Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks
Through His Servants the Prophets

Volume I: A Kingdom Divided

Lesson 10 Elijah’s Fiery Departure
the Second Book of the Kings 2:1—3:27

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for Thus Says the LORD—Volume I
cross references in Thus Says the LORD—Volume I
next lesson: Elisha Performs Miracles

This material coordinates with Lesson 10 on pages 64–69 in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

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“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, and I showed myself their Master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”—the Book of Jeremiah 31:31–34

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welcome to Volume I of our in-depth study of the biblical prophets
We invite you to check out the sample first lesson and video from Volume I of this Turning to God’s Word two-part Catholic Bible study. Our online pages link to the free related lesson videos, a glossary, and cross references in the biblical text, and include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided contains 28 lessons and has been granted an imprimatur. It may be purchased from our website shop. The companion 23-lesson Volume II: Restoration & Redemption also is available for purchase. If you have a Bible-study question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.

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open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

let’s review—the First Book of the Kings 22:1—the Second Book of the Kings 1:18
In Lesson 9 Ahab Dies in Battle, the ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel is killed while fighting to take back Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians. The southern kingdom had aligned with Israel in this battle, and their ruler, Jehoshaphat, escapes. About 400 of Ahab’s court prophets had predicted a great victory for Israel, but Micaiah, who dissented, is proven to be an authentic prophet sent by the LORD. Jehoshaphat is described as doing right in the sight of the LORD, but the people of Judah continue to worship false gods. Despite the peace between north and south, there’s political upheaval. At the death of Ahab, his son Ahaziah succeeds him as ruler in the north. Ahaziah is described as walking in the way of his father and mother, and of causing God’s people to sin. After a reign of only two years, Ahaziah suffers injuries from a fall and sends to inquire of the Philistine god Baal-Zebub whether he will recover. This angers the LORD, and Elijah foretells that Ahaziah will die. When Ahaziah attempts to have Elijah brought to him by force, Elijah calls down the fire of God to destroy two battalions of 50 soldiers each before the prophet finally agrees to go to Ahaziah. Ahaziah does indeed die and is succeeded on the throne by his brother Joram. (In the Revised Standard Version and some other translations, Joram sometimes is referred to as Jehoram, making it easy to confuse him with the ruler of the southern kingdom who’s also called by both names. In commentaries for this study, Joram refers to the ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel and Jehoram refers to the ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah.).

map notes—Elijah’s approach to the Jordan River
Before Elijah disappears in a whirlwind, he travels first to Gilgal, next to Bethel, and then to Jericho before crossing the Jordan River and being whisked up into heaven. All three cities are located in the northern kingdom of Israel near the border with Judah. The first chapter in the Second Book of the Kings left Elijah in Samaria after prophesying the imminent death of Ahaziah, ruler in the north. The biblical text fails to state what Elijah and Elisha now have been doing in Gilgal, but that city is described in the First and Second Books of Samuel as the site of several significant events connected with the prophet Samuel. A look at the map with this lesson indicates that Elijah goes out of his way to travel from Gilgal to Bethel before backtracking to Jericho, suggesting that the LORD had a reason for sending the prophet to those locations. In each place, sons of the prophets already are aware that Elijah is about to be taken by the LORD. Click on the map (right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 68 in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King looks in more depth at the united kingdom ruled by David.

?  What might be the LORD’s purpose in sending Elijah and Elisha to Bethel and Jericho?
?  How is Gilgal connected to Jericho in the history of the descendants of Jacob? If necessary, refer to the third through sixth chapters in the Book of Joshua.
?  What might be symbolized by Elijah crossing the Jordan River before he’s taken up into heaven?
?  Consider why the biblical text describes Elijah as going up into heaven while the first chapter in the First Book of the Kings describes the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel coming up out of the earth.

crossing from life into death … and back (36:54)
Elijah crossing the Jordan can be seen as evidence of the prophet passing into death. In the video for Lesson 10, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps suggests that perhaps the larger miracle is Elisha passing back across the Jordan River. This appears to symbolize passing into death and coming back, and therefore can be seen as a type of the sacrament of Baptism. This may explain why Elisha had to see Elijah depart in order to receive a double portion of the prophet’s spirit. Elisha then is able to purify stagnant water at Jericho, suggesting the way in which Jesus, through his own baptism, is able to purify the waters of death. Elijah is a type of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, and Elisha is a strong and often unrecognized Old Testament type of Jesus.

The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the ranges for the sets of questions in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. You can follow along with the video as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 10, “Elijah’s Fiery Departure,” on pages 64–69 in the study book.

the sea of glass mingled with fire
An intriguing parallel to the Red Sea and Jordan River is mentioned in the book of Revelation 4:5–6. This New Testament apocalyptic vision of heaven includes a sea of glass that later in the book of Revelation 15:2 is mingled with fire. Christians entering heaven stand on it unharmed. Some Bibles mistakenly translate the original Greek of that passage to suggest those who have conquered the beast are standing around next to the sea of glass instead of on it, providing a classic example of what’s led to the saying “Every translator is a traitor.” The idea of standing on a sea of any kind, and especially one mingled with fire, seems impossible enough that some translators assumed it had to be an error and changed “on the sea of glass” to “beside the sea of glass.” The original “on,” however, is a metaphor for the sacrament of Baptism. Christians go into the waters of death, and then they rise up again to new life in Christ; they don’t stand near the waters. The sea of glass mingled with fire serves as a purification for those entering eternal life in heaven. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness takes an in-depth look at the way that the New Testament apocalyptic view of heaven builds upon Old Testament prophecy.

