In Second Kings, chapter two, verse nine, the term “double portion” does not necessarily mean twice the spiritual power of Elijah. Instead, it refers to a father-son relationship, where the first-born son received twice the inheritance the other sons received, as in Deuteronomy, twenty-one, verse seventeen. Elisha asked his spiritual father to give him an abundant measure of His prophetic spirit so that he might carry on Elijah’s mission. God granted Elijah’s request, knowing the young prophet, willing to remain faithful to Him in the face of the spiritual, moral, and doctrinal apostasy around him.
Elijah did not wish to have Elisha, who was so closely related to him, as an eye-witness of his translation from the earth, but from his persistent refusal to leave him, he could already see that he would not be able to send him away. He rested the matter with the Lord and made the guidance of God the sign for Elisha whether the Lord would fulfill his request. Moreover, the request itself, even on the part of the petitioner, presupposes a dependence. Elisha could not possibly desire the double measure of Elijah’s spirit bestowed upon him. A dying man cannot leave to his heir more than he has himself. And, lastly, even the ministry of Elisha, compared with that of Elijah, has all the appearance of being subordinate to it. He lives and labors merely as the continuer of the work already begun by Elijah, both outwardly about the worshippers of idols and inwardly about the disciples. Elisha performs the anointing of Jehu and Hazael, with whom Elijah was responsible. Thereby preparing the way for the destruction of Ahab’s house, which Elijah predicted to the king, and he merely receives and fosters those schools of the prophets that Elijah had already founded.