Elijah And Elisha Series

Elijah and Elisha

Elijah was the one who clashed with King Ahaz about worshipping Baal, who was eventually proved to be impotent. Elisha was Elijah's successor. He is the one who healed Naaman (captain of the king of Syria's army) of leprosy.

The Bible story of Elijah and Elisha is found in both books of Kings from the Old Testament. They are two of the most notable prophets from scripture, helping restore Israel in a time of wicked rulers. Elijah is initially presented in 1 Kings 17 as the seer (prophet) who foretold of a three-year drought in the land of Israel. At that time, Israel was ruled by corrupted Kings whose evil ways caused the drought from God upon the land. Residing in the desert, Elijah is saved by God when ravens bring him food amidst the drought that he predicted. Elijah then travels to the home of a widow and her son where God had promised to provide food until the drought has ceased.

The tale proceeds as Elijah confronts the evil king, Ahab, about being the cause of problems for the people of Israel. Ahab's prophets pray for hours to Baal, but nothing happens. Elijah dares Ahab to challenge his deity, Baal, versus the God of Elijah at Mount Carmel. The challenge is to offer sacrifices to their deities and see which starts a fire to show their divinity. When it is Elijah's turn, he boldly soaks the sacrifice with water to display his utmost trust in God to start a fire despite being wet.

After Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal, when he called down fire from heaven, the drought ended. Rain fell, and Elijah retreated from the evil Queen Jezebel, who had sworn to kill him (1 Kings 19). Reaching Mount Horeb, Elijah heard the voice of God tell him to anoint two kings as well as Elisha as a prophet. He did this, and Elisha promptly joined him (1 Kings 19:19-21).

In 2 Kings 1, Elijah again called down fire from heaven to slay two groups of 50 men sent from King Ahaziah. The third group of men was led by a commander who pleaded for mercy and was spared retribution. Elijah went to Ahaziah and declared the king would die from his sickness, a prophecy that was soon filled.

In 2 Kings 2, Elijah and Elisha traversed the Jordan River on dry land. Understanding that Elijah would soon pass away, Elisha asked to be blessed with a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Elijah was then carried straight into heaven by a chariot of fire. Elisha picked up Elijah's mantle and crossed the Jordan again on dry land. He received the double portion he had asked for and performed many miracles in Israel. Some of Elisha's miracles were the turning of bad water into clean water (2 Kings 2:19-22), making a widow's oil fill many jars (2 Kings 4:1-7), and even raising a boy from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-37).

Elijah and Elisha were both highly regarded by those in the "school of prophets" (2 Kings 4:38-41) and by the rulers of their country. Their influence led to an awakening among some of the Israelites during a dismal stage of Israel's history. Through the corrupt reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah, God trusted in Elijah and Elisha to lead the charge for righteousness.

Elijah and Elisha's joined legacy proceeded to help Israel even after their lives. Even the New Testament talks of the anticipated return of Elijah, a role answered by John the Baptist, the precursor or the one to proclaim the arrival of the Messiah.

According to the Hebrew Bible, Elisha was a prophet and a wonderworker. His name is commonly translated into English as Elisha via Hebrew, Eliseus via Greek and Latin, Alyssa via Arabic, and Elyasa or Elyssa via Turkish.

Also mentioned in the New Testament and the Quran, Elisha is venerated as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity and Islam and writings of the Bahá'í Faith refer to him by name.

In the biblical narrative he is a disciple and protégé of Elijah, and after Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, he gave Elisha a double portion of his power and he was accepted as the leader of the sons of the prophets. Elisha then went on to perform twice as many miracles as Elijah.

Before he settled in Samaria, Elisha passed some time on Mount Carmel. He became noted in Israel, and for six decades (892–832 BC) held the office of "prophet in Israel". He is called a patriot because of his help to soldiers and kings.

Russian icon of Elisha (18th century, Kizhi Monastery, Russia).

Elisha's story is related in the Books of Kings (Second Scroll, chapters 2-14) in the Hebrew Bible (part of the Nevi'im). According to this story, he was a prophet and a wonderworker of the Kingdom of Israel who was active during the reign of Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash (Joash). Elisha was the son of Shaphat, a wealthy land-owner of Abel-meholah; he became the attendant and disciple of Elijah.