After years of faithful service and many dangerous adventures, the time had come for Elijah, old and worn out, to be called home to his eternal reward. You may recall that after Elijah's collapse into depression and the "still, small voice" on Mt. Horeb, God had appointed Elisha as Elijah's companion and successor.

It's remarkable that after Elijah had declared that he was the only prophet of the Lord left in Israel, the text now speaks of whole companies of prophets in Israel who had gathered in schools that were like seminaries and who considered Elijah and Elisha to be their heads. What a change within a few years!

With fifty of these prophets as witnesses (from a distance), Elijah and Elisha arrive at the Jordan River. Recalling how Moses had come to the Red Sea, stretched out his hand, and parted the waters, Elijah strikes the water with his rolled-up cloak, dividing it in two so the two prophets can proceed on dry ground. This action is a sign that Elijah, like Moses before him, is blessed with power from God.

After they've crossed the Jordan, Elijah asks Elisha what he desires as a parting gift. The "double portion" of power Elisha requests isn't a matter of greed but is what is expected in an inheritance to an eldest son (Deut. 21:17). Elijah promises that Elisha will receive this double portion if he witnesses the ascension that will take place.

A short time later, a chariot of fire drawn by horses separates the two prophets, and Elijah ascends to heaven in a whirlwind. Seeing this happen, Elisha tears his clothes in grief, crying out, "My father, my father!" Then he pronounces a final blessing on Elijah, calling him "the chariots and horsemen of Israel." This is his way of acknowledging that Elijah is the true power in Israel, far greater than all of the military power the king can muster.

When Elisha goes back to the Jordan, he strikes it twice with the cloak of Elijah, calling on Elijah's God, and the river parts once again. This shows the waiting prophets that Elisha is now Elijah's official successor, and they bow before their new leader. Still, not believing that Elijah has disappeared, they go back over the river to find his body. When that fails, Elisha says, in effect, "I told you so."

This story reverberates into the New Testament. When Jesus ascends a mountain and is transfigured in glory, two Old Testament figures appear with him, Moses and Elijah. It's interesting that both of these men were outstanding prophets of God who disappeared from the earth under mysterious circumstances (see Deut. 34 for the story of Moses' passing). The expectation of Jews in Jesus' day for the return of Elijah (Matthew 17:10-12) may have had something to do with the unique way in which he had passed into heaven.

This story has been echoed in Christian spirituality in other ways too. The American slaves were obviously relating to it when they referred to death as "going over Jordan" and sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."