Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 2
Elijah had lived in an extraordinary manner; he left this world in an even more extraordinary manner.
When God permitted Ezekiel to see God’s glory (his splendid beauty), Ezekiel saw lights and fire and colours. He also described strange animals and wheels (Ezekiel chapter 1).
The experience of Elisha, who was with Elijah on this wonderful occasion, was in some ways similar. For Elisha, however, this had the form of a great and powerful army with horses and chariots. Usually, a chariot was a simple and fast vehicle. Horses pulled it and it carried soldiers into battle. However, this chariot had the appearance of fire, and so did the horses. All of this happened during a great storm. The wind lifted Elijah from the ground and took him to heaven.
Elisha believed that he had seen Israel’s real army. This was not the army of men with their horses and chariots who fought for Israel’s kings. It was the army of angels, God’s special servants, who fought their battles to defend Israel in the spirit world. Elisha called out to Elijah, whom Elisha considered like a father in his relationship with God (compare 1 Corinthians 4:15). Elisha wanted Elijah to know that, at last, he had seen this great army. At last, therefore, Elisha understood the power that Elijah had.
Elijah had gone from Elisha – but Elisha continued to be aware of that great army, the horses and chariots of fire (6:15-17). Elisha would no longer depend on himself, but on the great army that God commanded. With that power that Elijah had known, Elisha too would serve God as the principal prophet (holy man) in Israel.
Next part: The cloak of Elijah (2 Kings 2:13)
Please use the links at the top of the page to find our other articles in this series. You can download all our articles if you go to the download page for our free 1000+ page course book.
© 2025, Keith Simons.