السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
I told you all that I am not a man, but I do not care what is in Registration form on Forum web site that' why i put the first things which I see. But during conversation i say who I am. If I would lie I would not dsay that I am a women...by the way I said it OPENLY here ion this Forum too.
So, you can say whatever you want. I do not care!
But let's study the Holy Scripture today to know our God:
Brothers,
Let’s talk today about Elijah (النبي إلياسIlyas in Arabic), an Islamic and Christian prophet mentioned in Qur’an. He is a highly regarded prophet.
Who is the prophet Elijah?
Elijah, a prophet of God whose name means, “my God is Jehovah”.
Some miracles performed by the prophet Elijah:
Elijah appears to challenge Ahab, an evil king who ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Elijah prophesies a drought to come upon the whole land as consequence of Ahab’s evil choices. (Warned by God, Elijah hides near the brook of Cherith where he is fed by ravens. As the drought and famine in the land deepen, Elijah meets with a widow and through her obedience to Elijah’s request, God provided food enough for Elijah, the woman and her son. Miraculously, her barrel of flour and jar of oil never ran out (1 Kings 17:8-16). If we walk in fellowship with the LORD and obey Him, we will be open to His will and when we are in God’s will, He fulfills all of our needs and His mercy to us never runs short.
We next see Elijah as the central character in a face off with the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-40).
The prophets of Baal (the false god) called upon their god all day long to rain fire from heaven to no avail. Then Elijah built an altar of stones, dug a ditch around it, put the sacrifice on the top of wood and called for water to be poured over his sacrifice three times. Elijah called upon God and God sent fire down from heaven, burned the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and licked up the water in the ditch.
God of Israel proved He was more powerful than false gods. It was then that Elijah and the people killed all of the false prophets of Baal. We have access to the same power as God’s Word works through us and demonstrates the power of His Spirit in our lives. Elijah is an illustration that it is not the vessel but God in the vessel that demonstrates power.
I Kings 18:36-39
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,
that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel
and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God,
and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice,
and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said,
"The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"
After the great victory over the false prophets and in spite of victory and provisions that the LORD makes for Elijah, he enters a period of wavering faith and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Hearing that Ahab’s wife Jezebel (Ahab was an evil king who ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel), has made a vow to kill him, Elijah feels sorry for himself, hides in a cave, and even comes to believe that he alone was left of the prophets of God. He got his eyes off of God and onto the details. It is then that the LORD instructs Elijah to stand on the mountain as the LORD passed by. There was a great wind, an earthquake, and then fire, but God was not in any of those. Then came a still small voice in which Elijah heard God and understood Him. When Elijah stopped focusing on the fear of what men could do and his feelings of being alone, God’s voice was heard. Elijah hid his face because he knew the Lord was in the gentle whisper. If we are wise, we also will listen for the gentle whispers in our lives, because that is when we are most likely to experience God.
The prophet Elijah was waiting for God:
"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart
and shattered the rocks before the LORD,
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake,
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire,
but the LORD was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face
and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave."
(1 Kings 19:11-13)
Then Elijah has never died and he went on to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1-11).
"As they were walking along and talking together,
suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind."
Read the context below.
But it is not everything what happened with Elijah.
He also resurrected a child:
And he stretched himself upon the child three times,
and cried unto the Lord, and said,
O Lord my God, I pray you, let this child's soul come into him again.
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah;
and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, you son lives. 1 Kings 17:21
So, Elijah defended the worship of God over that of the false god Baal, he raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended into heaven in a whirlwind (either accompanied by a chariot and horses of flame or riding in it).
In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return to earth was also prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord". It will be the day of Jesus' Coming to the earth.
God said:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children
and the hearts of children to their fathers,
lest I come and smite the land with a curse."
Malachi 4:5-6
And really Elijah appears with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus where you can see who is Ibn Allah and how He looks like. Do you remember we discussed it with you? Let me remind you that:
Mark 9:1-13
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
And He (Jesus) said to them (disciples),
“Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.
His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow,
such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here;
and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—
because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
Now as they came down from the mountain,
He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Then He answered and told them,
“Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things.
And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things
and be treated with contempt?
But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished,
as it is written of him.”
I have a question: why do you think Jesus said that the prophet Elijah already came and that John the Baptist was Elijah but was not recognized as such:
God Jesus said:
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 11:11-14
What does it mean brothers? Jesus said that John the Baptist is Elijah who is to come!!!?
