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333 described in detail in II Kings chapter 2. It is clear from the tale that the ascent was not a sudden or unexpected occur- rence, but rather a planned and prearranged operation whose place and time were communicated to Elijah in advance. "And it came to pass when Yahweh was to take up Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal"—the place where Joshua had set up a stone circle to commemorate the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. Elijah sought to leave there his principal disciple and proceed by himself, but Elisha would not hear of it. Reaching Bethel, their students (called "sons of Prophets") assembled there too and said to Elisha: "Knowest thou that Yahweh will, this day, take thy master from above thee?" and Elisha answered, "Yes, I know it too, but keep silent." Still trying to free himself of companions, Elijah then stated his destination to be Jericho, and asked Elisha to stay behind; but Elisha insisted on coming along. Elijah then made it clear that he alone must proceed to the river; but Elisha insisted on coming along. As their students stood at a distance and watched, "Elijah took his mantle and rolled it together and struck the waters, and the waters parted hither and thither, Oe Re sn ES a aan and the two of them crossed over on dry ground." Once they were across—about where the Israelites had come across in the opposite direction when they entered Ca- naan—as the two were walking and talking to each other, and the two were separated. And Elijah went up into heaven in a Whirlwind. And Elisha, seeing this, cried out: "My father! My father! The Chariot of Israel and its Horsemen!" As the biblical detailing of the route shows, Elijah's ascent in a fiery Whirlwind took place near (or at?) the site of Prophets of an Unseen God There appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, And he could see him no more.