2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:9

2 Kin. 2:9. Elijah was now about to leave the world, and as parents, when they are leaving the world, are wont to bequeath portions to their children, so Elijah asks Elisha what he shall bequeath to him. Elisha was as it were his child, and calls him father (Verse 2 Kings 2:12). That portion that he desires to inherit from his father is his spirit, and he desires a double portion of it - i.e., a much larger portion than the rest of his children, as it was ordained that the eldest son should inherit a double portion (Deuteronomy 21:17). It was his birthright to have the best share of his father’s estate. Elijah had many other children besides Elisha.

There were many sons of the prophets that were under Elijah’s care and instruction, so that he was as it were a father among them as afterwards Elisha was, as is evident by 2 Kings 4:38. Now what Elisha desires is that he may be distinguished from all the rest of the children by having a double portion of his spirit bequeathed to him. For Elijah’s estate did not consist in silver and gold, but in those gifts of the Spirit which he possessed. So that he was about to give something he might say of as Peter (Acts 3:6). He asked a double portion of this, and to be made the main heir of those blessed spiritual gifts which he had, which was accordingly granted him.

2 Kin. 2:11-13

2 Kings 2:11-13

2 Kin. 2:11-13. Concerning Elijah’s translation. Elijah’s ascension into heaven seems to be a type of the ascension of Christ. Before he ascended, he asked his disciple Elisha what he should give him; so Christ when he ascended gave gifts unto men. When Elijah ascended, his mantle fell from him, which is a type of the righteousness of Christ, as righteousness is often in Scripture represented by a garment. Christ, though he himself went away, yet left his righteousness for his church and people here below.

The efficacy of what he did and suffered, still remained for the justification of sinners here below, though he himself was gone; and the saving fruits and benefits of it were communicated more abundantly after his ascension than before. God exalted him with his own right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins. Elisha received a double portion of his spirit when he ascended; so when Christ ascended, he sent down abundant measures of his Holy Spirit on his disciples and followers. The condition of Elisha’s receiving a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, was his seeing him when he ascended; so it is by faith in the ascended Savior, that we receive the Holy Spirit from him. We can receive no spiritual benefits from him any otherwise than as we see him in his glorious exaltation by an eye of faith.

2 Kin. 5:17