So bad was the character, both of the israelites and their princes, as represented in the foregoing chapter, that one would have expected god should have cast off a people that had so cast him off. Amongst the prophets elijah, elisha and isaiah ought to be mentioned especially. Elisha the son of shaphatmost probably he belonged to a family distinguished for piety, and for their opposition to the prevailing calfworship. The lives of elijah and elisha, as well as the corrupt lives of the kings, serve as important lessons for us today. God repeatedly sent prophets to the people who tried to bring them back to the lord. The translation of elijah was a miracle of god and portrayed the biblical truth and hope of the translation of the saints. Elisha felt very ashamed of himself and was only too happy and grateful to go with elijah. In this regard, elijah was a type of john the baptist, and elisha, a type of christ.
To tell this story, were going to look at two scriptures. Why must elijah return before the end times malachi 4. Discover a summary of elijahs story, full scripture text, and related articles. The ministry of elisha the prophet was different from that of elijah in some regards. The adult teacher guide provides the complete lesson text for each session including teacher preparation, teaching visuals needed, lesson objectives, headers througout the lesson pages for quick memory assists, a key verse visual, plus numerous teaching tips. The stories of the prophet elijah and his protege elisha are found at the end of first kings and.
Elijah prepared the way for elisha, who had a double portion of elijahs spirit and did many more miracles. Elisha s promise that the shunammite woman would have a son echoed gods promise to abraham and sarah. Biblical literature biblical literature the significance of elisha. Elijah and elisha were two of the greatest prophets in the old testament. After all, a wise author once said, write the book you want to read.
Elisha was the prophet of grace and 16 miracles are reported. Elisha asked elijah to let a double portion of elijahs spirit be upon him. Commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible unabridged. Elijahs work was to reveal the true god to israel in a time of growing national crisis. Elijah the prophet known in hebrew as eliyahu hanavi is perhaps the most beloved prophet in the bible. He becomes a disciple of elijah after he is seen plowing and elijah places his mantle on him 1 kings 19. Elijah and elisha and other prophets went to jericho and then to the jordan river nearby. Now that elijah was taken to heaven, elisha inquired, 1. Elisha took it up, not as a sacred relic to be worshipped, but as a significant garment to be worn. Elijah removed his mantle and smote the river with it, so that the water divided, and he and elisha crossed on dry ground 2 kings 2. The stories of elijah and his successor, elisha, are of a different literary genre from the historical accounts of the political developments of the 9th century.
Elijah proclaimed that yahweh was the one true god, and he called the people to repent of their worship of false gods, their abandonment of the covenant and their sinning against the commandments. Elijah then threw his cloak over elisha who gladly became his attendant. By i gordon introduction this is the start of a new series on the life of elisha. Sefer elijah or the book of elijah was first published in an anthology of midrashic texts in salonika in 1743. Elisha took it up, not as a sacred relic to be worshipped, but as a significant garment to. The story and miracles of elijah and elisha audio bible esv duration. Their lives included many extraordinary events, such as the contest between elijah and the prophets of baal at mount carmel. Elisha, however, stayed as a visitor in the homes where he went.
Elisha was a prophet of god and by doing this these young men were denying the work of god, denying the word of god and gods actions. Similar to the life of jesus, elijah performs marveling acts to demonstrate the validity of god to the people of israel. The time came when elijahs mission had come to an end and the prophetic office would be. Elijah was rough shod and hairy and thundered his denunciation of kings.
Elisha remained with elijah until he had learned from him to be a real student of the torah and a g. God had promised elijah that elisha would continue his work 1 kings 19. The bible story of elijah and elisha is found in both books of kings. And elijah said unto elisha, tarry here, i pray thee. Elishas ministry lasted about twice as long as elijahs 14 and prematurely terminated to almost 50 years.
But elisha said, as surely as the lord lives and as you live, i will not leave you. Elijah is first introduced in 1 kings 17 as the prophet who predicted a threeyear drought in the land. If you want to be part of changing that, here are some commentary recommendations. He dressed like the people of his day and generally succored the people. The book of kings almost teases readers about the succession from elijah to elisha. This was certainly the case with elijah and elisha and their prophetic community in 2 kings 2. Though neither of them wrote a book, the accounts of their lives and service for the lord tell us much about gods holiness, justice, love. See, i will send you the prophet elijah before that great and dreadful day of the lord comes. Elijahs activity spanned the reigns of ahab reigned c.
