Read The Skeptics Annotated Bible Online
Authors: Steve Wells
16 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, For as much as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
(1.16)
“Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub … thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.”
17
So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken.
And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
(1.17)
“So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken.”
18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
(2.7-9) Elijah smacked the the Joradan River with his magic mantle so that he and Elisha could cross on dry land. Then he asked Elisha what he could do for him before he takes off for heaven. Elisha said he’d like to have a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, so he can do fancy tricks too.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
(2.7)
“They two stood by Jordan.”
8 And 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.
(2.8)
“Elijah took his mantle, and … smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.”
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
(2.9)
“Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.”
10 And 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.
(2.11-14) Elijah ascended into heaven in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire. When Elisha saw it, he tore his clothes, and put on Elijah mantle, which Elijah left behind. Then he tried out his new magic tricks by smiting the water with Elijah’s mantle, and by golly, the waters parted just like they did for Elijah!
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
(2.11)
“There appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and … Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
26 Did Elijah ascend into heaven?
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot 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.
(2.12a)
“My father, my father”
108 Is it OK to call anyone “Father”?
(2.12b)
“He took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.”
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
(2.13-14)
“He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan … and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.”
239 When did Elisha receive Elijah’s mantle?
15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
17 And 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.
18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And
he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters
; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
(2.21)
“He went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters.”
Elisha “heals” the waters by adding a pinch of salt.
22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
(2.23-24) God sends two bears to rip up 42 little children for making fun of Elisha’s bald head.
God’s 101st Killing