Elisha

Elisha was a prophet who lived in Israel during the ninth century BC.

Elisha is first mentioned in 1 Kings 19:16 as the son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah. This place might be the modern Tel Abu Sifri, west of the Jordan River, though some scholars think it is east of the river. God instructed the prophet Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor. The story does not say if Elisha was already one of Elijah's followers. When they met, Elisha was plowing a field and did not greet Elijah with the usual respect a disciple shows a teacher.

Elisha used 12 yokes of oxen for farming, which suggested he was wealthy. Usually, one person managed two yoked oxen. When Elijah passed by and placed his cloak on Elisha's shoulder, Elisha understood it as a sign to inherit the prophet's mission. The nation needed a prophet because it was increasingly following Canaanite idolatry, encouraged by King Ahab and his Phoenician wife, Jezebel.

After Elijah symbolically appointed him and walked away, Elisha quickly followed the prophet. He wanted to ask for a short time to tell his parents about his new role before leaving home. The prophet replied, "Go on back...for what have I done to you?”?” (1 Kings 19:20). This response helped Elisha decide immediately. Delaying his new role would likely have been disastrous for Elisha (see Matthew 8:21–22; Luke 9:61–62).

To show his new way of life, Elisha held a big feast for his neighbors, roasting two oxen. This suggests he came from a wealthy family. From then on, he stopped being a farmer. By working with Elijah, he started preparing for his own ministry. There is no record of Elisha being anointed as a prophet, but the transfer of prophetic authority through the cloak made it clear that Elisha was the next official prophet in Israel.

The existence of groups called "sons of the prophets" suggests there might have been doubts about Elisha's authority. This phrase referred to people who inherited prophetic teachings and traditions, though none were major prophets. The prophet Amos even denied any link to these groups, which seemed to have disappeared by the eighth century BC (Amos 7:14). During Elisha's time, the "sons of the prophets" were in Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho, mainly serving local communities. They might have followed Elijah and Elisha's instructions to teach God's law and share divine messages, similar to the time of Saul (see 1 Samuel 10:5, 10).

Just before Elijah was taken to heaven, he and Elisha visited prophetic groups. Elijah tried unsuccessfully to persuade Elisha to stay behind at Gilgal and Bethel (2 Kings 2:1–4). The prophetic group at Bethel might have been warned by God that Elijah would be taken from them. They questioned Elisha about this and confirmed that he also knew about the situation.

After Elijah miraculously parted the waters of the Jordan River, he asked his successor, Elisha, what he could do for him (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha asked for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit, which was the portion of an inheritance usually given to a firstborn son (Deuteronomy 21:17). Elisha's request was granted when he saw Elijah taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. This took effect immediately when Elisha parted the Jordan River's waters and crossed over (2 Kings 2:14).

Recognized for his prophetic authority, Elisha began his ministry in Israel around the end of King Ahab's reign, which was about 853 BC. His work lasted fifty years. Unlike Elijah's intense and dramatic ministry, Elisha's activities were quieter and focused on ordinary people in Israel. He also interacted with the royal court, but he did not have conflicts with Canaanite priests like Elijah did.

Miracles were a key part of Elisha's work. When the people of Jericho said the local spring water was salty, Elisha made it pure (2 Kings 2:19–22). Today, it remains the only major freshwater spring in the area (Tell es-Sultan).

As the prophet traveled to Bethel, a group of young people mocked his baldness (2 Kings 2:23–24). He cursed them in the name of the Lord, and two bears came from the woods and attacked them. This event, which might seem immoral on God's part, actually warned the nation. The youths in Bethel represented a generation of Israelites who had embraced their city's immoral, pagan culture. They rejected both God's prophets and their messages. According to ancient Near Eastern standards, they were not just irreligious but also extremely rude for mocking a bald man instead of respecting his age.

The curses Elisha pronounced "in the name of the LORD" were not his personal reactions. Instead, they were covenant curses (see Deuteronomy 28:15–68) for those who rejected the Sinaitic laws and broke their promises to God (see Exodus 24:3–8). The two bears symbolized Assyria and Babylonia, which would later attack the nation. This small incident was a serious warning of the future for a wicked and disobedient people.

Elisha once gave a message from God to King Jehoram of Israel, who reigned from 853 to 841 BC, even though he was reluctant. King Jehoram had allied with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, who reigned from 872 to 848 BC, and the Edomite ruler to fight Mesha, the king of Moab. The allied forces were deep in Edomite territory when they ran out of water. In despair, they turned to Elisha, the prophet of the Lord. He tells them plainly that he would not agree to be consulted if the request concerned only the godless King Joram, but that he is answering them out of regard for the godly King Jehoshaphat. He instructs them to dig trenches that will fill with water. He also predicts their victory. The miracles of the water and the victory take place the following day (2 Kings 3:1–27).

Elisha was famous for helping those who could not help themselves. One such person was a poor widow who almost had to give her two children to a creditor. Her only asset was a jar of oil. Elisha told her to borrow empty jars from her neighbors and fill them with oil from her own jar. Miraculously, every jar was filled. Elisha then instructed her to sell the oil, pay her debts, and use the remaining money for living expenses (2 Kings 4:1–7).

A similar act of charity was performed for a Shunammite woman. She convinced her husband to provide a room for the prophet to stay when he was in the area. In return for her kindness, Elisha predicted that the woman, who was previously childless, would have a son. About a year later, she had a son (2 Kings 4:8–17). Later, the boy became very ill, possibly with meningitis, and died suddenly. His mother placed his body on Elisha’s bed and hurried to Mount Carmel to find the prophet. Elisha did not know about the situation until the grieving mother told him about her son's death. As an urgent measure, Elisha sent his servant Gehazi to place the prophet’s staff on the child’s face. This did not revive the child, but when Elisha arrived and lay on the body, the boy was healed and returned to his parents (2 Kings 4:18–37).

Another helpful event was the resolution of a potentially dangerous situation. When someone accidentally cooked and served poisonous gourds, Elisha made the mixture safe by adding meal to the cooking pot (2 Kings 4:38–41). A miracle similar to Christ's multiplying of the bread loaves happened when someone brought the prophet several loaves of bread and fresh ears of corn. Elisha told his servant to serve the food to 100 people. After they ate, there was food left over (2 Kings 4:42–44).

Naaman, a Syrian commander, was healed because of a Hebrew maid in his household. She convinced Naaman's wife that Elisha could heal him. The Assyrian king sent Naaman to the Israelite ruler with orders for his healing. Naaman went to Elisha, who told him to wash in the Jordan River. At first, Naaman hesitated, but he eventually obeyed and was cured. Grateful, the Syrian leader recognized the power of Israel's God (2 Kings 5:1–19).

When Syria attacked Israel, Elisha told the Israelite king about the Syrians' movements. The Syrians tried to capture Elisha at Dothan, but God blinded them. Elisha then led them to Samaria, the Israelite capital. Once their sight returned, Elisha advised the Israelite king to spare them, feed them well, and send them home. Because the Israelites responded with kindness, the Syrians did not attack Israel for a while (2 Kings 6:8–23).

Years later, when the Syrian king Ben-hadad besieged Samaria, the famine became so severe that the king threatened to execute Elisha. In response, the prophet promised plenty of food the next day. The Syrians fled their camp for an unknown reason, fulfilling the prophecy (2 Kings 6:24–7:20). In an unusual meeting with the sick king of Syria, Elisha was visited by Hazael, Ben-hadad's servant, who asked about his master's recovery chances. Elisha gave a reassuring reply but also said Hazael would soon succeed Ben-hadad (2 Kings 8:7–13). On another occasion, Elisha sent a prophet to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, as king of Israel to replace Joram, whom Jehu then killed in battle (2 Kings 9:1–28).

Elisha's last interaction with Israelite rulers happened when he was dying. King Joash visited him to mourn his illness. During this visit, Elisha used arrows symbolically to promise Joash victory over the Syrians in battle. However, he also indicated that Joash would not completely destroy them (2 Kings 13:14–19).

The prophet helped the Shunammite woman again after healing her son. He told her to go live as a foreigner somewhere during a seven-year famine in Israel. She went to live in Philistine territory. When she returned, others had taken over her house and property. She asked the king for help to get it back. Elisha's servant Gehazi told the king about her. After speaking with her, the king ordered the return of all her property (2 Kings 8:1–6).

Elisha's last miracle happened after he died. A corpse thrown into his tomb suddenly came back to life (2 Kings 13:21). Jesus mentioned Elisha in connection with the cleansing of Naaman the Syrian. He used this example to show that a prophet is not accepted in his hometown and that, during the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, Israel’s lack of faith led God to send his prophets to Gentiles (Luke 4:24–27).

See also Elijah; History of Israel; Prophecy; Prophet, Prophetess.