提要
以利亞地上的生命即將結束，但卻非死亡。二十多年來，他熱心的服事上帝，行了許多神蹟，警告以色列人悔改，從拜偶像的路上回轉。上帝透過某種啟示使以利亞曉得他即將離世。以利沙和以利亞先知學校的學生也都知道上帝要把他們的老師接走了。
從以利沙被呼召的那一天起，他就忠心的跟隨以利亞，並決定跟隨到底。以利亞叫以利沙與其他人一起留在後面，要試驗他委身的程度，但以利沙都不為所動，所以他是夠格的繼承人。以利沙叫先知門徒不要張揚，表現出他的謹慎。如果百姓知道有件超自然的事要發生，他們一定會想跟著去看。但這個神蹟是為以利沙一人預備的。先知門徒跟以利亞走了一段短程距離，直到約旦河西岸，然後他們就留在那裡。
以利亞用他的外衣分開約旦河水，使他和以利沙能在乾地上走。從前上帝也曾為以色列民使約旦河水分開，讓他們可以過去得應許之地。現在以利亞離開了應許之地，要去得一份更美好的產業。
在師徒分別之前，以利沙要求感動以利亞的靈加倍的感動他。以利沙並不是想比以利亞更偉大，而是這樣他才能做以利亞合法的繼承人，繼續他說預言的工作。雙倍的產業是長子的合法繼承權（申21：17）。以利沙的要求也顯示他熱切的希望被上帝使用、在靈性上成長。所有的信徒都應渴望自己的生命被上帝的靈大大觸摸，好使他們在主裡剛強，像以利亞一樣、作護衛上帝榮耀的戰士。
以利亞的回答暗示，以利沙是否能得到加倍的靈端賴上帝是否讓以利沙看見以利亞被接升天。這不是人能給的，唯獨上帝能賜。當他們二人在曠野邊走邊談，突然有火車火馬出現，將以利亞和以利沙分開，如此，上帝才能在旋風中將以利亞接升天。用代表上帝軍隊的火車火馬來接以利亞再適合不過，因為以利亞曾求上帝使火從天而降。他自己也像一支軍隊、堅定的維護對上帝的真敬拜。
以利沙親眼目睹以利亞升天的奇觀，並且接收了他的外衣，這意味著以利沙是以利亞的繼承人。有三個記號確認以利沙的新職分：約旦河水為他分開，正如為以利亞分開一樣（2：14）；他改變了耶利哥的苦水（2：21~22）；他對叛逆「童子」的咒詛應驗了（2：24）。最後一個故事常易被人誤解。他們不是小孩子，而是一群從伯特利來的粗暴、不敬虔的青少年。伯特利是耶羅波安設立的偶像中心，那裡似乎也有一所先知學校，可能是為了與拜偶像之風對抗。所以這些年輕人是生長在一個充滿屬靈爭戰和宗教對立氣氛的城市。他們看見以利沙身穿以利亞的衣服，一定也聽說了以利亞升天的事。以利亞長髮披肩，而以利沙卻童山濯濯，所以那些年輕人就不斷的嘲笑他──很可能帶著不信的心──「上去吧，禿頭的！」這不只是對以利沙個人的污辱，以利沙看出他們對上帝的不敬，就咒詛他們。作為一個先知，以利沙可能預見如果這些年輕人活在地上，他們會加諸上帝之名更多的污辱。因此，他們的死對以色列國還更有益。
在使耶利哥的水變甜的神蹟裡，我們看到上帝的憐憫和仁慈。從象徵的角度來看，這個神蹟顯示，透過上帝的大能，敗壞到極點的人也能被改變，流露出甜美的生命──只要他們順服上帝。不過，在年輕人之死的事件裡，我們看到上帝在悖逆之人身上所行的公義審判。
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Overview
Elijah's earthly life was coming to a close, but not to death. For more than twenty years he zealously ministered with many miracles and warned Israel to repent and turn away from idolatry. Through some kind of divine revelation, Elijah was made aware of his soon departure. Elisha was also aware of it, as were the sons of the prophets, those whom Elijah probably taught at the school of the prophets (cf. 1 Samuel 19:20).
From the time of Elisha's calling (1 Kings 19:19-21), he had remained Elijah's faithful follower and was determined to follow him until the end. Three times Elijah tested Elisha's commitment by telling him to stay behind with the others, but Elisha could not be dissuaded. He would therefore be a worthy successor. Elisha showed discretion by telling the sons of the prophets to remain silent (2:3, 5). If the populace found out that something supernatural was going to take place, they would no doubt have wanted to follow Elijah, but this miracle was to be witnessed by Elisha alone. The sons of the prophets followed Elijah for a short distance until the west bank of the Jordan River, where they remained.
With his mantle, Elijah parted the river so he and Elisha could cross on dry ground. Once before God had parted this same river for the children of Israel as they crossed over to take possession of the Promised Land. Now Elijah was leaving the land of his inheritance to go on to an even greater inheritance.
Before they parted, Elisha requested that Elijah give him a double portion of his spirit. This was not so that he might be greater than Elijah, but so that he might be his legitimate successor to carry on his prophetic work. The double portion was the right of inheritance for the eldest son (Deuteronomy 21:17). Elisha's request also revealed his earnest desire to be used of God and to grow spiritually. All believers should desire the touch of God's spirit mightily upon their lives that they may be strong in the Lord, like Elijah: a mighty army for His glory.
Elijah's answer seems to imply that receiving the double portion of his spirit depended upon whether or not God would allow Elisha to see him as he departed. This was something man could not give, but God alone. As they continued walking and talking together in the wilderness, the chariot and horses of fire suddenly appeared to separate Elijah from Elisha, that God might take Elijah up in the whirlwind. The coming of the fiery chariot and horses, which likely represent the defence and army of the Lord, is fitting, since Elijah had been known for calling down the divine fire. He also had been like an army, standing as a strong defence for the sake of the true worship of the Lord (2:12; compare 13:14).
Elisha did see Elijah's grand departure and received his mantle, indicating that he was Elijah's successor. Three signs confirmed Elisha's new and greater calling: the river that parted for him just as it had for Elijah (2:14); the bitter water of Jericho that he transformed (2:21-22); and the fulfillment of the curse upon the rebellious youths (2:24). This latter story is often misunderstood. They were not little children but a group of irreligious unruly teenagers from Bethel, where Jeroboam had established a centre for idolatry. It seems a school of the prophets was also located there, probably in order to combat idolatry. These youths therefore had been raised in a city of much spiritual conflict and religious rivalry. They saw Elisah wearing Elijah's mantle and must have heard of Elijah's ascension. Whereas Elijah was hairy, Elisha was bald, so they mocked him repeatedly, probably in disbelief: "Go up, you baldhead!" (2:23). It was more than a personal insult to Elisha; he saw their disrespect for God and pronounced a curse upon them. As a prophet, Elisha probably foresaw that if they lived they would bring more mockery upon the name of the Lord. Thus their death would be a service to the nation.
In the miracle of the water becoming sweet, we see the mercy and kindness of God. Symbolically, we see that through God the rottenness of people can be transformed by His power into something sweet, if they will be obedient to Him. In the death of the youths, however, we see the justice of God upon the rebellious.
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