Moments before a dramatic separation between a spiritual master and his devoted student, a final opportunity arises for a parting request. Recognizing that his departure from the world is imminent [מלבי״ם], Elijah turns to Elisha to offer him one last gift or favor before they are separated [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this transitional moment, the student does not seek material wealth, but rather a profound spiritual inheritance that will shape his future leadership. He asks to receive a double portion of his master's spirit.
The primary approach among commentators is that Elisha is asking for twice the prophetic power and spirit that Elijah possessed [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This raises a natural question: how can a teacher grant someone else more power than he himself possesses? The answer lies in the nature of Elijah's departure. Once he ascends to heaven and sheds the limitations of his physical body, his spiritual capacity will increase infinitely. From this boundless new state, he will be able to bestow upon his student double the spirit he had while living as a mortal human [מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. According to tradition, this request was actually fulfilled, as Elisha went on to perform twice as many miracles of resurrection as his teacher did [רד״ק].
Other scholars view this request through the lens of inheritance laws rather than a literal doubling of power. In this light, Elisha is asking for the status of a spiritual firstborn son, who is legally entitled to inherit a double portion of his father's estate. Elijah leaves behind a spiritual legacy for many disciples, and Elisha is requesting two shares of that legacy, leaving the remaining third to be divided among the rest of the prophets' followers [רד״ק, רלב״ג].
Alternatively, the request for a double portion might mean that Elisha wanted his teacher's spirit to be added to his own, creating a twofold spiritual power consisting of his original spirit combined with Elijah's [מלבי״ם]. It is also possible that Elijah himself possessed a spiritual level that was inherently double that of any normal prophet, and Elisha was simply asking to achieve that exact same unique standing as his master [מלבי״ם].