n I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee: but if not, it
shall not be so."

{134}

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold,
there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted
them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And
Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of
Israel and the horsemen thereof!"

And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent
them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell
from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan. And he took
the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and
said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" and when he also had
smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither: and Elisha
went over.

And when the sons of the prophets which were at Jericho over against
him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha."
And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before
him. And they said to him, "Behold now, there be with thy servants
fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest
perhaps the spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon
some mountain, or into some valley."

And he said, "Ye shall not send."

And when they urged him till he was wearied, he said, "Send." They
sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him
not.

And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said
unto them, "Did I not say unto you, 'Go not'?"

{135}{136}

[Illustration]
THE VILLAGE OF SHUNEM

The little village of Shunem nestled on the slopes of one of the
hills which surround the plain of Esdraelon, the scene of so much
stirring life and so many battles. Looking across the plain one sees
Mount Gilboa, where the great disaster befell the army of Israel
when King Saul and sons went down in the tide of defeat which rolled
over the host. It is supposed that the Philistine army was encamped
at Shunem before the battle. The town was very familiar to Elijah,
who often visited it on his travels
[End illustration]

{137}

_How Elisha Healed the Waters_.

And the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, we pray thee, the
situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is
bad, and the land is unfruitful."

And he said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt therein." And they
bro