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2 Kings 2:9-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Kings 2:9-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
9 (A)When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”[a] 10 He replied, “You have asked something that is not easy. Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” 11 As they walked on still conversing, a fiery chariot and fiery horses came between the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind,(B) 12 and Elisha saw it happen. He cried out, “My father! my father![b] Israel’s chariot and steeds!” Then he saw him no longer.
He gripped his own garment, tore it into two pieces,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2:9 Double portion of your spirit: as the firstborn son inherited a double portion of his father’s property (Dt 21:17), so Elisha asks to inherit from Elijah his spirit of prophecy in the degree befitting his principal disciple. In Nm 11:17–25, God bestows some of the spirit of Moses on others.
- 2:12 My father: a religious title accorded prophetic leaders; cf. 6:21; 8:9; and 13:14, where King Joash of Israel reacts to Elisha’s own impending death with the same words Elisha uses here.
2 Kings 2:9-12
New International Version
2 Kings 2:9-12
New International Version
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double(A) portion of your spirit,”(B) Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire(C) and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven(D) in a whirlwind.(E) 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots(F) and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore(G) it in two.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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