ELISHA

The pupil and successor of Elijah, a prophet of Israel during the reign of Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash, B. C. 903-838. He was a native of Abel-meholah, where he was at work ploughing when Elijah called him to become a prophet, 1Ki 19:16. Some years afterwards he witnessed the miraculous ascension of Elijah, divided the Jordan with his mantle, and took his place at the head of the schools of the prophets. During his long ministry he acted an important part in the public affairs of Israel. Many miracles also were wrought at his word; some of these were, healing the waters of Jericho; supplying the widow’s cruse with oil, and the allied armies of Judah, Israel, and Edom with water; gaining a son for the woman of Shunem, and restoring him to life; healing the leprosy of Naaman; detecting and punishing Ghazi. His history is recorded in 2Ki 2:1-9:37 13:14-21. He died lamented by king Joash and the people; and a year afterwards, a corpse deposited in the same sepulchre was at once restored to life.

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Elisha. Elisha
God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-19). His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). This was the only one of the three commands then given to Elijah which he accomplished. On his way from Sinai to Damascus he found Elisha at his native place engaged in the labours of the field, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. He went over to him, threw over his shoulders his rough mantle, and at once adopted him as a son, and invested him with the prophetical office (comp. Luke 9:61, 62). Elisha accepted the call thus given (about four years before the death of Ahab), and for some seven or eight years became the close attendant on Elijah till he was parted from him and taken up into heaven. During all these years we hear nothing of Elisha except in connection with the closing scenes of Elijah’s life. After Elijah, Elisha was accepted as the leader of the sons of the prophets, and became noted in Israel. He possessed, according to his own request, “a double portion” of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9); and for the long period of about sixty years (B.C. 892-832) held the office of “prophet in Israel” (2 Kings 5:8).

After Elijah’s departure, Elisha returned to Jericho, and there healed the spring of water by casting salt into it (2 Kings 2:21). We next find him at Bethel (2:23), where, with the sternness of his master, he cursed the youths who came out and scoffed at him as a prophet of God: “Go up, thou bald head.” The judgment at once took effect, and God terribly visited the dishonour done to his prophet as dishonour done to himself. We next read of his predicting a fall of rain when the army of Jehoram was faint from thirst (2 Kings 3:9-20); of the multiplying of the poor widow’s cruse of oil (4:1-7); the miracle of restoring to life the son of the woman of Shunem (4:18-37); the multiplication of the twenty loaves of new barley into a sufficient supply for an hundred men (4:42-44); of the cure of Naaman the Syrian of his leprosy (5:1-27); of the punishment of Gehazi for his falsehood and his covetousness; of the recovery of the axe lost in the waters of the Jordan (6:1-7); of the miracle at Dothan, half-way on the road between Samaria and Jezreel; of the siege of Samaria by the king of Syria, and of the terrible sufferings of the people in connection with it, and Elisha’s prophecy as to the relief that would come (2 Kings 6:24-7:2).

We then find Elisha at Damascus, to carry out the command given to his master to anoint Hazael king over Syria (2 Kings 8:7-15); thereafter he directs one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel, instead of Ahab. Thus the three commands given to Elijah (9:1-10) were at length carried out.

We do not again read of him till we find him on his death-bed in his own house (2 Kings 13:14-19). Joash, the grandson of Jehu, comes to mourn over his approaching departure, and utters the same words as those of Elisha when Elijah was taken away: “My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.”

Afterwards when a dead body is laid in Elisha’s grave a year after his burial, no sooner does it touch the hallowed remains than the man “revived, and stood up on his feet” (2 Kings 13:20-21).

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Elisha. salvation of God

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ELISHA. → (Successor to the prophet Elijah) → Elijah instructed to anoint 1Ki 19:16 → Called by Elijah 1Ki 19:19 → Ministers unto Elijah 1Ki 19:21 → Witnesses Elijah's transporting, receives a double portion of his spirit 2Ki 2:1-15; 3:11 → Mocked by the young men of Beth-el 2Ki 2:23,24 → Causes the king to restore the property of the hospitable Shunammite woman 2Ki 8:1-6 → Instructs that Jehu be anointed as king of Israel 2Ki 9:1-3 → Life of, sought by Jehoram 2Ki 6:31-33 → Death of 2Ki 13:14-20 → Bones of, restore a dead man to life 2Ki 13:21 → MIRACLES OF
* Divides the Jordan 2Ki 2:14
* Purifies the waters of Jericho by casting salt into the fountain 2Ki 2:19-22
* Increases the oil of the woman whose sons were to be sold for her debt 2Ki 4:1-7
* Raises the son of the Shunammite woman from the dead 2Ki 4:18-37
* Neutralizes the poison of the stew 2Ki 4:38-41
* Increases the bread to feed one-hundred men 2Ki 4:42-44
* Heals Naaman the leper 2Ki 5:1-19; Lu 4:27
* Sends Naaman's leprosy upon Gehazi as a judgment 2Ki 5:26,27
* Recovers the ax that had fallen into a stream by causing it to float 2Ki 6:6
* Reveals the counsel of the king of Syria 2Ki 6:12
* Opens the eyes of his servant to see the hosts of the Lord 2Ki 6:17
* Brings blindness upon the army of Syria 2Ki 6:18

→ PROPHECIES OF
* Foretells

The birth of a son to the Shunammite woman 2Ki 4:16 Bounty to the starving people in Samaria 2Ki 7:1 The death of the unbelieving prince 2Ki 7:2 Seven years of famine in the land of Canaan 2Ki 8:1-3 The death of Ben-hadad, king of Syria 2Ki 8:7-10 Elevation of Hazael to the throne 2Ki 8:11-15 The victory of Jehoash over Syria 2Ki 13:14-19

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successor of the prophet Elijah (1) General References to 1Ki 19:16,19; 2Ki 2:2,12,24; 3:13; 4:2,8,32,38; 5:8 2Ki 6:1; 7:1; 8:1; 9:1; 13:14,21 (2) A "Model Spiritual Leader" A man of great energy 1Ki 19:19 When called, made a complete surrender 1Ki 19:20,21 Sought a spiritual equipment 2Ki 2:9 Spoke with authority, as the oracle of God 2Ki 3:16,17 Put his entire personality into the work 2Ki 4:34,35 Was of incorruptible integrity 2Ki 5:16 Lived in the spirit of victory 2Ki 6:15,16 A man of spiritual vision 2Ki 6:17 Died a victorious death 2Ki 13:14-19 Had a wonderful posthumous influence 2Ki 13:20,21 ---, Miracles of. SEE Miracles, MIRACLES