The Mantle Falls

Elisha had followed Elijah everywhere that day.

Elijah kept telling him to stay behind. Elisha kept saying he would not leave.

From Gilgal. To Bethel. To Jericho. To the Jordan.

Fifty sons of the prophets watched from a distance.

At the Jordan, Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water.

The water parted.

They crossed on dry ground.

On the other side, Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted before he was taken.

Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit.

Elijah said: You have asked a hard thing. But if you see me when I am taken, it shall be so.

They were still walking and talking.

And behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them.

And Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven.

Elisha saw it.

He cried out: My father, my father. The chariots of Israel and its horsemen.

And he saw him no more.

He tore his own clothes in grief.

Then he picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him.

He went back to the Jordan.

He stood at the edge and struck the water with the mantle.

He said: Where is the LORD God of Elijah?

The water parted.

Exactly as it had with Elijah.

The fifty prophets watching from Jericho saw it.

They came and bowed to the ground before him.

The mantle had been Elijah's. Now it was Elisha's.

Not because Elisha had earned it through cleverness.

Because he had refused to stop following. Even when asked to stay behind.

Even when every opportunity to quit was offered to him.

He stayed.

And the mantle fell.

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