And it happened,וַיְהִיwhen YHWHבְּ יְהוָהwas about to take upהַעֲלוֹתElijahאֵלִיָּהוּin the whirlwindבַּסְעָרָהto the heavens,הַשָּׁמָיִםthat Elijahוַ אֵלִיָּהוּand Elishaוֶאֱלִישָׁעwere goingיֵּלֶךְfromמִןGilgal.הַגִּלְגָּל
2 Kings 2:1
Study it in the app“And it happened, when YHWH was about to take up Elijah in the whirlwind to the heavens, that Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal.”
With the Hebrew beneath
2 Kings 2:1, word by word
- And it happenedיְהִיyehi
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “yehi” appears- when YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- was about to take upהַעֲלוֹתhaalot
bring up
To make someone go up: "I led you up from Egypt".
Where else “haalot” appears- Elijahאֵלִיָּהוּeliyahu
Elijah
Elijah: a name meaning "my El is YHWH." It is the prophet from Gilead who confronted King Ahab and the worship of Baal (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2); two other Israelites bear the same name (1 Chronicles 8:27; Ezra 10:21).
Where else “eliyahu” appears- in the whirlwindסְעָרָהseara
storm, whirlwind
A whirlwind, a tempest: a very strong wind that swirls and sweeps along.
Where else “seara” appears- to the heavensשָּׁמָיִםshamayim
sky
The high space seen above the earth, where the birds, clouds, sun and stars are.
Where else “shamayim” appears- and Elishaאֱלִישָׁעelisha
Elisha
Elisha: a name meaning "El is salvation." He is the son of Shaphat, of Abel-meholah, whom Elijah called to be prophet in his place (1 Kings 19:16-21; 2 Kings 2–13).
Where else “elisha” appears- were goingיֵּלֶךְyelech
go
To head for a place, to leave where one is in order to reach another.
Where else “yelech” appears- Gilgalגִּלְגָּלgilgal
Gilgal
See it on the mapWhere else “gilgal” appears
Places in this verse
Gilgal ?
Today: disputed; near Jericho, West Bank
A place near Jericho in the Jordan valley; the exact site is not certain.
Israel camped there after crossing the Jordan and set up twelve stones (Josh 4:19-20). Saul was confirmed as king there (1 Sam 11:15).
The context
1 · This verse (above)
2Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for YHWH has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As YHWH lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.