Heaven for Elijah? : A Study of Structure, Style, and Symbolism in 2 Kings 2:1-18

How it is possible that the story about Elisha's succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is now remembered as the story about Elijah's ascent? The inter textual answer is provided by the contrast between the number of references about the human heavenly ascension in the Hebrew Bible, and the popularity of this theme in the Ancient Near East. However, in this dissertation we focus on the more direct intra textual approach. We analyze the construction of the narrative in order to discern the features of style, structure, and symbolism which emphasize Elijah's ascent, rather than Elisha's succession. As a result, we can identify the proto-symbol of the narrative (Gilgal) which is interpreted by three elements (whirlwind, chariotry, and rolled mantle) referring to Elijah's ascent. "How it is possible that the story about Elisha’s succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is now remembered as the story about Elijah’s ascent? The intertextual answer is provided by the contrast between the number of references about the human heavenly ascension in the Hebrew Bible, and the popularity of this theme in the Ancient Near East. However, in this dissertation we focus on the more direct intratextual approach. We analyze the construction of the narrative in order to discern the features of style, structure, and symbolism which emphasize Elijah’s ascent, rather than Elisha’s succession. As a result, we can identify the proto-symbol of the narrative (Gilgal) which is interpreted by three elements (whirlwind, chariotry, and rolled mantle) referring to Elijah’s ascent." --Provided by publisher This book explores the problem: How it is possible that the story about Elisha's succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is remembered as the story about Elijah's ascent? The approach of the author (intratextual) questions the construction of the narrative in order to identify the features of style, structure, and symbolism.