Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of II Kings Chapter 2
Metaphysically Interpreting II Kings 2:1-12
2:1And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2:2And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. 2:3And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2:4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 2:5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
2:6And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 2:7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan. 2:8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2:9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 2:10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 2:11And 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. 2:12And 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.
September 11, 1904: II Kings 2:1-11
The fiery Elijah-consciousness becomes more meek and lowly as it learns the pacific character of God, and the temper of the mind is changed from violence to mildness, Elijah to Elisha. This milder character comes into consciousness through certain changes in thought and body, which are symbolically described in this lesson. Gilgal means “rolled away,” and refers to a total denial of sense-bondage. In Joshua 5:9 it is written, “And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal unto this day.” When we have, in the positive spirit of Elijah, accompanied by the obedient willingness of Elisha, rolled away the Egyptian darkness of sense-thoughts, we are paving the way for a permanent ascent into higher states of consciousness.
We often get glimpses of these higher realms, but do not abide there, because our minds have not been freed from the fiery Elijah element. So long as there is condemnation, impatience and even mild anger arising in thought, the cross-currents that burn out the cells of the organism will obtain. Elijah must be taken by the Lord into heaven, which is a state of peace and harmony, then the sweet-tempered Elisha will become the dominant tone of the consciousness.
In harmonious spiritual development there is a union and blending of the states of consciousness on the various planes of action. We need the mildness of Elisha united with the positiveness of Elijah in every part. A negative, weak tenderness is not in harmony with the Divine Law. Hence, Elijah tries Elisha to see if he is made of the right stuff. He says, “Tarry here,” but Elisha replies, “As the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” This is an affirmation of the God-life and the Soul-life united with a positive force and gentle harmony. “They went down to Bethel” means that they descended to a certain centre just below the heart, which is called “the house of God.” It seems material upon first sight. Jacob so thought it, when he lay down there with a stone for a pillow, but he found a ladder reached from there to heaven, and he exclaimed, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” When the union of these two factors take place at an inner life-centre, there is a commotion and an indefinable sense of fear of loss of force. This is the “sons of the prophets,” who are fearful of the result. The word of assurance to this disturbed fearfulness is that of Elisha: “I know it; hold ye your peace.”
Jericho, the “moon city,” is the life-centre in the lower part of the abdomen. Here again the affirmation of spiritual and individual Soul-life is made and the union established. Jordon represents the descending life-flow of thought through the organism from head to feet. It is muddy with sense concepts, and turbulent with materiality. The harmony of spiritual forces, Elijah and Elisha, would be disturbed, if they entered into it, so its waters are put aside by a positive effort of the will, represented by Elijah's mantle. By our thinking we gradually build a thought-aura, which forms an invisible wall, or protection, about the soul and body. This is held in place by the will-centre, and when one has become adept in thought-power, it can be concentrated into a thought-force, and unusual results produced. This concentration is represented by the wrapping together of Elijah's mantle before he smote the waters.
The double portion of Elijah's spirit which Elisha asked for is the positive and negative, or “yes” and “no” of science. Elisha, the tender, retiring one needs the ability to say yes and no with all the positiveness of Elijah. He can have this only by “seeing,” or perceiving, the true character of the change that is taking place in consciousness. Elijah is not taken away, but thrown to a more interior plane. There is in reality opened to the one who goes through this change a conscious unity with spiritual energies of which he has been heretofore ignorant. The chariots and horses represent the vehicles and vital forces that attend the transformation.
– UNITY magazine.
August 1, 1915: II Kings 2:1-11
What is heaven? Heaven is the consciousness of Divine Order, Harmony and Peace.
What do Elijah and Elisha represent in man? They represent states of mind. Elijah is positive spiritual power not yet fully disciplined in the wisdom that brings peace. Elisha is representative of that state of mind reduced to mildness and gentleness.
What does their association typify? The union of the power and love forces in man.
What does Bethel represent and where is its house, or center in the body? Bethel is the place in consciousness where we come in direct unity with Divine Wisdom. Its brain center is back of the heart. Intuition is one of its names.
Where is Jericho? The life center.
What is the Jordan? The life force flowing through the body.
What is the meaning of the taking of Elijah into heaven in the chariot of fire? It represents a change that takes place in consciousness, when the outer positive forces are lifted up to spiritual consciousness. The horses are the vitalities, and the chariot the body itself. These are all transmuted and refined by and through the power of Spirit.
