Elisha replied, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (2 Ki. Then Elijah asked Elisha what he could do for him before God took him. The waters parted, and Elijah and Elisha walked across on dry ground. One day, with 50 men from the school of the prophets looking on, Elijah struck the Jordan River with his mantle.
There, through training and guidance, spiritual gifts were transferred from one prophet to another. School locations included Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho. Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side and for many years functioned as his protégé until God took Elijah home to heaven.Įlisha must have spent time in what was called the school (or sons) of the prophets, in which Elijah was a major leader. His action symbolized his acceptance of God’s call on his life. Elisha then killed and roasted a yoke of oxen, using the wooden plows for fuel (vv. Realizing what Elijah had done, Elisha ran after the prophet, asking only that he be allowed to say goodbye to his parents before following him. The prophet simply walked by and cast his mantle over him. 19:16–19).Įlijah found Elisha plowing a field with his oxen.
His ownership of 12 yokes of oxen indicates he was a wealthy farmer (1 Ki. 9:1–10), he was a trusted advisor during the reigns of four Israelite kings: Joram (849–842 BC), Jehu (842–815 BC), Jehoahaz (815–801 BC), and Joash (801–786 BC).Įlisha’s family appears to have been wealthy and Elisha owned property in Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel (6:32).Īlthough different from Elijah in many ways, Elisha still followed in the steps of Elijah’s ministry, performing twice as many miracles and meeting the needs of people in every level of society, from kings to the extremely poor and oppressed.Įlisha’s name means “God ( Eli) is salvation ( sha).” The name fits his mission to call Israel to repentance and to turn it from the sin of idolatry to the worship of the God of Israel.Įlisha was the son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah of the tribe of Issachar. Though at odds with the dynasty of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (2 Ki. He often challenged idolatry and government corruption.Įlisha looked like a more typical Israelite.
Elijah was aloof and lived in the wilderness, wandering throughout the northern kingdom of Israel wearing the garment of a prophet. Whereas Elijah was a loner, Elisha was well received by all levels of Israelite society. Soon after, Elisha replaced Elijah as head of Israel’s prophetic order. Elisha first appeared in biblical history when God commanded Elijah to anoint him as a prophet (1 Ki. Some people confuse them, but they were extremely different men. An overview of the prophet, his manner, and his ministry.Įlijah and Elisha were among Israel’s most important prophets.