Elisha

Who Elisha is

Elisha is Shaphat's son from Abel-meholah. He leaves his oxen to follow Elijah, later witnesses Elijah's departure and takes up his mantle. The prophetic company recognizes Elijah's spirit resting on him. His stories include the healing of Jericho's water, bears mauling a mocking group after he curses them, oil for a widow in debt, the restoration of the Shunammite's son and Naaman's healing. He refuses Naaman's gift and judges Gehazi's deception. In his final illness, Elisha speaks to Joash king of Israel about victories over Syria. After Elisha dies, a man placed in his tomb revives when he touches the prophet's bones.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 19:16, 1 Kings 19:17, 1 Kings 19:18, 1 Kings 19:19, 1 Kings 19:20, 1 Kings 19:21, 2 Kings 2:9, 2 Kings 2:10, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 2:12, 2 Kings 2:13, 2 Kings 2:14, 2 Kings 2:15, 2 Kings 2:16, 2 Kings 2:17, 2 Kings 2:18, 2 Kings 2:19, 2 Kings 2:20, 2 Kings 2:21, 2 Kings 2:22, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:25, 2 Kings 4:1, 2 Kings 4:2, 2 Kings 4:3, 2 Kings 4:4, 2 Kings 4:5, 2 Kings 4:6, 2 Kings 4:7, 2 Kings 4:32, 2 Kings 4:33, 2 Kings 4:34, 2 Kings 4:35, 2 Kings 4:36, 2 Kings 4:37, 2 Kings 5:10, 2 Kings 5:11, 2 Kings 5:12, 2 Kings 5:13, 2 Kings 5:14, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 5:16, 2 Kings 5:20, 2 Kings 5:21, 2 Kings 5:22, 2 Kings 5:23, 2 Kings 5:24, 2 Kings 5:25, 2 Kings 5:26, 2 Kings 5:27, 2 Kings 13:14, 2 Kings 13:15, 2 Kings 13:16, 2 Kings 13:17, 2 Kings 13:18, 2 Kings 13:19, 2 Kings 13:20, 2 Kings 13:21

Historical setting

Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit is not stated as a promise to perform exactly twice as many miracles. The widow in debt and the married Shunammite woman are distinct, and neither is the widow at Zarephath in Elijah's story. The Shunammite's grief leads Elisha to admit that the Lord has not told him what happened. The bear account says forty-two of the mocking children are torn; it does not describe an armed attack on Elisha or give an explicit death total. Joash at Elisha's deathbed is the king of Israel, distinct from the king of Judah also named in that chapter.

Cited passages: 2 Kings 2:9, 2 Kings 2:10, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 4:1, 2 Kings 4:8, 2 Kings 4:9, 2 Kings 4:10, 2 Kings 4:11, 2 Kings 4:12, 2 Kings 4:13, 2 Kings 4:14, 2 Kings 4:27, 1 Kings 17:9, 1 Kings 17:10, 1 Kings 17:11, 1 Kings 17:12, 2 Kings 13:1, 2 Kings 13:10, 2 Kings 13:14

How the story is told

The mantle and repeated Jordan crossing connect Elisha's work to Elijah's. The Shunammite scene preserves an admission of limited knowledge within the account of restored life. In Naaman's story, a captive Israelite girl and the commander's servants help move him toward the healing he initially resists. Elisha's refusal of payment is followed by judgment on Gehazi's attempt to profit from it. Provision, revival and severe judgment all belong to these accounts.

Cited passages: 2 Kings 2:8, 2 Kings 2:9, 2 Kings 2:10, 2 Kings 2:11, 2 Kings 2:12, 2 Kings 2:13, 2 Kings 2:14, 2 Kings 2:15, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 4:27, 2 Kings 4:28, 2 Kings 4:29, 2 Kings 4:30, 2 Kings 4:31, 2 Kings 4:32, 2 Kings 4:33, 2 Kings 4:34, 2 Kings 4:35, 2 Kings 4:36, 2 Kings 4:37, 2 Kings 5:1, 2 Kings 5:2, 2 Kings 5:3, 2 Kings 5:10, 2 Kings 5:11, 2 Kings 5:12, 2 Kings 5:13, 2 Kings 5:14, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 5:16, 2 Kings 5:20, 2 Kings 5:21, 2 Kings 5:22, 2 Kings 5:23, 2 Kings 5:24, 2 Kings 5:25, 2 Kings 5:26, 2 Kings 5:27

Story moments

1. Elisha follows Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). Elisha feeds the people and leaves to serve Elijah.
2. The Jordan crossed with the mantle (2 Kings 2:14). Elisha uses Elijah's mantle at the Jordan, calling on the Lord God of Elijah.
3. Judgment after mockery (2 Kings 2:24). After Elisha curses the mocking group, two bears tear forty-two of them.
4. The widow's debt addressed (2 Kings 4:7). Elisha tells the widow to sell the oil, pay her debt and live on the remainder.
5. The child opens his eyes (2 Kings 4:35). The Shunammite's son sneezes and opens his eyes after Elisha's prayer and actions.
6. Payment refused (2 Kings 5:16). Elisha refuses the gift Naaman offers after his healing.
7. Limited victories announced (2 Kings 13:19). Elisha connects the king's three strikes with three victories over Syria.
8. Life at the tomb (2 Kings 13:21). A man cast into Elisha's tomb revives on touching his bones.

Key passages

1 Kings 19:16

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

1 Kings 19:17

And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

1 Kings 19:19

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.

2 Kings 2:1

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Kings 2:2

And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.

2 Kings 2:3

And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

King James Version. 53 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Whose words besides Elisha's move these accounts forward, and what do they show about the limits of wealth and rank?

Books Elisha appears in

• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• Luke

Related people

• Jacob
• Judah
• Elijah
• Ahab
• Jeroboam
• Jehu
• Gehazi
• David