how Elijah is viewed elsewhere in Scripture
Elijah makes a number of appearances in the Old and the New Testaments. What new information is provided in the following passages that mention Elijah? Learn more about the important role played in salvation history by the prophet Elijah in Lesson 2 And This Is the Testimony of John in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace and Truth.

the Book of Sirach 48:1–11
the Gospel According to John 1:21
the Gospel According to Matthew 17:1–8
the Gospel According to Mark 9:2–8
the Gospel According to Luke 9:28–36

WHAT DO YOU THINK of Elisha’s travels? 
Immediately after Elijah disappears in a whirlwind, Elisha is described hanging out with the sons of the prophets in Jericho. The Second Book of the Kings 2:23–24 then recounts a bizarre incident in which Elisha curses 42 small boys who are destroyed by she-bears. From there Elisha goes to Mount Carmel, then back to the northern kingdom’s capital of Samaria. The next time we encounter Elisha he’s inexplicably near the wilderness of Edom, which is far from his home base in the northern kingdom.

?  What might be the significance of Elisha’s ability to purify the waters at Jericho?
?  What previously happened at Jericho that could explain why the area is uninhabitable? If necessary, refer to the sixth chapter in the Book of Joshua.
?  Consider what might explain why the bizarre account of Elisha cursing the small boys outside of Bethel is included in the Second Book of the Kings.
?  For what purposes did Elijah travel to Mount Carmel?
?  Why might Elisha decide to go to Mount Carmel after cursing the boys?
?  What reason could Elisha have for going to Samaria?
?  Consider why Elisha might not fear Ahab’s son Joram, who’s become ruler in the north?
?  What might Elisha be doing so far from the northern kingdom when the three kings send for him to advise them on their attack of the Moabites?

more torn clothing
The Second Book of the Kings 2:12 records that after Elijah departs from Elisha, Elisha tears his clothing into two pieces. This traditional sign of mourning is reminiscent of the sign in the eleventh chapter in the First Book of the Kings, in which the prophet Ahijah tore his garment into 12 pieces.

?  How might Ahijah’s action be connected with mourning?
?  What evidence is there in the second chapter in the Second Book of the Kings that Elisha knows Elijah won’t be returning in the near future?
?  Why might the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho have a different idea about what has happened to Elijah?

Spirit—you could look it up in our archives
Consider what Elisha is requesting when he asks to be given a double portion of Elijah’s spirit? In Lost in Translation, an online column that can help readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps examines how the idea of “spirit” as understood by the biblical authors may differ from the way present-day Christians think about “spirit.” New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.

?  What might explain the impact that ancient ideas about spirit have had on how Christians view God’s presence?

biblical vocabulary—minstrel
It’s no surprise when, in the third chapter in the Second Book of the Kings, Elisha wants nothing to do with Ahab’s son Joram. (In the Revised Standard Version and some other translations, Joram sometimes is referred to as Jehoram, making it easy to confuse him with the ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah who’s also called by both names. In Turning to God’s Word commentaries for this study, Joram refers to the ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel and Jehoram refers to the ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah.) It’s somewhat unexpected, however, when Elisha agrees to speak to the LORD on behalf of the three kings. He first requests the services of a minstrel, a traveling musician or type of troubadour. It seems odd that a prophet of the caliber of Elisha would require such assistance, but the use of the minstrel suggests a tie to David, renowned for his musical abilities. Consider what might explain why Elisha requires a minstrel in this instance. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King examines the life and times of David as they’re described in the First and Second Books of Samuel.

what’s happening when & where
Click on the timeline for Lesson 10 to expand it. It also appears on page 67 in the study book.

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic Bible study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however.

the Second Book of the Kings 2:9—paragraph 2684

ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open the link and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the Second Book of the Kings 2:1—3:27 (NIV)

close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers, you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on this lesson’s biblical text.

O God, you took the prophet Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind
and left Elisha to serve in his place.
Help us to accept with grace
the changes that you enact in our lives
for the good of all men and women.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus,
who willingly accepted his Passion and death
to bring about the possibility of eternal life
for all men and women. Amen.

Lesson 11 Elisha Performs Miracles—the Second Book of the Kings 4:1—5:27
Lesson 9 Ahab Dies in Battle—the First Book of the Kings 22:1—the Second Book of the Kings 1:18

you also may like our study of the book of Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness, a 23-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines ways in which our traditional Christian view of heaven is built on Hebrew apocalyptic visions recorded in the Old Testament. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary and takes a close look at the role of the prophets in present-day Christianity. Illustrations by Tami Palladino depict the often-misunderstood images in the book of Revelation. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets— Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. Information about beginning this or one of our other Turning to God’s Word Bible studies can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I always are available to answer your Bible-study questions or concerns. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus—but the same books aren’t found in existing Hebrew manuscripts, which aren’t as old as the oldest version of the Septuagint. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Scripture on the online study pages for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided links to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE). The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces those with more accessible English. A handful of significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.