John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind , etc.] Thereby lifting him up from the earth, and which, as it was the purpose and will of God, Elijah had notice of, as appears by his motions to different places, under a divine direction: that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal , where it seems they met, a place where the Israelites first pitched when they came over Jordan, and where the tabernacle was for some time, and was famous for religious services, (see Joshua 4:19 5:9).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The Lord had let Elijah know that his time was at hand. He therefor went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his las exhortations and blessing. The removal of Elijah was a type and figur of the ascension of Christ, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Elisha had long followed Elijah, and he would not leav him now when he hoped for the parting blessing. Let not those wh follow Christ come short by tiring at last. The waters of Jordan, or old, yielded to the ark; now, to the prophet's mantle, as a token of God's presence. When God will take up his faithful ones to heaven death is the Jordan which they must pass through, and they find a wa through it. The death of Christ has divided those waters, that the ransomed of the Lord may pass over. O death, where is thy sting, the hurt, thy terror!
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 בהעלות5927 יהוה3068 את853 אליהו452 בסערה5591 השׁמים8064 וילך1980 אליהו452 ואלישׁע477 מן4480 הגלגל׃1537
