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.
Thou hast asked a hard thing - an extraordinary blessing, which I cannot, and God only can, give. Nevertheless Elijah, doubtless by the secret directions of the Spirit, proposed a sign, the observation of which would keep Elisha in the attitude of an anxious waiter, as well as suppliant, for the favour.