Elisha struck the water with the cloak, and it divided, just as it had done for Elijah. Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and walked to the Jordan River. Elisha did, indeed, see the chariot of fire and horses of fire that separated the men, and he saw Elijah taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah told Elisha that, if he saw Elijah when he was taken, then the double portion would be Elisha’s. This was not a greedy request but rather one indicating that Elisha wanted to be considered as Elijah’s son. Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elijah permitted Elisha to stay with him, and he asked what he could do for his protégé before he left. He refused to leave Elijah before Elijah was taken into heaven, despite Elijah’s telling Elisha to remain behind. Not only did Elisha leave his former life, he became a servant in his new life (1 Kings 19:21).Įlisha seemed to love Elijah like he would a father. He completely removed himself from his former life-essentially hosting a celebration and leaving himself no option to return to his oxen. Elisha responded to the call immediately. Elisha went back, slaughtered his oxen and burnt his equipment, gave the meat to the people, then followed Elijah as his servant. Elisha asked only to say goodbye to his family and then would return to Elijah. Elijah put his cloak around Elisha-a sign that Elijah’s responsibilities would fall on Elisha, and Elisha left his oxen and ran after the prophet. He also reassured Elijah that there were 7,000 remaining who had not bowed to Baal.Įlijah obeyed God’s word and found Elisha, who was plowing with a pair of oxen at the time. God said, "Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu" (1 Kings 19:17). God told Elijah to go back home, anoint Hazael king of Aram, Jehu king of Israel, and Elisha to succeed him as prophet. There, Elijah confessed that he believed himself to be the only faithful prophet remaining. He was refreshed by an angel and prepared for a forty-day journey to Mount Horeb. After a mighty display of God’s power against the prophets of Baal and a return of the rain after a long drought, Queen Jezebel sought Elijah’s life. The initial call of Elisha is instructive. At that time, Elisha began his ministry, which lasted about 60 years, spanning the reigns of kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash. He was called to follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19, and he spent the next several years as the prophet’s protégé, until Elijah was taken into heaven. Search the Scriptures Live with Dr.Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation," was the successor of Elijah in the office of the prophet in Israel (1 Kings 19:16, 19–21 2 Kings 5:8). Why do you think this parable is included in the lectionary so close to Pascha?ĭownload this lesson or listen to it below:Īnanias, Sapphira and the Holy Spirit Part 2 The parable of the widow who feeds Elijah is one of the Old Testament readings on Holy Saturday morning.John Chrysostom urge us to take away from the parable of the widow who feeds Elijah? How does Elijah come to be in need of food and water? What important lessons does St.John the Baptist similar to the prophet Elijah? Why is Elijah such a “popular” prophet amongst Christians (relative to other Old Testament prophets)? How was St.After the division of the Kingdom of Israel, what were the characteristics of the Northern Kingdom? How was the Southern Kingdom different?. ![]() ![]() ![]() What is the book of Kings about? What literary pattern arises in this book?.What should we take away from the fact that the Church Fathers are divided on the issue of Solomon’s righteousness?.These questions are related to both Solomon and Kings and Elijah (Part 1). With this in mind, the following questions were provided by the Bible study group at St. We’re always looking for ideas to get the most out of Dr.
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