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Easy-to-Read Version
It was near the time for the Lord to take Elijah by a whirlwind up into heaven. Elijah and Elisha started to leave Gilgal.
George Lamsa Translation
AND it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha had departed from Gilgal.
Good News Translation
The time came for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal,
Lexham English Bible
When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up in the storm to heaven, Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal.
Literal Translation
And it happened, when Jehovah was to cause Elijah to go up to Heaven in a tempest, Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whan the LORDE was mynded to take vp Elias in the tempest, Elias and Eliseus wente from Gilgall.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Bible in Basic English
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a great wind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it chaunced, that whe the Lord would take vp Elias into heauen by a whorle wind, Elias went with Elisa from Gilgal.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe when the Lord would take vp Elijah into heauen by a whirlewinde, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass, when the Lord was going to take Eliu with a whirlwind as it were into heaven, that Eliu and Elisaie went out of Galgala.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Berean Standard Bible
Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it was don, whanne the Lord wolde reise Elie bi a whirlewynd in to heuene, Elie and Elisee yeden fro Galgalis.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at Jehovah's taking up Elijah in a whirlwind to the heavens, that Elijah goeth, and Elisha, from Gilgal,
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when Yahweh was to take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
World English Bible
It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
New King James Version
And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
New Living Translation
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.
New Life Bible
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a wind-storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
New Revised Standard
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah in a storm into the heavens, that Elijah departed, with Elisha, from Gilgal.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elias, into heaven, by a whirlwind, that Elias and Eliseus were going from Galgal.
Revised Standard Version
Now when the LORD was about to take Eli'jah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Eli'jah and Eli'sha were on their way from Gilgal.
THE MESSAGE
Just before God took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on a walk out of Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. God has sent me on an errand to Bethel." Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Bethel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

Contextual Overview

1 Not long before the Lord took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "The Lord wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I will stay with you no matter what!" And he went with Elijah to Bethel. 3 A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, "Do you know that today the Lord is going to take away your master?" "Yes, I do," Elisha answered. "But don't remind me of it." 4 Elijah then said, "Elisha, now the Lord wants me to go to Jericho, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "I swear by the living Lord and by your own life, that I will stay with you no matter what!" And he went with Elijah to Jericho. 5 A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, "Do you know that today the Lord is going to take away your master?" "Yes, I do," Elisha answered. "But don't remind me of it." 6 Elijah then said to Elisha, "Now the Lord wants me to go to the Jordan River, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I will never leave you!" So the two of them walked on together. 7 Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho, then stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. 8 When they got there, Elijah took off his coat, then he rolled it up and struck the water with it. At once a path opened up through the river, and the two of them walked across on dry ground.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

take up: Genesis 5:24, 1 Kings 19:4, Luke 9:51, Acts 1:9, Hebrews 11:5, Revelation 11:12

by a whirlwind: 1 Kings 18:12, 1 Kings 19:11, Job 38:1

Elisha: 1 Kings 19:16-21

Gilgal: Joshua 4:19, Joshua 5:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:46 - an heap 2 Kings 2:11 - by a whirlwind 2 Kings 4:38 - Elisha 2 Chronicles 21:12 - a writing Luke 2:15 - into

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:10
God named the dry ground "Land," and he named the water "Ocean." God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.
Genesis 2:3
God blessed the seventh day and made it special because on that day he rested from his work.
Genesis 2:4
That's how God created the heavens and the earth. When the Lord God made the heavens and the earth,
Genesis 2:5
no grass or plants were growing anywhere. God had not yet sent any rain, and there was no one to work the land.
Genesis 2:8
The Lord made a garden in a place called Eden, which was in the east, and he put the man there.
Genesis 2:11
The first one is the Pishon River that flows through the land of Havilah,
Genesis 2:13
The second is the Gihon River that winds through Ethiopia.
Exodus 20:11
In six days I made the sky, the earth, the oceans, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That's why I made the Sabbath a special day that belongs to me.
Exodus 31:17
This day will always serve as a reminder, both to me and to the Israelites, that I made the heavens and the earth in six days, then on the seventh day I rested and relaxed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,.... Thereby lifting him up from the earth, and which, as it was the purpose and will of God, Elijah had notice of, as appears by his motions to different places, under a divine direction:

that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal, where it seems they met, a place where the Israelites first pitched when they came over Jordan, and where the tabernacle was for some time, and was famous for religious services, see Joshua 4:19.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The events of this chapter are related out of their chronological order. Elijah’s translation did not take place until after the accession of Jehoram in Judah 2 Chronicles 21:12, which was not until the fifth year of Jehoram of Israel 2 Kings 8:16. The writer of Kings, having concluded his notices of the ministry of Elijah in chapter 1, and being about to pass in 2 Kings 3:0 to the ministry of Elisha, thought it best to insert at this point the final scene of Elijah’s life, though it did not occur until several years later.

Gilgal - The modern Jiljilieh, on the highland between Nablous and Beitin (Bethel), about eight and a half miles from the latter, is now commonly supposed to be the Gilgal here mentioned. Some regard it as the ordinary residence of Elisha 2 Kings 4:38.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER II

Elijah, about to be taken up to heaven, goes in company with

Elisha from Gilgal to Beth-el, 1, 2.

Thence to Jericho, 3-5.

And thence to Jordan, 6, 7.

Elijah smites the waters with his mantle; they divide, and he

and Elisha pass over on dry ground, 8.

Elijah desires Elisha to ask what he should do for him; who

requests a double portion of his spirit, which is promised on

a certain condition, 9, 10.

A chariot and horses of fire descend; and Elijah mounts, and

ascends by a whirlwind to heaven, 11.

Elisha gets his mantle, comes back to Jordan, smites the waters

with it, and they divide, and he goes over, 12-14.

The sons of the prophets see that the spirit of Elijah rests on

Elisha, 15.

They propose to send fifty men to seek Elijah, supposing the

Spirit of the Lord might have cast him on some mountain or

valley; after three days' search, they return not having found

him, 16-18.

The people of Jericho apply to Elisha to heal their unwholesome

water, 19.

He casts salt into the spring in the name of Jehovah, and the

water becomes wholesome, 20-22.

Forty-two young persons of Bethel, mocking him, are slain by

two she-bears, 23, 24.

He goes to Carmel, and returns to Samaria, 25.

NOTES ON CHAP. II

Verse 2 Kings 2:1. When the Lord would take up Elijah — It appears that God had revealed this intended translation, not only to Elijah himself, but also to Elisha, and to the schools of the prophets, both at Beth-el and Jericho, so that they were all expecting this solemn event.


 
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