The third in this series of lifegiving miracles was when elisha overcame death in the pot during a famine. Todays portion marks the conclusion of elijahs career, the point at. His lifetime is chronicled in kings i and king iiincluding the miracles he performed, the inspiration he caused, and his dramatic ascent to heaven according to tradition, elijah frequently comes down to earth to help jews in distress or reveal secrets of the torah to our great scholars. Elijahs whole life was devoted to the work of restoring true worship in israel. Elijah, in company with elisha, approaches the jordan. Though old testament saints did not understand this, it was still a type of this truth.
Key figures of the old testament elijah and elisha. There is very little preaching on elijah and elisha today says andy murray. If jehovah allowed elisha to see elijah as god took the older prophet away, then gods answer to elishas request was yes. Like elijah, elisha encountered a widow who needed help.
Elisha, after sixty years of service as a prophet, died in his own home 2kings. What the bible says about spirit and power of elijah. Bible study on the call of elisha how far do you want to go. This chapter relates, how that elisha accompanied elijah to several places, and on the other side jordan elijah was taken up from him to heaven, which occasioned great lamentation in him, 2 kings 2. The bible story of elijah is from the first book of kings, describing his miraculous feats and redemption of the people of israel from the evil king ahab. The successor to elijah, the prophet elisha is first mentioned in 1 kings 19. Be sure to read the article elisha the prophet to see how god continued the course he had for his people through the next prophet sent to israel. The stories of elijah and elisha are legendary, popular accounts. Lo and behold i was searching for scripture art for my office wall, and i believe i typed in psalm 91 and russells book returned in the results. Elijah, being greatly pleased with the constancy of elishas affection and attendance.
Instead, he was using cultural terms derived from inheritance law to express his desire to carry on elijahs ministry. They both served in the northern kingdom of israel. Almost a quarter of the book of kings is devoted to two prophets elijah and elisha. After elijahs defeat of the prophets of baal when he called down fire from heaven, the drought ended. Moses was gods first mouthpiece to bring them back into a relationship with god. The first book of kings niv audio holy bible high quality and best speed. The kings narrative also records twice as many miracles by elisha as by elijah 14 to 7.
Elijah and elisha, the last among the former prophets, were called by god to challenge these idolatrous israelites to worship yahweh alone. They also performed a number of notable miracles, including raising people from the dead, calling down fire from heaven, and dividing the waters of. The first of the literary prophets, amos and hosea, were called to challenge the apostate northern kings of israel from jeroboam ii through hoshea. In fact, elishas call does not involve any direct encounter with god at all. Like elijah, elisha also lay upon the child, and prayed, and the child was restored. Elisha then began his prophetic career, which likely lasted some 50 years, as it extended over the reigns of four kings of israel. In elijahs day a revival of true worship was begun. Rain fell, and elijah fled from the evil queen jezebel, who had vowed to kill him 1 kings 19. Introduction to the prophets bible commentary theology. Carmel, god tells elijah to go and anoint elisha to serve as the next prophet for god. Instead, it is the prophet elijah who initiates elishas change in vocation. Elijah cast his mantle upon himthis was an investiture with the prophetic office.
David guzik commentary on 2 kings 2 describes the ascension of elijah, and how elisha asks for a double portion of elijahs spirit. Biblical literature the significance of elisha britannica. Elijah is initially presented in 1 kings 17 as the seer who foretold a threeyear drought in the land of israel. As the famine was particularly severe in samaria, 3 ahab summoned obadiah, the master of the. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. The bible story of elijah and elisha is found in both books of kings from the old testament. The water immediately divides and elijah and elisha cross on dry land. And elisha said unto him, as the lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, i will not leave thee.
That she was able to fill pots with oil without elisha even being present only heightened his authority. Study the bible online using commentary on 2 kings 2 and more. Elisha then assumed the mantle and presided over the. In addition, there are many prophecies in 1 and 2 kings that are now being fulfilled. Great prophets of god prophets charts menu when elisha asked to receive a double portion of elijahs spirit in 2 kings 2.
During their life both elijah and elisha were prophets called by god. In august of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on august 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the lord. House and his commentary are wellregarded but compared to the typical nac there just isnt much content. This version of the text was subsequently reprinted by adolph jellinek, ed. On the one hand, elishas ministry superseded elijahs in certain ways. They are two of the most notable prophets from scripture helping to restore israel in a time of wicked rulers. The issue of succession first appears in 1 kings 19. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of 2 kings in.
Elijah agreed, with the condition that elisha would see him be taken. Discover their bible story with the full scripture text and summary. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of israel and judah by a deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century bce, with a supplement added in the sixth century bce. The historical accounts are based on the viewpoints and biases of the monarchy, nobility, and military leaders. He did request from elijah that he be allowed to say goodbye to his parents so they were still living when he. Elisha requested of elijah a double portion of his spirit. Elisha character bible study background and lessons name. Elijah was the prophet of judgment and eight miracles are reported of him.