2 Kings 2:9

“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, etc.] Had got on the other side Jordan: that Elijah said unto Elisha, ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken from thee; for, having followed him so closely, he now made no more a secret of his assumption, and having had full trial of his attachment to him, and affection for him: and Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me; the two parts of the gifts of the spirit he had, that of prophecy, and that of doing miracles, as some think; or two parts out of three of what Elijah was possessed of; or rather double as much, and which he might desire, not from a spirit of vanity and ambition to be greater than his…”

“Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee--trusting either that it would be in his power to bequeath it, or that God, at his entreaty, would grant it. let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me--This request was not, as is commonly supposed, for the power of working miracles exceeding the magnitude and number of his master's, nor does it mean a higher endowment of the prophetic spirit; for Elisha was neither superior to, nor perhaps equally great with, his predecessor. But the phrase, "a double portion," was applied to the first-born [Deu 21:17], and therefore Elisha's request was, simply, to be heir to the prophetic office and gifts of his master.”

“Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me - Like Solomon, Elisha asks for no worldly advantage, but for spiritual power to discharge his office aright. The “double portion” is that which denotes the proportion of a father’s property which was the right of an eldest son Deuteronomy 21:17. Elisha therefore asked for twice as much of Elijah’s spirit as should be inherited by any other of the “sons of the prophets.” He simply claimed, i. e., to be acknowledged as Elijah’s firstborn spiritual son. return to 'Top of Page'”

“A double portion - Or, rather double to what the rest of the sons of the prophets receive at thy request. He alludes to the double portion of the first - born, Deu 21:17. But though Elisha desired no more, yet God gave him more than he desired or expected; and he seems to have had a greater portion of the gifts of God's Spirit, than even Elijah had. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 2:10”

“2:9-10 A firstborn son, as the primary heir, inherited a double share of his father’s estate (Deut 21:17); Elisha asked that Elijah’s God-given spiritual abilities and privileges might continue to live through him.”

“Ask what: Kg2 13:14-19; Num 27:16-23; Deu 34:9; Ch1 29:18, Ch1 29:19; Psa 72:1, Psa 72:20; Luk 24:45-51; Joh 17:9-13; Act 1:8, Act 8:17, Act 20:25-36 Elisha said: Num 11:17, Num 11:25; Kg1 3:9; Ch2 1:9, Ch2 1:10; Joh 14:12-14, Joh 16:7; Co1 12:31 a double portion: This probably refers to the law respecting the first-born, who had a double portion of the property of his father. As Elisha may have considered himself as the first-born of Elijah, so he requested a double portion of his spiritual influence. Num 27:20; Deu 21:17; Zac 9:12, Zac 12:8; Ti1 5:17 4 Kings (2 Kings) 2:10”

“After crossing the Jordan, Elijah allowed his servant and companion to make one more request before he was taken away, in the full confidence that the Lord would fulfil it in answer to his prayer; and Elisha asked, "Let בּרוּחך פּי־שׁנים, διπλᾶ ἐν πνεύματί σου, i.e., a double portion in (of) thy spirit be granted to me." This request has been misunderstood by many translators, from Ephraem Syrus down to Kster and F. W. Krummacher, who have supposed that Elisha wished to have a double measure of Elijah's spirit ("that thy spirit may be twofold in me:" Luther after the Vulgate, "ut fiat in me duplex spiritus tuus"); and some have taken it as referring to the fact that Elisha performed many…”