2 Kings 2 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Kings 2 Short Summary:

The second chapter of 2 Kings describes the departure of the prophet Elijah as he was taken to heaven on a chariot of fire. In his place, Elisha took over as the prophet of the Lord. The end of the chapter describes a few events in Elisha’s ministry. On one occasion, he cleansed a spring of water with a bowl of salt, and on another day, God sent two bears to attack of group of boys who were mocking him.

2 Kings 2 Extended Summary

WHEN:

• According to the timeline we are using for this study, the kingdom of Israel and Judah divided in 975 B.C. The period that followed, sometimes called the period of the “Divided Kingdom,” lasted the next few centuries. Israel remained a cohesive nation until 721 B.C. (Assyrian captivity), while Judah lasted until 607 B.C. (Babylonian exile).

• The events of 2 Kings 2 occurred between approximately 900-890 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Elijah – The prophet of God who was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.

• Elisha – The student of Elijah who replaced his master as the prophet of God.

• The Sons of the Prophets – These were men who were students of the prophets. They probably received religious education. Not much is known about them.  

• Two She-bears – These bears attacked a group of boys who mocked Elisha.

WHERE:

• Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan River.

• Elisha travelled from Bethel to Mount Carmel and then to Samaria.

OUTLINE:

• ELIJAH IS TAKEN TO HEAVEN IN A CHARIOT OF FIRE (2:1-14):

  • Elijah was not destined to die like other men, instead God intended to take him up to Heaven in a whirlwind. When the time for Elijah’s departure was approaching, this fact was revealed to the prophets of God.

  • Elijah tried to get Elisha to stay in Gilgal when he went to Bethel, but Elisha refused to leave him.

  • At Bethel, the “sons of the prophets” asked Elisha if he knew God was going to take his teacher, he responded that he did.

  • Again, Elijah tried to get Elisha to stay behind when he traveled to Jericho, but Elisha refused.

  • In Jericho, the “sons of the prophets” asked Elijah the same question. He told them he was aware of Elijah’s imminent departure, and he asked them to keep quiet about it.

  • Again, Elijah tried to leave Elisha at Jericho while he went to the Jordan River, but Elisha refused.

  • At the Jordan, Elijah struck the water with his clock, and it parted, allowing him and Elisha to cross on dry ground.

  • Before leaving the earth, Elijah asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha asked him for a “double portion of his spirit.” Elijah told him he would receive it if God allowed him to see him going up to heaven.

  • Then a chariot of fire with horses of fire separated the two friends, and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.

  • Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, with had fallen off during the chariot ride, he went back to the Jordan, struck the water with it, and crossed again on dry ground.

• A SEARCH PARTY FOR ELIJAH (2:15-18):

  • The sons of the prophets urged Elisha to send out a search party for Elijah, in case God had just relocated him. Elisha resisted but eventually allowed them to do it.

  • The search party found nothing.

• ELISHA CLEANSES WATER WITH A BOWL OF SALT (2:19-21):

  • The men of a city came to Elisha asking him to do something about their water problem. They liked their city, but the water was bad.

  • Elijah threw a bowl of salt into the spring of water and cleansed it in the name of the Lord.

• ATTACK OF THE TWO BEARS (2:22-25):

  • As Elisha was travelling to Bethel, a group of young boys started mocking him, calling him “baldhead.”

  • Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord and two she-bears came out of the woods and “tore” 42 of the boys.

  • From there, Elisha went to Mount Carmel and then to Samaria.

APPLICATION:

• The sons of the prophets show us that even in the most godless cultures, there will always be some who want to serve God.

• The kingdom of Israel had been a moral wreck for years, but there were still a few places where lights could be found in the darkness.

• If you find yourself in a culture, a city, or a nation that has no love for God, remember that there is always a remnant of God’s people.

• Find those people, cling to them, and work with them to help others who come stumbling out of the darkness seeking the light of the Savior.