And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
When the Lord would take up Elijah. A revelation of this event; had been made to the prophet; but, unknown to him, it had also been revealed to his disciples, and to Elisha in particular, who kept constantly beside him.
Gilgal. This Gilgal (Jiljil) was near Ebal and Gerizim: a school of the prophets was established there. At Beth-el there was also a school of the prophets, which Elijah had founded, notwithstanding that place was the headquarters of the calf-worship; and at Jericho there was another. In traveling to these places, which he had done through the impulse of the Spirit (2 Kings 2:2; 2 Kings 2:4-6), Elijah wished to pay a farewell visit to the several institutions, which lay on his way to the place of ascension; and at the same time, from a feeling of humility and modesty to be in solitude, where there would be no eye-witnesses of his glorification. All his efforts, however, to prevail on his attendant to remain behind were fruitless. Elisha knew that the time was at hand, and at every place the sons of the prophets spoke to him of the approaching removal of his master. Their last stage was at the Jordan, in going to which they were followed at a distance by fifty scholars of the prophets, from Jericho, who were desirous, in honour of the great occasion, to witness the miraculous translation of the prophet (cf. 1 Samuel 7:15) 'Jericho,' says Drew. ('Scripture Lands,' p. 99) 'is very seldom mentioned in the history before the captivity, and chiefly in connection with the "schools of the prophets," whose habits and personal discipline were favoured by the wildness of the bordering desert.' The revelation of this striking event to so many was a necessary part of the dispensation; because it was designed to be, under the law, like that of Enoch in the patriarchal age, a visible proof of another state, and a type of the resurrection of Christ.