The second chapter of 2 Kings offers rich symbolism that can be interpreted through Neville Goddard’s framework of spiritual transformation, imagination, and manifestation. It tells the story of the final moments of the prophet Elijah's ministry and the passing of spiritual authority to Elisha, highlighting profound shifts in consciousness. This chapter includes key moments such as the parting of the Jordan River, the prophetic mantle, the ascension of Elijah, and the mockery from a group of children. Each aspect carries deep meaning for spiritual growth and the evolution of one’s inner awareness.
Elijah and Elisha: The Transition of Consciousness
In Neville Goddard’s interpretation, Elijah represents a state of divine awareness, a heightened consciousness of God as the central force of creation. His name, meaning "My God is Yahweh," reflects the awareness of the infinite creative power that lies within every individual.
On the other hand, Elisha, whose name means “God is salvation,” symbolises the shift towards spiritual awakening. Elisha's role in following Elijah, then stepping into the prophet’s shoes, can be understood as a transition of awareness from one state of consciousness to another. Elisha represents the individual who is ready to embrace and manifest the divine creative power within, shifting from one level of understanding to the next.
The Crossing of the Jordan: A Spiritual Transition
The crossing of the Jordan River is a pivotal moment in the narrative. It symbolises the crossing from one state of consciousness to another—from a state of limitation to a more expanded level of awareness. As Elisha follows Elijah across the river, it marks a rite of passage, a separation between the old and the new. This spiritual transition is something Neville Goddard highlights repeatedly in his teachings: that we must be willing to leave behind the old self to embrace a higher state of consciousness.
The Robes and Mantle: The Passing of Imagination
One of the key symbols in this story is the mantle. When Elijah parts the Jordan River, he uses his mantle (his prophetic cloak). This is symbolic of the imaginative power that allows for manifestation. When Elijah is about to depart, he asks Elisha what he desires, and Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit—signifying a desire for greater creative power and divine understanding.
Elijah’s mantle represents the imaginative power to create. When Elisha receives the mantle, it symbolises the passing of divine authority and the internalisation of the power to create and manifest. The mantle becomes a symbol of creative authority, the same creative authority that each individual can tap into when they align their mind with divine will.
The Ascension of Elijah: The Movement of Divine Consciousness
Elijah’s ascension into heaven in a whirlwind is another profound symbolic moment. In Neville’s framework, the whirlwind represents the movement of divine energy—the breath of God, lifting the conscious mind to a higher state of awareness. Elijah’s departure is symbolic of transcending the limitations of the physical world and ascending into a more spiritual understanding, a realisation of the divine within.
Elijah’s ascension also represents the realisation of God’s omnipotence and the divine potential within every individual. This moment is a reminder that when we attune ourselves to divine consciousness, we too can experience a form of ascension—moving beyond the material realm to a state of pure creative power and spiritual awareness.
The Mocking Children: Resistance and the Unawakened Mind
One of the most intriguing parts of this chapter involves the mocking children who call Elisha a “bald head” as he is leaving Bethel. In Neville Goddard’s interpretation, these children represent the doubts, fears, and resistance that arise when someone steps into a higher state of awareness. Their words are an expression of the old consciousness—the limiting beliefs that mock the idea of spiritual awakening and creative power.
The children perceive Elisha’s baldness and mock him, thinking that he has lost the power of Elijah, the prophet who once carried divine authority. This mockery reflects their misunderstanding that true spiritual power comes not from the external form or appearance of a person but from the inner divine consciousness and imagination within. Elisha, in their eyes, has no power because he no longer carries the outward form of Elijah’s mantle.
In this symbolic act, the children believe that Elisha’s perceived loss of Elijah’s physical presence means that he has lost his connection to divine authority. Their mockery, therefore, is rooted in their failure to understand the deeper spiritual truth: that true power resides within the individual’s own consciousness, not in the external or visible form. This can be likened to how people often doubt their own power to manifest when they fail to recognise the true source of creation within themselves.
Verse 21: The Healing of the Waters with Salt
In verse 21, Elisha performs an act of purification when he heals the water source in Jericho. He takes salt in a new bowl and throws it into the water, declaring, "I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land." This act of purification and healing is deeply symbolic. Salt, often considered a preservative and purifier, represents the transformative power of imagination and thought.
In Neville Goddard’s framework, salt can be seen as a symbol of the preserving and purifying quality of creative imagination. Just as salt purifies and enhances the flavour of food, imagination purifies and enhances our spiritual awareness. The healing of the waters signifies the healing of the subconscious mind, which is often polluted by limiting beliefs, doubts, and fears. The introduction of salt symbolises the transformative act of using imagination to cleanse and reframe the subconscious, allowing the flow of divine creative energy without obstruction.
Moreover, salt preserves the assumption or state of 'I Am'—the state of awareness that defines our creative reality. In Neville Goddard's teachings, the state of 'I Am' is central to manifestation. Salt, as a preservative, represents the power of imagination to maintain a fixed assumption, ensuring that the creative force continues to shape our reality in alignment with our inner beliefs.
This purification is necessary for spiritual growth. Just as salt cleanses the water and removes its barrenness, the power of divine imagination removes the stagnation and negativity in our minds, allowing us to manifest a higher state of consciousness and abundance.
The Bears: The Destruction of Limiting Beliefs
Elisha, in response to the mockery, curses the children, and two she-bears come out of the forest and maul the children. The fact that the bears are specifically described as she-bears is significant. In Neville Goddard’s framework, the she-bears can be seen as symbols of the feminine power of the creative imagination—the nurturing and destructive force that destroys the barriers of old, limiting beliefs.
The act of the she-bears mauling the children is not simply a divine punishment but a symbolic representation of the transformative power of the divine imagination. The children, representing the unawakened mind, mock the shift in consciousness, yet they cannot withstand the force of Elisha’s spiritual authority. The she-bears symbolise how the imaginative power of the mind can break down and destroy the old, limiting thought structures that resist spiritual progress.
Just as the she-bears remove the mockers from the narrative, so too does the imaginative power clear the mind of negative thought patterns and allow for the emergence of higher consciousness.
Conclusion: A Journey of Inner Transformation
The story of 2 Kings 2 offers a powerful symbolic narrative of spiritual transformation. Elijah’s ascension, Elisha’s receipt of the mantle, the healing of the waters with salt, and the mocking children all serve as metaphors for the evolution of consciousness—from the limitations of the old self to the divine potential within. By understanding the deeper meanings of the symbols in this chapter, we can apply them to our own spiritual journey, recognising that the power to manifest lies within our imagination, and that the process of spiritual awakening requires us to shed old beliefs and step into a higher state of awareness.
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