Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 2
Chapter 1 dealt with the death of King Ahaziah, and how his power passed to his brother, Joram. Chapter 2 deals with how the prophet (holy man) Elijah left this world. It explains how his power passed to Elisha. God had already chosen Elisha to be the principal prophet in Israel after Elijah (1 Kings 19:16).
Nothing else is similar in those two chapters. Ahaziah hated the true God and served false gods. He spent his last days in weakness, too ill to leave his bed. He died as a bitter and angry man.
On the other hand, Elijah left this earth in great power and in a truly splendid manner. In the Bible, only two men – Elijah and Enoch – did not suffer death but rose into heaven (see Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). Perhaps God did this extraordinary thing to show his power over death (Isaiah 25:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). By what he did for these two men, he shows the reality of his promise of heaven to all his people (John 14:2).
On his last day on earth, Elijah showed extraordinary strength. He had come from Gilgal, near Jericho, in the valley of the river Jordan. God had sent him about 15 miles (25 kilometres) to Bethel, in the hills. Then on that last day, Elijah would walk back another 20 miles (35 kilometres) to Jericho and across the river Jordan. It was on the east side of the river that Elijah would rise to heaven.
Next part: Elisha refuses to leave Elijah (2 Kings 2:2)
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