Samson asked God to give him strength for this, once more; and then he bowed himself with all his might, clasping the pillars in his arms, and the house fell, and he, and all the three thousand Philistines, were buried beneath the ruins. What a difference there was between Manoah's godly wife, and Samson's heathen! [Illustration] V. THE CHARIOT OF FIRE BUT now the time had come when the Lord was going to take Elijah up to Heaven in a whirlwind. So Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal, and as they journeyed, he said to him: "Stay here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel." But Elisha would not allow him to go alone, so they went to Bethel together. When they reached Bethel, the sons of the prophets who lived there came out to meet Elisha, and they said to him: "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you to-day?" And Elisha said: "I know it; but hold your peace." And so it went on till they reached Jericho, and here again the sons of the prophets came to Elisha with their question: "Do you know that the Lord will take your master from your head to-day?" And again Elisha sorrowfully answered: "Yes, I know it; hold ye your peace." Then Elijah said to him: "Stay here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan." But Elisha gave the same answer to him as he had given before, that he would not on any account leave him. So they went on together. The sons of the prophets evidently knew that something very wonderful was going to happen, and as they saw the two men going towards Jordan, fifty of them gathered together and stood to view from afar. So they came to the river Jordan, and Elijah wrapped his mantle together and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and they two passed over on dry ground. Then Elijah said to Elisha: "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken away from thee." And Elisha said: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me!" Elijah answered him that was a great thing he had asked, but if Elisha saw him when he was taken away, then he would know that his request was granted. And as they were talking, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and they were parted from each other; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried: "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." And he took Elijah's mantle that fell from him, and smote the waters of Jordan again, and they were divided before him, and he passed over. Then the sons of the prophets begged to be allowed to go to search for Elijah, or to find his body, but Elisha was unwilling, and begged them not to go, for he knew it would be useless. But fifty of them went out and searched for three whole days, but did not find him. [Illustration: Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.] How could they, when he was gone up to heaven in a chariot of fire?