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Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Young's Literal Translation

2 Kings 2:1

And it cometh to pass, at Jehovah's taking up Elijah in a whirlwind to the heavens, that Elijah goeth, and Elisha, from 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.
Contemporary English Version
Not long before the Lord took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving 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.
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 And it cometh to pass, at Jehovah's taking up Elijah in a whirlwind to the heavens, that Elijah goeth, and Elisha, from Gilgal, 2 and Elijah saith unto Elisha, `Abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me unto Beth-El;' and Elisha saith, `Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they go down to Beth-El. 3 And sons of the prophets who [are] in Beth-El come out unto Elisha, and say unto him, `Hast thou known that to-day Jehovah is taking thy lord from thy head?' and he saith, `I also have known -- keep silent.' 4 And Elijah saith to him, `Elisha, abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho;' and he saith, `Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they come in to Jericho. 5 And sons of the prophets who [are] in Jericho come nigh unto Elisha, and say unto him, `Hast thou known that to-day Jehovah is taking thy lord from thy head?' and he saith, `I also have known -- keep silent.' 6 And Elijah saith to him, `Abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan;' and he saith, `Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they go on both of them, 7 -- and fifty men of the sons of the prophets have gone on, and stand over-against afar off -- and both of them have stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah taketh his robe, and wrappeth [it] together, and smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and they pass over both of them on dry land.

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 of God's preparing the heavens and the earth --
Genesis 1:10
And God calleth to the dry land `Earth,' and to the collection of the waters He hath called `Seas;' and God seeth that [it is] good.
Genesis 2:3
And God blesseth the seventh day, and sanctifieth it, for in it He hath ceased from all His work which God had prepared for making.
Genesis 2:4
These [are] births of the heavens and of the earth in their being prepared, in the day of Jehovah God's making earth and heavens;
Genesis 2:5
and no shrub of the field is yet in the earth, and no herb of the field yet sprouteth, for Jehovah God hath not rained upon the earth, and a man there is not to serve the ground,
Genesis 2:8
And Jehovah God planteth a garden in Eden, at the east, and He setteth there the man whom He hath formed;
Genesis 2:11
the name of the one [is] Pison, it [is] that which is surrounding the whole land of the Havilah where the gold [is],
Genesis 2:13
and the name of the second river [is] Gibon, it [is] that which is surrounding the whole land of Cush;
Exodus 20:11
for six days hath Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that [is] in them, and resteth in the seventh day; therefore hath Jehovah blessed the Sabbath-day, and doth sanctify it.
Exodus 31:17
between Me and the sons of Israel it [is] a sign -- to the age; for six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, and in the seventh day He hath ceased, and is refreshed.'

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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