Elijah Gives Way to Elisha: Elijah’s days have been numbered ever since 1 Kings 19:15–18. The end of the war with Baal-worship will not come about, we know from that passage, until Elisha has succeeded his mentor and Hazael and Jehu have appeared on the scene. We are now to hear of the first of these events, as the prophetic mantle passes from Elijah to Elisha. As Elijah has called fire down from heaven in chapter 1, so in chapter 2 he will be lifted in fire up to heaven, and Elisha will be authenticated as one who stands in true succession to him as a prophet of the LORD.

2:1–6  The narrative about the ascension of Elijah is in some ways very puzzling. The first puzzle confronts us in verses 1–6. Why does Elijah, in the course of the journey described here, repeatedly try to leave Elisha b…