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The Prophet Elisha

The “OnFire Cafe” Book Club series “The Study of Scripture”. Come Study with us as we present our new Series, “The Prophets”. We continue here with our next episode, The Prophet Elisha.

Elisha

Elisha was the son of Shaphat. One day he was plowing in the field and Elijah, who had been commissioned by God to anoint Elisha as a prophet, came by and placed his mantle on Elisha’s shoulders. This signified that Elisha had been chosen to be Elijah’s successor. Elisha asked Elijah if he could go back and say goodbye to his family. Elijah’s answer had me puzzled at first when he replied: “Go back, what have I done to you?” there are many interpretations to this but I believe he realized the responsibility he just placed onto Elisha’s shoulders. Elisha went back and killed a yoke of oxen and burned his plowing equipment and fed the people. He then set out to follow Elijah. What a demonstration of leaving his old life behind to do God’s bidding.

Commissioned by God

1Kings 19:19-21

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Elijah’s Time Nearing An End

As time passed Elisha learned from Elijah. One day they came to the Jordan River. Elijah took his mantle and struck the water. The river parted and they walked across on dry land.   Elijah knew his time with Elisha was nearing an end. He said” Ask what I shall do for thee before I am taken away from thee”. Elisha answered “I pray thee let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” Elijah told Elisha that if he sees Elijah when he departs then it shall be so. 

2 Kings 2:9-10

9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

Elijah’s Whirlwind to Heaven

As they were standing on the bank of the Jordan River a whirlwind came between the two men. And there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire. Elisha was witnessing Elijah being carried away into Heaven. The mantle of Elijah fell to the ground for Elisha. This signified Elisha was the next prophet of God and he had received the double spirit of Elijah.

2 Kings 2:11

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The New Prophet

Elisha returned across the Jordan using the mantle as Elijah had shown him. The people who were there saw this and bowed to Elisha in respect for being Gods prophet.

The men in the city of Jericho were concerned by their water supply. The water they had was not good. Elisha told them to bring him salt in a new cruet, He poured the salt into the water and healed the water.

On his way to Bethel, he was confronted by “little children”. But as it is commonly interpreted, these were actually young wicked men NOT innocent children. They were mocking him, calling him baldy (which was an insult applied to an outcast or leper). Elisha turned and cursed them. The Lord sent two she bears out of the woods and the bears mauled forty two in all. They were insulting God when they were mocking Elisha.

2 Kings 2:23-24

23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

The Miracles of The Prophet Elisha

Elisha went on to do many “miracles”:

Thank you Mr. David Graves “http://storage.cloversites.com” for sharing this chart

Elisha had taken ill and died. This awesome prophet of God died with no fanfare or memorial. He was placed in a public grave, where even after his death God honored him by performing a miracle by raising a dead man back to life.

God Bless You,

Aglow