I pray thee, let... — Literally, And (i.e., well, then) let there fall, I pray thee, a portion of two in thy spirit, unto me.
A double portion. — The expression used in Deuteronomy 21:7 of the share of the firstborn son, who by the Mosaic law inherited two parts of his father’s property.
Elisha asks to be treated as the firstborn among “the sons of the prophets,” and so to receive twice as great a share of “the spirit and power” of his master as any of the rest. “Let me be the firstborn among thy spiritual sons;” “Make me thy true spiritual heir;” not “Give me twice as great a share of the spirit of prophecy as thou possessest thyself,” as many have wrongly interpreted. The phrase, “a mouth of two,” seems to be a metaphor derived from the custom of serving honoured guests with double, and even greater, messes (Genesis 43:34).
Ask what I shall do for thee... from thee. — As a dying father, Elijah might wish to bless his spiritual son ere his departure (Genesis 27:4). (Comp. 2 Kings 2:12 infra, “My father, my father.”)