January 5, 1919: II Kings 2:1-11
How does the student of Practical Christianity interpret the Scriptures? The student of Practical Christianity learns that he loses much of the spiritual significance of the Scriptures, if he reads them merely as history. Jesus said “these are they which testify of me.” Back of the letter is the true spiritual message awaiting the earnest seeker for Truth.
What makes possible the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures? The Spirit of Truth makes possible the true spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures.
How does man realize the presence and help of the Spirit? Man realizes the presence and help of the Spirit through faith in and obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Man must acknowledge the Spirit as God in his capacity to impart or teach his Truth to man, his offspring.
What is the significance of this lesson? This lesson signifies changes of consciousness in the individual in his development and regeneration.
What in consciousness does “Elijah” represent? “Elijah” represents the spiritual I Am, the guardian and administrator of the Law.
Why was “Elijah” taken up by a whirlwind into heaven? “Elijah,” the positive or dominant element of the I Am, must be taken by the Lord into heaven, a state of peace and harmony. The fiery or destructive tendency of “Elijah” must be blotted out by the mildness and sweet-tempered obedience of “Elisha.”
What is the meaning of “Gilgal,” and what does it signify in consciousness? “Gilgal” means “rolled away.” It signifies the total denial of sense bondage.
What must follow the denial of sense bondage? The denial of sense bondage must be followed by positive affirmations of Truth, accompanied by obedience and the quiet resolution to go forward in spiritual development. This results in the permanent establishment of higher states of consciousness; man demonstrates more of his inherent powers.
January 5, 1919: II Kings 2:1-11
[Transcriber's Note: This lesson is a duplicate of the lesson of September 11, 1904, except that the word “obtain” in the second paragraph there is replaced here with “do destructive work.”]
The fiery Elijah-consciousness becomes more meek and lowly as it learns the pacific character of God, and the temper of the mind is changed from violence to mildness, Elijah to Elisha. This milder character comes into consciousness through certain changes in thought and body, which are symbolically described in this lesson. Gilgal means “rolled away,” and refers to a total denial of sense-bondage. In Joshua 5:9 it is written, “And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal unto this day.” When we have, in the positive spirit of Elijah, accompanied by the obedient willingness of Elisha, rolled away the Egyptian darkness of sense-thoughts, we are paving the way for a permanent ascent into higher states of consciousness.
We often get glimpses of these higher realms, but do not abide there, because our minds have not been freed from the fiery Elijah element. So long as there is condemnation, impatience and even mild anger arising in thought, the cross-currents that burn out the cells of the organism will [obtain, i.e.] do destructive work. Elijah must be taken by the Lord into heaven, which is a state of peace and harmony, then the sweet-tempered Elisha will become the dominant tone of the consciousness.
In harmonious spiritual development there is a union and blending of the states of consciousness on the various planes of action. We need the mildness of Elisha united with the positiveness of Elijah in every part. A negative, weak tenderness is not in harmony with the Divine Law. Hence, Elijah tries Elisha to see if he is made of the right stuff. He says, “Tarry here,” but Elisha replies, “As the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” This is an affirmation of the God-life and the Soul-life united with a positive force and gentle harmony. “They went down to Bethel” means that they descended to a certain centre just below the heart, which is called “the house of God.” It seems material upon first sight. Jacob so thought it, when he lay down there with a stone for a pillow, but he found a ladder reached from there to heaven, and he exclaimed, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” When the union of these two factors take place at an inner life-centre, there is a commotion and an indefinable sense of fear of loss of force. This is the “sons of the prophets,” who are fearful of the result. The word of assurance to this disturbed fearfulness is that of Elisha: “I know it; hold ye your peace.”
Jericho, the “moon city,” is the life-centre in the lower part of the abdomen. Here again the affirmation of spiritual and individual Soul-life is made and the union established. Jordon represents the descending life-flow of thought through the organism from head to feet. It is muddy with sense concepts, and turbulent with materiality. The harmony of spiritual forces, Elijah and Elisha, would be disturbed, if they entered into it, so its waters are put aside by a positive effort of the will, represented by Elijah's mantle. By our thinking we gradually build a thought-aura, which forms an invisible wall, or protection, about the soul and body. This is held in place by the will-centre, and when one has become adept in thought-power, it can be concentrated into a thought-force, and unusual results produced. This concentration is represented by the wrapping together of Elijah's mantle before he smote the waters.
