4. Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to JERICHO."He said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they came to JERICHO.

5. The sons of the prophets who were at JERICHO came near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?"He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."

6. Elijah said to him, "Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan."He said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." Then they both went on.

7. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan.

8. Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground.

9. When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you."Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me."

10. He said, "You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you; but if not, it will not be so."

11. As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12. Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.

13. He also took up Elijah's mantle that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14. He took Elijah's mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is The LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.

15. When the sons of the prophets who were at JERICHO over against him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16. They said to him, "See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. Perhaps The LORD's Spirit has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley."He said, "Don't send them."

17. When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them."Therefore they sent fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn't find him.

18. They came back to him, while he stayed at JERICHO; and he said to them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't go?'"