Elijah's question differs from Elisha's answer. What shall I do for thee! Whereas what Elisha desired, was not what Elijah could do. He had not the gifts of the spirit at his disposal. The departing prophet therefore seems to have referred it to the Lord, and to leave the decision of it in its being known by a sign. The greatest beauty in this passage, as it strikes me is, to notice wherein the servant Elijah differs from his master Jesus. The prophet Elijah desires to know what he should do for Elisha before he left him, conscious that he could do nothing for him after. But our Jesus, as if to teach his people that his departure was that he might enter more especially upon his glorious office of intercessor, bade them ask whatsoever they needed in his name, and promised it should be done for them. Reader! mark this in the memorandums of your heart, for it is a precious view of the Lord Jesus. John 15:16.
Related Commentaries of 2 Kings 2:9
2 Kings 2:9-10
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.