The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Kings 2

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Kings chapter 2 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And it came to pass, when HaShem would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.” — the complete text of all 25 verses is below, free to read online.

1And it came to pass, when HaShem would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2And Elijah said unto Elisha: 'Tarry here, I pray thee; for HaShem hath sent me as far as Beth-el.' And Elisha said: 'As HaShem liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.' So they went down to Beth-el.--

3And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him: 'Knowest thou that HaShem will take away thy master from thy head to-day?' And he said: 'Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.'--

4And Elijah said unto him: 'Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for HaShem hath sent me to Jericho.' And he said: 'As HaShem liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.' So they came to Jericho.--

5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him: 'Knowest thou that HaShem will take away thy master from thy head to-day?' And he answered: 'Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.'--

6And Elijah said unto him: 'Tarry here, I pray thee; for HaShem hath sent me to the Jordan.' And he said: 'As HaShem liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.' And they two went on.

7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off; and they two stood by the Jordan.

8And 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.

9And 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.'

10And 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.'

11And 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 assunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12And Elisha saw it, and he cried: 'My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!' And he saw him no more; and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said: 'Where is HaShem, the G-d of Elijah?' and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.

15And when the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho some way off saw him, they said: 'The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.' And they came to meet him, and bowed down to the ground before him.

16And they said unto him: 'Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master; lest peradventure the spirit of HaShem hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley.' And he said: 'Ye shall not send.'

17And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said: 'Send.' They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

18And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them: 'Did I not say unto you: Go not?'

19And the men of the city said unto Elisha: 'Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth; but the water is bad, and the land miscarrieth.

20And he said: 'Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein.' And they brought it to him.

21And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said: 'Thus saith HaShem: I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or miscarrying.'

22So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him: 'Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead.'

24And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of HaShem. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tore forty and two children of them.

25And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

25 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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