Is it one of the Indian religions that people could be reincarnated in human bodies after death?
How one person could be another?
To get an answer to this question we need to KNOW the Holy Scripture.
John the Baptist preached a message of repentance. He called people to REPENT of their evil deeds and TURN their hearts to God. And as a symbol of this repentance he baptized people in water showing them that they need to be CLEANSED of their sins. By rising up from water they were reconciled with God because of their repentance.
John the Baptist predicted the Day of Judgment using imagery similar to that of the prophet Malachi. He also preached that the Messiah- Jesus- was coming. All of this was done in a style that immediately recalled the image of Elijah to his audience. John the Baptist wore a coat of animal hair secured with a leather belt. He also frequently preached in wilderness areas: near the Jordan river.
In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist was asked by a delegation of priests if he was Elijah. To which, he replied "I am not” (John 1:21).
However in Matthew 11:14 and Matthew 17:10-13 we clearly see that John was Elijah but was not recognized as such. Before birth of John the Baptis, an angel appears to Zechariah, John’s the Baptist father, and tells him that John the Baptist “will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,” and that he will go forth “in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:16-17).”
What does it mean?
It means that the Spirit of the Lord was upon the prophet Elijah and the John the Baptist:
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.
Then Elijah said to him,
“Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!”
So the two of them went on.
And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance,
while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water;
and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
And so it was, when they had crossed over,
that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
So he said,
“You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you,
it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked,
that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried out,
“My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!”
So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
Brothers, Elisha became also the prophet of God and he resurrected people!
Nut why? How could he do it too?
Jesus did it too!
Jesus did it by His own divine power because He is God but Elijah and Elisha
by the power of God. Even water of the Jordan river was divided the same way as Moses did it when Israelites passed over their slavery in Egypt led by the Spirit of God.
God id the same today. He is God of our father Ibrahim/Abraham, Moses and Elijah.
But the great and terrible DAY of the Lord’s coming back to earth will come yet.
Elijah met Him-Ibn Allah- with Moses.
But there should be another return of Elijah when he according to the prophecy of the prophet Malachi will RETURN "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord".
But according to this prophecy of the prophet Malachi, Elijah could also RETURN right before the Second Coming of Ibn Allah and he could be one of these two witnesses:
And I will give power to my two witnesses,
and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them,
he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
When they finish their testimony,
the beast (satan) that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them,
overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies
three-and-a-half days,
and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them,
and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them,
“Come up here.”
And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell.
In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed,
and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11:7-14
So, brothers, this prophecy was not fulfilled yet and soon we will see it right before the Second Coming of God. Who could be another person – a witness- who should be killed with this man who probably will be Elijah? Another prophet Enoch (or Moses). Enoch also did not die!!! He could be him.
Brothers, the Son of God of Israel is coming back. Get right with Him. Believe in Him. Repent and confess all your sins to God in a prayer. Surely, God will immediately forgive you and write your names in the Book of Life because His Son died for you and took your sin to make you FREE of your sins during the Coming Judgment Day upon His RETURN to Jerusalem.
God said to our father Ibrahim/Abraham, in Genesis 17:8: “The whole land of Canaan I will be give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you.”
Thus, Jews/Israelites entered the Holy Land with God carrying the Ark of the Covenant (the holy place where was the presence of God) and God gave this Land to them.
The same God is giving you as an everlasting possession the HOLY LAND- the Kingdom of Heaven- prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Just come to Him in your prayer/conversation and TAKE it through your FAITH.
Through FAITH in Him and His Son- Ibn Allah.
ﺍﻟﻤﻠﻮﻙ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ 2
1 وَعِنْدَمَا أَزْمَعَ الرَّبُّ أَنْ يَنْقُلَ إِيلِيَّا فِي الْعَاصِفَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، ذَهَبَ إِيلِيَّا وَأَلِيشَعُ مِنَ الْجِلْجَالِ.
2 فَقَالَ إِيلِيَّا لأَلِيشَعَ: «امْكُثْ هُنَا لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ أَوْفَدَنِي إِلَى بَيْتِ إِيلَ». فَأَجَابَ أَلِيشَعُ: «حَيٌّ هُوَ الرَّبُّ، وَحَيَّةٌ هِيَ نَفْسُكَ إِنِّي لاَ أَتْرُكُكَ». فَانْطَلَقَا مَعاً إِلَى بَيْتِ إِيلَ.
