The Story of Elisha in the Bible is a fascinating account of a prophet who was chosen by God to succeed the renowned prophet Elijah. This narrative can be found in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings in the Old Testament.
Elisha’s story begins when he is plowing the fields with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah passes by and throws his mantle, or cloak, over Elisha, an action symbolizing his call to be his successor. Elisha immediately leaves everything behind and follows Elijah, serving him faithfully for many years. Throughout this period, Elisha witnesses various
As a prophet, Elisha was a political activist and revolutionary. He led a “holy war” that extinguished the house of Omri in Jerusalem as well as in Samaria (2 Kings 9–10). Though Elisha recruited Jehu to revolt against and succeed Ahab, it was Elijah who was instructed to anoint Jehu as Israel’s king (1 Kings 19:16).
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 to restore Israel in a time of wicked rulers. Elijah is initially presented in 1 Kings 17 as the seer who foretold a three-year drought in the land of Israel. Israel was then under the rule of corrupt kings, whose sinful behavior prompted God to send the land into a drought. God provides for Elijah in the desert when ravens bring him food despite the drought he foresaw. Elijah then travels to the home of a widow and her son, where God has promised to provide food until the drought has ceased.
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The Story Of Elisha In The Bible
Elisha was a prophet in the Old Testament who succeeded Elijah. He was born in the town of Abel-Meholah, in the northern kingdom of Israel. Elisha was a farmer before he became a prophet. He was plowing his fields when Elijah called him to be his successor. Elisha left his farm and followed Elijah, becoming his servant. Elisha was known for his miracles and his faith in God.
Elisha was a prophet during a time of great turmoil in Israel. The kingdom was divided into two parts, and the people were worshiping false gods. God called Elisha to lead the people in returning to the worship of the one true God. Elisha performed many miracles during his time as a prophet. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed the hungry. Elisha’s miracles were a sign of God’s power and love for His people.
One of Elisha’s most famous miracles was the healing of Naaman. Naaman was a commander in the Syrian army who had leprosy. Naaman’s wife had a servant girl who was from Israel, and she told Naaman that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Naaman went to Israel and met with Elisha. Elisha told Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was angry at first, but he eventually did what Elisha told him to do. When Naaman came out of the water, his skin was healed, and he was cured of his leprosy. Naaman was so grateful that he declared that there was no God in all the world except the God of Israel.
Another famous miracle of Elisha was the feeding of the 100 men. Elisha was with a group of prophets when they came to a place where there was no food. Elisha told his servant to set a small amount of food before the prophets. The servant replied that there was not enough food to feed all of them. Elisha told the servant to set the food before the prophets anyway. The food miraculously multiplied, and there was enough for everyone to eat.
Elisha was also known for his faith in God. When the king of Syria sent an army to capture Elisha, Elisha prayed to God for protection. God sent an army of angels to surround Elisha and protect him from the Syrian army. Elisha’s faith in God was a sign of his devotion to God and his trust in God’s power.
Elisha’s life and ministry were a testament to the power and love of God. Elisha was a man of great faith who performed many miracles during his time as a prophet. His miracles were a sign of God’s power and love for His people. Elisha’s faith in God was a sign of his devotion to God and his trust in God’s power. The story of Elisha is a powerful reminder of the love and grace of God, and it is a symbol of hope for all who seek Him.
What Happened To Elisha In The Bible
The tale proceeds as Elijah confronts the evil king, Ahab, about being the cause of problems for the people of Israel. Elijah dares Ahab to a challenge of his deity, Baal, versus the God of Elijah at Mount Carmel. The challenge is to offer sacrifices to their own deities and see which starts a fire to show their divinity. Ahab’s prophets pray for hours to Baal, but nothing happens. When it is Elijah’s turn, he boldly soaks the sacrament with water to display his supreme 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 by King Ahaziah. A commander in charge of the third squad begged for mercy and received immunity from punishment. Elijah went to Ahaziah and declared the king would die from his sickness, a prophecy that was soon fulfilled.
In 2 Kings 2, Elijah and Elisha traversed the Jordan River on dry land, and Elisha, understanding that Elijah would soon pass away, asked to be blessed with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. A chariot of fire then carried Elijah directly into heaven. Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle and used it to cross 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 to 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 very regarded by those in the “school of prophets” (2 Kings 4:38–41) as well as 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 joint legacy proceeded to help Israel even after their lives. Even the New Testament mentions Elijah’s anticipated return, with John the Baptist serving as the forerunner or the one to announce the arrival of the Messiah.
Facts About Elisha In The Bible
The successor to Elijah, Elisha, served as a prophet and miracle worker during a tumultuous time in Israel’s history. Though he performed many miracles, he remained humble and faithful to God, denying monetary gain as he served the Lord.
Elijah Commissions Elisha
Elisha is first introduced in 1 Kings 19. The Lord appeared to Elijah and told him that Elisha would succeed him as prophet. Elijah then approached Elisha, who was plowing in the field. Elijah threw his cloak on him, and Elisha asked to kiss his mother and father goodbye before coming with him. He burned his plow and used the fire to cook his oxen, leaving his past life behind.
The Departure of Elijah
For a time, Elisha ministered with Elijah. As Elijah approached the end of his life, he did not die, but was taken up in a whirlwind by God. Before Elijah left earth, he asked if there was anything he could do for Elisha. Elisha responded:
“May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” He replied, “You have asked something that is not easy. Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on still conversing, a fiery chariot and fiery horses came between the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha saw it happen. He cried out, “My father! my father Israel’s chariot and steeds!” Then he saw him no longer. — 2 Kings 2:9-12
The Boys and the Bears
Shortly after, Elisha began ministering independently and performing miracles, beginning with the purification of the bad water of Jericho. On his way to Bethel, a crowd of unruly boys came after him, harassing him and mocking his baldness. In a providentially dramatic turn of events, Elisha cursed them, and two bears emerged from the woods, killing 42 of the boys.
The Widow and the Oil
Perhaps one of the most well-known stories about Elisha is that of the widow’s oil. The woman, destitute following the death of her husband, came to Elisha after a creditor threatened to take her children as slaves. Though she had nothing in her house but a jar of oil, Elisha multiplied the oil until it filled all the vessels that she had, and she was able to sell the oil to pay off the debt.
The Shunammite Woman
When Elisha came to Shunem, a prominent woman in the city invited him to dine at her home. They became friends, and whenever he came to the city, he would stay with her and her husband. Desiring to repay them for their kindness, he asked the Lord to bring them a child, for they were barren. They had a son, and he grew up healthy. However, one day when he was in the fields, he complained of a headache and passed away. His mother immediately went to find Elisha, who came and stretched himself on the boy, reviving him.
Healing of Naaman
By now, stories of Elisha’s ability to perform miracles had spread far beyond Israel. When Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram (modern-day Syria), was stricken with leprosy, he sought Elisha in the hope that he could heal him. Elisha told him that he would be healed if he washed in the Jordan seven times, but Naaman was disgusted at the thought of bathing in the Jordan:
“But Naaman went away angry, saying, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand there to call on the name of the Lord his God, and would move his hand over the place, and thus cure the leprous spot. Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?’ With this, he turned about in anger and left.” — 2 Kings 5:11-12
However, his servants were able to convince him to do as Elisha said, and Naaman’s skin became “like that of a little child.” He returned to Elisha to thank him and vowed to serve the Lord. Naaman offered him a reward for performing the miracle, but Elisha refused, much to the disappointment of his servant Gehazi. Gehazi then followed Naaman, saying that Elisha had changed his mind. In a divinely ironic twist, Gehazi was struck with leprosy for his greed.
Final Prophecies and End of Life
When the city of Samaria was under siege, he prophesied about how their sufferings would come to an end. He then traveled to Damascus and foretold that Hazael would become the king of Syria. He also anointed Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, as the next king of Israel.
When Elisha was on his deathbed, Joash, king of Israel came to him, and Elisha used a bow and arrows to prophesy about relations between Israel and Aram. After Joash shot an arrow out the window, Elisha prophesied victory. But when Elisha asked him to take another arrow and beat the ground, he only beat it three times. Elisha thus prophesied that Israel would only beat Aram three times instead of finishing them. Shortly after, Elisha died. Yet, even after he died, God performed a miracle through him:
And so Elisha died and was buried.
At that time of year, bands of Moabites used to raid the land. Once some people were burying a man, when suddenly they saw such a raiding band. So they cast the man into the grave of Elisha, and everyone went off. But when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and got to his feet.. — 2 Kings 13:20-21
What We Can Learn from Elisha
Elisha was a man of strong faith, pursuing God above all else. Because of his devotion to God, he performed more miracles than any other prophet in the Old Testament. When Elijah was about to be taken up into heaven, Elisha had the opportunity to ask Him for anything, and he asked for a double portion of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating his passion for ministry and desire to serve God wholeheartedly. Like Elisha, we should be open to the Holy Spirit, seeking to further the kingdom of God above all else, rather than our own material interests.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Elisha was a prophet in the Old Testament who succeeded Elijah. He was known for his miracles and his faith in God. Elisha’s life and ministry were a testament to the power and love of God. The story of Elisha is a powerful reminder of the love and grace of God, and it is a symbol of hope for all who seek Him.
