Understanding the Anointingwanted to be sure that Elisha was made of the right stuff before
this anointing came on him. Elisha replied, "As the Lord liveth...
I will not leave thee."
Finally Elisha arrived at the place where he could get what
he wanted. Elijah said, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be
taken away from thee." And Elisha responded, "I pray thee, let
A DOUBLE PORTION OF THY SPIRIT BE UPON ME" (v. 9).
What he meant was he wanted a double portion of that
anointing of God to stand in the office of prophet. God anoints
men and women to stand in certain offices. And some can be
more anointed than others.
Elijah said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, i f
thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto
thee... ." (v. 10).
2 KINGS 2:11-13
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that,
behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and
parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind
into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the
chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him
[Elijah] no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent
them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and
went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan.
Elisha stayed right with Elijah and was with him when he
was taken. Notice that before Elisha took up Elijah's mantle, he
took off his own clothes and tore them in half. Then he picked
up that mantle and put it on, for that mantle covered a person's
whole being.
Reading on through the Old Testament, you'll find that
usually the mantle they wore was really the skin of an animal.
Over in the New Testament it speaks about John the Baptist and
his dress. It says that John the Baptist was hairy. That doesn't
mean he was physically so; it means he wore one of these coats
of skin.