3 فَخَرَجَ بَنُو الأَنْبِيَاءِ الْمُقِيمُونَ فِي بَيْتِ إِيلَ لِلِقَاءِ أَلِيشَعَ وَقَالُوا لَهُ: «هَلْ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الرَّبَّ سَيَأْخُذُ الْيَوْمَ مِنْكَ سَيِّدَكَ إِيلِيَّا؟» فَأَجَابَ: «نَعَمْ، إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ، فَاصْمُتُوا».
4 ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ إِيلِيَّا: «يَاأَلِيشَعُ، امْكُثْ هُنَا لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ أَوْفَدَنِي إِلَى أَرِيحَا». فَأَجَابَهُ: «حَيٌّ هُوَ الرَّبُّ وَحَيَّةٌ هِيَ نَفْسُكَ إِنِّي لاَ أَتْرُكُكَ». فَتَوَجَّهَا نَحْوَ أَرِيحَا.
5 وَعِنْدَمَا بَلَغَاهَا تَقَدَّمَ بَنُو الأَنْبِيَاءِ الْمُقِيمُونَ فِي أَرِيحَا مِنْ أَلِيشَعَ قَائِلِينَ: «أَتَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الرَّبَّ سَيَأْخُذُ الْيَوْمَ مِنْكَ سَيِّدَكَ إِيلِيَّا؟» فَقَالَ: «نَعَمْ، إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ فَاصْمُتُوا».
6 ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ إِيلِيَّا: «امْكُثْ هُنَا لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ أَوْفَدَنِي إِلَى الأُرْدُنِّ». فَأَجَابَ: «حَيٌّ هُوَ الرَّبُّ وَحَيَّةٌ هِيَ نَفْسُكَ إِنِّي لاَ أَتْرُكُكَ». فَانْطَلَقَا مَعاً.
7 وَرَافَقَهُمَا خَمْسُونَ رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي الأَنْبِيَاءِ إِلَى حَيْثُ كَانَا يَقِفَانِ إِلَى جُوَارِ الأُرْدُنِّ. وَتَوَقَّفُوا تُجَاهَهُمَا مِنْ بَعِيدٍ.
8 فَتَنَاوَلَ إِيلِيَّا رِدَاءَهُ وَطَوَاهُ، ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِهِ الْمَاءَ، فَانْفَلَقَ النَّهْرُ إِلَى شَطْرَيْنِ، فَاجْتَازَا فَوْقَ الْيَابِسَةِ.
9 وَلَمَّا عَبَرَا قَالَ إِيلِيَّا لأَلِيشَعَ: «اطْلُبْ مَاذَا أَصْنَعُ لَكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أُوخَذَ مِنْكَ؟» فَأَجَابَ أَلِيشَعُ: «لِيَحِلَّ عَلَيَّ ضِعْفُ مَا لَدَيْكَ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ رُوحِيَّةٍ».
10 فَقَالَ إِيلِيَّا: «لَقَدْ طَلَبْتَ أَمْراً صَعْباً، وَلَكِنْ إِنْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَأَنَا أُوخَذُ مِنْكَ تَنَلْ سُؤْلَكَ، وَإِلاَّ فَلَنْ تَحْصُلَ عَلَى مَا طَلَبْتَ».
11 وَفِيمَا هُمَا يَسِيرَانِ وَيَتَجَاذَبَانِ أَطْرَافَ الْحَدِيثِ، فَصَلَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا مَرْكَبَةٌ مِنْ نَارٍ تَجُرُّهَا خُيُولٌ نَارِيَّةٌ، نَقَلَتْ إِيلِيَّا فِي الْعَاصِفَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ.
12 وَرَأَى أَلِيشَعُ مَا جَرَى فَأَخَذَ يَهْتِفُ: «يَاأَبِي، يَاأَبِي، يَامَرْكَبَاتِ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَفُرْسَانَهَا». وَغَابَ إِيلِيَّا عَنْ عَيْنَيْهِ، فَأَمْسَكَ ثِيَابَهُ وَمَزَّقَهَا قِطْعَتَيْنِ،
13 ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رِدَاءَ إِيلِيَّا الَّذِي سَقَطَ مِنْهُ وَتَوَجَّهَ نَحْوَ ضَفَّةِ نَهْرِ الأُرْدُنِّ،
14 وَضَرَبَ بِهِ الْمَاءَ هَاتِفاً: «أَيْنَ هُوَ الرَّبُّ إِلَهُ إِيلِيَّا؟» ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ الْمَاءَ ثَانِيَةً، فَانْفَلَقَ النَّهْرُ إِلَى شَطْرَيْنِ مُتَقَابِلَيْنِ، فَاجْتَازَ أَلِيشَعُ نَحْوَ الضَّفَّةِ الأُخْرَى.
