"[9] The narratives of this chapter recall the past history of Israel, with Elijah as a new Moses, Elisha as his Joshua, Ahab as Pharaoh, and when one son died (Passover), Elijah departs on the far side of Jordan (as Moses does), while Elisha crosses the Jordan back into the west bank ‘to carry on a conquest, significantly starting at Jericho’.

[9] The diagram of the narratives is as follows:[11] Elijah's life was coming to an end with an ascension to heaven, one of the very few breaches of the "wall of death" in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.

Elisha requested and was granted the inheritance of Elijah's 'spirit' (as 'the double portion due the eldest son', verse 9, cf.

2 Kings 1:8), which is also proved to have magical powers (both Elijah and Elisha could divide the river Jordan with it, reminding us of Moses' division of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:21).

Since the start, YHWH is 'named as the subject of this occurrence' with săarah ("storm, whirlwind"; often associated with theophany, such as in Job 38:1) as the agent of Elijah's ascent.

[12] The spring named after Elisha (attributed to the miracle recorded in verses 19–22) can still be seen today at the oasis in Jericho with its fresh and abundant life-giving water.