Rashi on the Former Prophets

In a mighty wind. In a stormy wind.

Please remain here. He [Eliyahu] wished to drive him away because of his humility, so that he [Elisha] would not see him being taken away.

Your master. But [Scripture does] not [state,] “our master.” This teaches [us] that they were equal to Eliyahu.

And [he] rolled it up. He rolled it up in order that it would be easy to strike with it.
And [he] rolled it up. Not exactly rolling, but gathering together, which is called cueilir, in O.F.

You have made a difficult request. It is impossible [for me] to give you more than I possess.
If you will witness my departure from you. Then I will be able to do more and more.
It will be so for you, and if not, it will not be. That I am unable [to do so].

My father, my father! Chariot of Yisroel. My endeared teacher who is better for Yisroel with his prayers than chariots and horsemen.

Where is Adonoy, the God of Eliyahu? That I was promised that a double portion of his spirit would rest upon me.
Then he also struck the water. He too. In the Chapters of Rabbi Eliezer, son of Rabbi Yose Haglili, [it states that] Elisha’s splitting [the Yardein] was twice as great as Eliyahu’s, for in the beginning there was the merit of them both, and now there was his merit alone.

Perhaps the wind of Adonoy carried him up. Is it possible that yesterday they said to him, “Do you know that today Adonoy is taking your master?” and now they did not know where he was? This teaches [us] that since the day when Eliyahu was hidden, the Holy Spirit departed from the prophets, and the Holy Spirit was no longer widespread throughout Yisroel.

Until he was ashamed. He was ashamed [on account] of them, lest they say that he does not want to go to meet his teacher. Because he took over his high position, he does not want him to return. All this I saw in Tosefta of [Maseches] Sotah.

But the water is bad. And because of the water, the land causes people to die, and send them to their graves. If so, what is the meaning of, “the city is a good place to live”? From here [we learn] that a place’s charm is perceived by its inhabitants.

To the source of the water. From where the water flowed.
And threw salt there. Now is not salt a thing that spoils water? This was a miracle within a miracle.

Little boys. Void of mitzvos.
“Go away, baldy!” “Go away from here, for you have made the place bald for us, [i.e.,] for until now we would be hired to bring sweet water from a distance, and we would earn our livelihood thereby.” But when [the water] became sweet, they lost their livelihood. Thus it is explained in [Maseches] Sotah.

And saw them. He saw that neither in them nor in their descendants would there be any sap of good deed.