When Elijah was hiding from Jezebel in the wilderness, hoping to die, the “angel of Yahweh” appeared a second time to him. He gave Elijah food and water, and sent him to Mount Horeb, the “mountain of God,” where the “word of Yahweh” came to him and asked what he was doing. Elijah thought he was the only one is Israel who still worshipped Yahweh. Then Yahweh told him there were many more than Elijah thought.
“[Yahweh said,] I will leave in Israel seven thousand, all of the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and all of the mouths that have not kissed him.” — 1 Kings 19:18 (LEB)
Yahweh then sent Elijah to anoint a protégé, Elisha, to replace him when the time comes. Five chapters later, in 2 Kings 2, that time comes. As they travel to Bethel, sons of prophets come out to tell Elisha that Elijah will be taken by Yahweh that day.
When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up in the storm to heaven, Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for Yahweh has sent me up to Bethel.” Elisha said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will certainly not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and they said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh is going to take your master from you today?” He said, “I also know; be quiet!” — 2 Kings 2:1–3
Elisha already knows what is about to happen and doesn’t want to be reminded of it by others. His closest friend and mentor is about to be taken away. This is not a joyful moment for him. The same thing happens again as they enter Jericho.
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here because Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” And he said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will certainly not leave you!” So, they came to Jericho. 5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came near to Elisha, and they said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh is going to take your master from you today?” He said, “I also know; be quiet!” — 2 Kings 2:4–5
Apparently, besides just being faithful to Yahweh, many of these people were also prophets. Elisha carrying on as Israel’s leading prophet after Yahweh takes Elijah away is not as clear as we think—as we are seeing the story unfolding in hindsight. As they get to the Jordan River, 50 more sons of prophets meet them and are waiting there as the two cross the Jordan miraculously.
Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, because Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” He said, “As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will certainly not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 Then fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water. It divided in two, and the two of them crossed over on dry land. — 2 Kings 2:6–8
As Elijah recognizes he will soon be departing, he asks Elisha what he would like him to do for him. Elisha’s response seems a little odd to us in our Western 21st-century culture.
After they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I may do for you before I am taken away from you.” Then Elisha said, “Please let there come to me a double portion of your spirit.” 10 He said, “What you ask is difficult. If you see me being taken from you, it will be so for you, but if not, it will not happen.” — 2 Kings 2:9–10
It’s not greedy in the sense of asking for twice as much as Elijah planned to give him, or a double helping in the buffet line, or a double scoop on an ice cream cone. In Elisha’s time and culture, the first-born male child inherited a double portion of the father’s property and became the head of the household and tribe. Elisha is asking for the grace necessary to be able to carry on in all of Elijah’s duties and responsibilities as leader of all the remaining prophets when Elijah has gone.
Elijah rightly tells him that that gift isn’t his to give, but that if that’s what Yahweh plans, Elisha will see confirmation of it by seeing Elijah taken away. If he doesn’t see it, that means Yahweh has other plans.
Then they were walking, talking as they went. Suddenly a fiery chariot with horses of fire appeared and separated between the two of them. Elijah went up in the storm to the heavens 12 while Elisha was watching and crying out, “My father, my father; the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” But he could not see him any longer, and he grasped his clothes and tore them in two pieces. — 2 Kings 2:11–12
Elisha witnesses Elijah leaving in a storm (some translations say “whirlwind”), and sees an angelic chariot and horses as well, affirming that the mantle of Israel’s greatest prophet has indeed been passed to Elisha.
And then Elisha tears his clothes.
Tearing one’s clothing was a sign of grief in those days. Despite witnessing his friend and mentor being brought to Heaven by angelic beings, Elisha is sad. This is grief.
With Elijah now gone, there’s a hole in Elisha’s heart that will take time to fill in. When we lose someone we care about, even though we know where they have gone and that they are “in a better place,” we feel the loss and it hurts. Jesus felt the grief of everyone around Lazarus’ tomb following his death, and despite know that he would be raising Lazarus from the dead in a matter of moments, he wept.
Grief is not rational, but it is real. Elisha saw his friend enter into the ultimate reward of God’s glory and began to mourn the loss rather than celebrate Elijah’s new life. No doubt he was happy for Elijah, but the pain of loss was still overwhelming for him.
The crowd recognized that the Holy Spirit had chosen Elisha as Elijah’s successor and bowed before him in recognition of Yahweh’s providence. Elisha had indeed been granted his request and received the “double portion” he had hoped for. He trusted God to lead him through the difficult days ahead. And God did.
Whatever loss we have in our lives will cause grief. Even if we know the outcome is better for the person who has gone, we will miss them. Being sad is not a lack of faith. It’s a part of loving someone and recognizing an emptiness when they are no longer there. Like Elisha, we are comforted by God’s grace, and through it we are able to continue the journey that he has set for us.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin