Old Testament History: 2 Kings Chapter 2

This article delves into the narrative of 2 Kings Chapter 2 in the Old Testament, specifically focusing on the ascension of Elijah into heaven and the ministry of Prophet Elisha. It explores the historical and canonical context of the passage, as well as the genre and rhetorical criticism. The article provides a scene-by-scene analysis of the narrative and reflects on its significance and personal relevance.

Running Head: Old Testament History
Old Testament History on 2 King Chapter 2
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Author’s Note

1OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Introduction
The exegetical paper is reflected from the scripture of the Old Testament and the chosen
book is 2 Kings and Chapter 21. The narrative is about is the desire of God to change the people
of the nation in spiritual leadership. The gospel speaks about the ascension of Elijah into heaven
and about the ministry of Prophet Elisha. It is mentioned in the word of God that it was beyond
the reach of people to find Elijah when he went to preach the word of God. In the following
paper the references of the indication in difference between the study of the Bible has be
provided. The historical context will refer to different events that took place in the Israel’s
history where the two events are specified. The scripture in the Old Testament is in a form of
narrative in nature where conversations took place between different people. The scene analysis
is stated according to the Biblical reference from different verse2. The analysis of the scene is
described according to the events that took place with Elijah and Elisha.
Text criticism
 The condition of the text is related to the story of Elijah and the assumption to heaven
and the second place of a different situation of healing the water till the parable of Elisha
turned out to be rude with some of the boys.
1 Irwin, Brian P. "The Curious Incident of the Boys and the Bears: 2 Kings 2 and the Prophetic Authority of Elisha."
(2016).
2 Press, Michael D. "‘Where Are the Gods of Hamath?’(2 Kings 18.34//Isaiah 36.19): The Use of Foreign Deities in
the Rabshakeh's Speech." Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 40, no. 2 (2015): 201-223.

2OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
 A majority of the text is found in the Hebrew tradition that is primarily the late
manuscript but the late are published in the late manuscripts.
 In the period of old Greek the version the version is made very clear about the relatively
early date that can be derived from the material distinct from the majority of the text.
Historical Context
The chapters from the Gospel of 2 Kings explains on the journey of Elijah which is the
pivotal role in the chapter. It is often said that after Moses it is Elijah who is the greatest prophet.
It is seen that Elijah was very obedient to God and his commandments but was not concerned
with the purpose of glorifying the Earth3. That is together with the Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges
and book of 1 and 2 Samuel that belongs from the historical books which was written in the year
550 B.C during the Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people4. In both of the books of Kings the
history is related to the ancient Israel and the regions of Judah from the time of David’s death
and the release of Jehoiachin from the time of imprisonment for a period of 400 years.
3 Barnes, William. 1-2 Kings. Vol. 4. Tyndale House, 2014.
4 Shaw, Catriona, Rishi Pruthi, David Pitcher, and Damian Fogarty. "UK Renal Registry 15th Annual Report:
Chapter 2 UK RRT prevalence in 2011: national and centre-specific analyses." Nephron Clinical Practice 123, no.
Suppl. 1 (2013): 29-54.

3OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Canonical Context
The context that can be drawn from 2 Kings chapter 2 is the incident of Elijah’s
ascension into heaven and the preaching of Elisha. It all goes according to the word of God that
has been planned for them. Nothing in this universe can change the law of God that he had
proclaimed through different messengers. The narrative is about the message of God that
changes an individual in spiritual ways. The place where Elijah crossed and left for the promise
land where it happened according to God’s timing and he made the statement that many people
like to espouse5. On the other hand, Elisha was evolving as a new spiritual leader and returned to
promise land. It was possible to view that the leader can change the way is is to be lead through
the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. In 2 Kings the holy mantle was passed from Elijah to Elisha.
The continuation of the prophet was not working and the people where sinking deeper into the
sins. As a result the time line that Elijah had set had to change due to the situation and as a
consideration God also providing timing. The transfiguration of Lord was created on an
alternative basis that has the line of moving Elijah to Jesus.
Genre
The Bible history from the Old Testament is a theology of studies that is revolving
around the scriptures which the Yahweh had revealed to the prophets. The scripture is delivered
in a narrative format because the relationship of Elijah and its ascension in heaven is explained in
a narrative form. Here God has revealed through the prophet that the whirlwind. Apparently this
was in the sense of common knowledge that Elijah and Elisha and the sons of the respected
5. Arnold, Bill T., and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament (Encountering Biblical Studies): A
Christian Survey. Baker Academic, 2015

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prophet knew the fact that the ascension into heaven was guaranteed. In case of the narration
format that included the conversation between two people. It is convey in the form of telling
someone6. The Bible is read by the people and as a result the narration explains the story where
the prophet has explained.
Rhetorical Criticism
The structure of the passage is in the form of narration. There is communication
between the prophets and people of Israel. The sections that are highlighted on rhetorical
criticism are specified are according to 2 Kings 2:6- Then Elijah said to him, “Stay
here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you
live, I will not leave you7.” So the two of them walked on”. In the above mentioned quote the
king that s related to is King of Aram as he was the soldier of one of the traitorbut they tell that it
must be them that the prophet Elisha. It was the king of Aram who use to send track down to
Elisha.
It is commonly featured in the old testament that the curse of the prophet in the name of
the heavenly Father of the Old Testament in prophetic literature. The curse are used to warn the
people who are in the wilderness with the hope to return to Yahweh. It is formally categorized in
6 Bury, John Bagnell. History of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. 2: From the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of
Justinian. Courier Corporation, 2013.
7 Sharma, Janak Raj, Rangan K. Guha, and Puneet Gupta. "Improved King’s methods with optimal order of
convergence based on rational approximations." Applied Mathematics Letters 26, no. 4 (2013): 473-480.

5OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
two places of the Bible that are in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. The fact is related to the
invasion of foreign enemy and its exile from the land. In the above narration it is explained that
Elijah had decided to go up to heaven and he tells that his future is with the successor and
disciple where Elisha is sending him to a place called Bethel and Elisha at the same time insisted
to come in his company.
Scene-by-scene analysis (for narratives) or Verse-by-verse analysis
In 2 Kings 4-7 the prophet is aware of Elijah’s departure at Jericho and the Jordan. 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 8!” So they came to Jericho.
Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him,”. In the above
quotation Elijah was tested continuously on the devotion of Elisha and Elisha maintained to
anticipate the unusual departure. Elisha would not leave his mentor until God took him away in
the dramatic way promised.
In 2 Kings Chapter 2:1-8 the story is about the Elijah being taken up to heaven.
According to Yahweh as stated in the scripture in 2 Kings 2:1-4 The company of the prophets at
Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master
8 Press, Michael D. "‘Where Are the Gods of Hamath?’(2 Kings 18.34//Isaiah 36.19): The Use of Foreign Deities in
the Rabshakeh's Speech." Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 40, no. 2 (2015): 201-223.

6OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
from you today? “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay
here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” Explains that Elisha had followed Elijah and long
followed Elijah and did not leave him when he hoped for the parting blessing. God will take up
the faithful ones to heaven.
In 2 Kings 2:9-12 quotes that Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The
chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his
garment and tore it in two 9.” It explains the fullness of the prophet and the apostles that the
supply still exist as the old and we are told that they are large suppliers. It was stated by prophet
Jerimiah that Elijah is carried to heaven in a fiery chariot. Lastly Elijah had to leave the holy
mantle of Elisha with a token of descent upon the spirit and on him.
In 2Kings 2: 14-15 “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 over10.” This particular section explains the
theology of Elisha who knew the power in prophetic ministry and did not rest in the mantel or
fiery chariot. It works in the presence of the holy Yahweh and works in Living Word. Elijah was
with Elisha and witnessed the same power and direction of the ministry.
9 Willmington, Harold. "An Analytical and Alliterated Outline of Luke 1, 2 and Matthew 1, 2." (2017).
10 Tetreau, Jeremy. "Jesus, Elisha, and Moses: A Study in Typology." (2018).

7OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
History of interpretation
From the prospect of New Testament in Luke 10: 38-42 with the reference of Mary and
Martha it is read that Mary was with Jesus throughout and Martha was busy at the household
work. It is evident from the Gospel that the faith of Mary was strong and it witnessed in the
scripture itself11. Martha was worried about all the things that had to done right in the house but
the Lord called out for her and asked her to be with them and listen to the Word of God. Mary
has chosen what is better and had dedicated herself to listen to the word of God, keeping aside all
the household work. Hence it showed how strong was the Mary’s faith of Jesus.
Reflection
It was God’s decision to bring Elijah up to heaven in a whirlpool, informing the future
successor and disciple Elisha that he is being sent to Bethel when Elisha insists on joining them.
On the path they meet companies of prophets who predict that Elijah is going to be taken by
God. The whole notion that is displayed here is indicative of God’s will and power. With the
company of the fifty prophets as Elijah approaches Jordan, he parts the river with his staff and
passes over to the other side. Elisha asks Elijah to share his spirit to which Elijah replies that it is
tough but if Elisha can see him going up to heaven, can receive a double share of the spirit. Like
Elisha followed Elijah till the end of his journey and was later bestowed with the spirit of Elijah.
This is reflective of how we subliminally try to strive to attain something that we want and in the
process we are ready to travel and move to different places in order to achieve that goal. Its
11 Beavis, Mary Ann. "Mary of Bethany and the Hermeneutics of Remembrance." The Catholic Biblical
Quarterly 75, no. 4 (2013): 739-755.

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rather Elisha’s journey at the end that I can personally relate and reflect with. . This section
highlights personally that we all strive to achieve something from a superior power and in that
aspect we tend to follow certain specific paths.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the parable of Elijah forms one of the significant aspects of the book where
the ascension to heaven is given a status not of miracle and awe but of rather a lopsided storyline
where the change in spirit does not equate to a change in personality. As depicted in the last part
of the chapter, Elisha, now bestowed with the spirit and power of Elijah can summon curses and
purify ‘bad waters’. This indicates that the powers of God and of the spirit are not equally
testable in all hands but are rather indicative of the personality types that wield them.

9OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Reference
Irwin, Brian P. "The Curious Incident of the Boys and the Bears: 2 Kings 2 and the Prophetic
Authority of Elisha." (2016).
Shaw, Catriona, Rishi Pruthi, David Pitcher, and Damian Fogarty. "UK Renal Registry 15th
Annual Report: Chapter 2 UK RRT prevalence in 2011: national and centre-specific
analyses." Nephron Clinical Practice 123, no. Suppl. 1 (2013): 29-54.
Arnold, Bill T., and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament (Encountering Biblical
Studies): A Christian Survey. Baker Academic, 2015.
Bury, John Bagnell. History of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. 2: From the Death of Theodosius I
to the Death of Justinian. Courier Corporation, 2013.
Sharma, Janak Raj, Rangan K. Guha, and Puneet Gupta. "Improved King’s methods with
optimal order of convergence based on rational approximations." Applied Mathematics
Letters 26, no. 4 (2013): 473-480.
Willmington, Harold. "An Analytical and Alliterated Outline of Luke 1, 2 and Matthew 1, 2."
(2017).
Tetreau, Jeremy. "Jesus, Elisha, and Moses: A Study in Typology." (2018).
Beavis, Mary Ann. "Mary of Bethany and the Hermeneutics of Remembrance." The Catholic
Biblical Quarterly 75, no. 4 (2013): 739-755.

10OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Barnes, William. 1-2 Kings. Vol. 4. Tyndale House, 2014.
Press, Michael D. "‘Where Are the Gods of Hamath?’(2 Kings 18.34//Isaiah 36.19): The Use of
Foreign Deities in the Rabshakeh's Speech." Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 40, no. 2
(2015): 201-223.
Press, Michael D. "‘Where Are the Gods of Hamath?’(2 Kings 18.34//Isaiah 36.19): The Use of
Foreign Deities in the Rabshakeh's Speech." Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 40, no. 2
(2015): 201-223.