15 وَلَمَّا شَاهَدَهُ بَنُو الأَنْبِيَاءِ الْمُقِيمُونَ فِي أَرِيحَا قَادِماً نَحْوَهُمْ قَالُوا: «إِنَّ رُوحَ إِيلِيَّا قَدِ اسْتَقَرَّتْ عَلَى أَلِيشَعَ». فَأَقْبَلُوا لِلِقَائِهِ وَانْحَنَوْا أَمَامَهُ.
16 وَقَالُوا لَهُ: «إِنَّ بَيْنَ عَبِيدِكَ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً مِنْ ذَوِي الْبَأْسِ، فَدَعْهُمْ يَذْهَبُونَ لِلْبَحْثِ عَنْ سَيِّدِكَ. لَعَلَّ رُوحَ الرَّبِّ حَمَلَهُ وَطَرَحَهُ عَلَى أَحَدِ الْجِبَالِ أَوْ فِي أَحَدِ الأَوْدِيَةِ». فَأَجَابَ: «لاَ تُرْسِلُوا أَحَداً».
17 فَأَلَحُّوا عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى اعْتَرَاهُ الْخَجَلُ فَأَذْعَنَ لَهُمْ، فَأَوْفَدُوا خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً ظَلُّوا يَبْحَثُونَ عَنْهُ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ طَائِلٍ.
18 وَعِنْدَمَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِ فِي أَرِيحَا قَالَ لَهُمْ: «أَمَا قُلْتُ لَكُمْ لاَ تَبْحَثُوا عَنْهُ؟»
19 وَقَالَ رِجَالُ مَدِينَةِ أَرِيحَا لأَلِيشَعَ: «هُوَذَا الْمَدِينَةُ كَمَا تَرَى ذَاتُ مَوْقِعٍ جَيِّدٍ، أَمَّا الْمِيَاهُ فَرَدِيئَةٌ وَالأَرْضُ مُجْدِبَةٌ».
20 فَقَالَ: «أَحْضِرُوا لِي صَحْناً، وَضَعُوا فِيهِ مِلْحاً». فَأَتَوْا إِلَيْهِ بِمَا طَلَبَ.
21 فَاتَّجَهَ نَحْوَ نَبْعِ الْمَاءِ وَطَرَحَ فِيهِ الْمِلْحَ، وَقَالَ: «هَذَا مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ الرَّبُّ: لَقَدْ أَبْرَأْتُ هَذِهِ الْمِيَاهَ فَلَنْ تُسَبِّبَ الْمَوْتَ أَوِ الْجَدْبَ بَعْدَ الآنَ».
22 فَبَرِئَتِ الْمِيَاهُ إِلَى هَذَا الْيَوْمِ، كَمَا أَنْبَأَ أَلِيشَعُ.
23 ثُمَّ ارْتَحَلَ مِنْ هُنَاكَ إِلَى بَيْتِ إِيلَ، وَفِيمَا هُوَ سَائِرٌ فِي طَرِيقِهِ خَرَجَ بَعْضُ الْفِتْيَانِ الصِّغَارِ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَشَرَعُوا يَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُ قَائِلِينَ: «اصْعَدْ (فِي الْعَاصِفَةِ) يَاأَقْرَعُ!»
24 فَالْتَفَتَ وَرَاءَهُ وَتَفَرَّسَ فِيهِمْ، ثُمَّ دَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ. فَخَرَجَتْ دُبَّتَانِ مِنَ الْغَابَةِ وَالْتَهَمَتَا مِنْهُمُ اثْنَيْنِ وَأَرْبَعِينَ فَتىً.
25 وَانْطَلَقَ مِنْ هُنَاكَ إِلَى جَبَلِ الْكَرْمَلِ وَمِنْهُ رَجَعَ إِلَى السَّامِرَةِ.
2 Kings 2
Elijah Ascends to Heaven
1 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. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.”
And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”
17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
Elisha Performs Miracles
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”
24 So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
25 Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
