He was also being separated from his mentor and friend.
Moses our Rabbi/Teacher. Interesting.
If Judah really believed that, they would follow Moshe, and not their tradition.
I don't look at it that way. When I read 2 Kings 2 I see Elisha in awe of Elijah's power with the LORD God of Israel. I don't try to fit it into today's culture. I just take it as it is. I remember that it was Moses and Elijah that Jesus brought to the Mount of Transfiguration where the Father spoke from heaven. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
I look in Revelation 11 and see the two witnesses performing the miracles that Moses and Elijah performed. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
So no, I don't think of Elijah the prophet as Elisha's friend and mentor. I think of him more like Elisha did, And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
In light of these, I'm also reminded of Malachi 4 (Jesus quoted Malachi 3 in reference to John the Baptist, not Malachi 4), where both Moses and Elijah are again mentioned. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
I perceive Moses and Elijah sitting on two of the twenty-four thrones mentioned in Revelation, And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.