The double portion of Elijah's spirit which Elisha asked for is the positive and negative, or “yes” and “no” of science. Elisha, the tender, retiring one needs the ability to say yes and no with all the positiveness of Elijah. He can have this only by “seeing,” or perceiving, the true character of the change that is taking place in consciousness. Elijah is not taken away, but thrown to a more interior plane. There is in reality opened to the one who goes through this change a conscious unity with spiritual energies of which he has been heretofore ignorant. The chariots and horses represent the vehicles and vital forces that attend the transformation.
– UNITY magazine.
February 5, 1922: II Kings 2:5-11
What change in consciousness is illustrated in this lesson? The change from fiery impetuosity (Elijah) to quietness, tenderness, peacefulness (Elisha).
Whom do the “sons of the prophets that were at Jericho” represent? “The sons of the prophets that were at Jericho” are the outer feelings in the realm of sense consciousness that a great change in that realm is impending. This feeling causes unrest and fearfulness.
When we pass through this change and have this feeling in the outer, what should be our affirmation? Our affirmation should be: “Peace, be still; only the good is true.”
What is the meaning of Elijah's smiting the waters of the Jordan with his mantle, in order that they might go over on dry ground? The Jordan symbolizes the great stream of race thought which flows through the organism. When we affirm our supremacy over every mortal thought, we “smite the waters of the Jordan;” that is, we throw the whole thought realm into subjection, and we are not weakened by its watery, or negative, elements.
What is the meaning of Elisha's affirmation: “As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee”? This means that the new and more constructive thought ego, Elisha, sees that it must retain the energy and power of the positive I AM, Elijah, when the transition comes.
What is the meaning of the chariot of fire and the horses of fire which parted Elijah and Elisha asunder? The vital energies of soul and body are represented by the horses and the chariot. The horses represent the life energies pervading man's body and all nature, while the chariot is the fixed vehicle of energy, or the body itself.
When Elijah, the fiery enthusiast, realizes that his greatest power is in a quiet, meek, and lowly spiritual harmony, what takes place? The central ego (Elijah) is lifted up in Spirit, and all the vital forces, even the very cells of the body, are quickened in their activity, and new life floods the whole being. In the original Hebrew, the word translated “whirlwind” is “storm-cloud.” The ascent of Elijah was a precursor of the experience that Jesus went through, when at the ascension he was “taken up in a cloud.”
Metaphysically Interpreting II Kings 2:13-18
2:13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 2:14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.
2:15And when the sons of the prophets that 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. 2:16And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. 2:17And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 2:18And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?
Metaphysically Interpreting II Kings 2:19-25
2:19And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is bad, and the land miscarrieth. 2:20And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. 2:21And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or miscarrying. 2:22So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spake. 2:23And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead. 2:24And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them. 2:25And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
February 16, 1919: II Kings 2:12-22
What in consciousness are the “chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof”? The “chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof” are the mental currents and vital powers of Being that are set into action in the consciousness of one who lifts himself up in positive affirmation of Truth.
What does the “mantle of Elijah” represent? The “mantle of Elijah” represents the power of God that becomes an abiding presence in the consciousness after one has declared with understanding and faith his oneness with Spirit.
What in this lesson does the “Jordan” represent? In this lesson the “Jordan” represents the universal race thought that flows through man's subjective mind.
How may one in understanding of spiritual power demonstrate over race-thoughts? Overcoming of the limitations of race thought comes through positive I Am affirmations of the Presence and Power of God in one to accomplish whatsoever is desired.
What should follow positive affirmation of Truth? After affirming Truth, one should rest in quiet assurance that the Word is doing its mighty work.
What is symbolized by the “sons of the prophets” coming to Elisha, and searching for Elijah? “Sons of the prophets” represent the intellectual thought currents which are stirred into action by the Word. They perceive the power, but are not yet working in harmony with it.
What do “Jericho,” the “water,” and the “land” about Jericho represent? “Jericho” represents human consciousness. The “water” symbolizes the issues of life. The “land” is the body.
Explain Elisha's healing the waters. When one is firmly established in his spiritual dominion, all of his thoughts (men of the city) turn to the I Am (Elisha) for purification and healing.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-07-2014
