Elisha
( 1 Kings 19:16)
(C3089-3165, 915-839AC)
(Automatic translation awaiting revision)
His name comes from the Hebrew e?li?sha??, which means "God saves me."
It is first mentioned here (1 Kings 19:16), where we discovered that his father was called Shaphat and lived in Abelmeholah at the northern edge of the Jordan Valley and just south of the Sea of ??Galilee. Nothing more is known about his family, but it is concluded that they were farmers and faithful to the Lord.
One day while working for his father Elisha plowing a field behind twelve yoke of oxen, the prophet Elijah met . Elijah cast his mantle upon him and went ahead.
Elisha understood the meaning of this act that symbolized its adoption as a son and successor of Elijah in the prophetic office: it was a great honor to Elisha, and this is a calling from God. So he left the oxen and ran after the great prophet, but first asked permission to say goodbye to their parents before following him.
Elijah said to Elisha, "Go back, therefore, that you did I?". So Elijah expressed his understanding of the noble sentiments of Elisha, giving you the opportunity to come back and say good-bye as befitted his position.
Elisha returned, killed the cattle, made ??a fire with plow equipment and prepared a barbecue, giving the meat to the people eat. Then he stood up "and went after Elijah, and ministered to him," thus completely abandoning their family, and the comforts and privileges they enjoyed. Voluntarily became the servant of Elijah, and we have only a short description of what was "poured water on the hands of Elijah." (2 Kings 3:11). But watching Elijah, Elisha was preparing to replace it by following God's will in this regard (verse 16).
They must have spent several years together (1 Kings 22:1 and 2 Kings 1:17), and Elisha became well known for various schools of the prophets, who lived.
Elisha showed his strong affection for his master when, knowing that Elijah was about to end his life here, firmly decided to stay with him until the end. Elijah asked him what he wanted to let him, and said it was a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:1-9). The eldest son was entitled to a double portion of inheritance Elisha and probably just wanted to be a worthy successor of Elijah. But it is interesting to note that while the biblical account of Elijah performed eight miracles, Elisha held 16.
Impressed by the extraordinary departure of Elijah by a whirlwind, without passing through death, Elisha said, "my father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! "This same exclamation was made ??by Jehoash king of Israel, when she cried upon him when he was dying (2 Kings 13:14). The car and riders may be a reference to the strength of Israel is another name for "army". In their time these two prophets represented the power of God in Israel.
Then Elisha tore his clothes (a sign of mourning), took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen (represented his authority as a prophet of God), and retraced his steps to the river Jordan. There, with the cover, he smote the waters, saying, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" Immediately the waters parted, letting him go dry. It was the same miracle that Elijah had done at his coming, and the sons of the prophets present recognized that the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha (2 Kings 2:12-15).
Elisha now began his prophetic career, which lasted about 50 years to extend over the reigns of Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz and Joash. The change was so obvious that it is now universally recognized as the "man of God", or prophet, Elijah's successor.
The mantle of Elijah no longer appears in the biblical account, and Elisha dressed like an ordinary citizen. He carried a staff as was the custom among men, and served up to him to work miracles (2 Kings 4:29). It is understood she did not live in one city, but stayed with the sons of the prophets at Bethel and Jericho, when not at his home in Dothan or Samaria. Shunem so often passed by on foot, a family built a house there on the wall for your private use (2 Kings 4:8-11).
Here are some of the notable episodes during his ministry:
1. Elisha began his ministry saneando a water fountain near Jericho with a jar of salt (2 Kings 2:19-21). (Elias began announcing a drought).
2. When some kids made fun of him on the way to Bethel, Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two boys (2 Kings 2:23-24).
3. The kings of Israel, Judah and Edom came together to fight against the king of Moab, because it had ceased to pay tribute to the king of Israel who happened to Ahab. Crossing the desert to fight, there was no water and called for Elisha, who told him to call a harpist, and while he played, the message of the Lord came to Elijah saying they did many wells in the valley, and it would not rain water to fill the wells. They did, and could defeat the Moabites (2 Kings 3).
4. Elisha miraculously provided the widow of one of the sons of the prophets with enough olive oil to that, selling it, she paid her creditors and she and her children to live the rest (2 Kings 4:1-7).
5. As a reward to a Shunammite woman who had treated him with great care, Elisha could she have a child, although her husband was old (2 Kings 4:8-17).
6. When full-grown, the boy died. The woman went to Elisha on Mount Carmel to complain, and after noting that it was true Elisha came to her house and raised her son (2 Kings 4:18-37).
7. Elisha took poison soup (2 Kings 4:38-41).
8.Tendo a man given to Elisha, a period of famine in the land, loaves of bread and green ears for their own food, Elisha trusted the Lord and ordered to be distributed to the people of one hundred men, when they had eaten, even hear plenty (2 Kings 4:42-44). This reminds us of the two miracles of multiplying bread made centuries later by the Lord Jesus,
9. Elisha healed the leper Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, sending to dip seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:1-19).
10. Elisha smote Gehazi his servant and his family with leprosy because of the lies told Naaman, motivated by their greed (2 Kings 5:20-27).
11. Elisha recovered the ax of one of the sons of the prophets who had fallen into the river, making it float (2 Kings 6:1-7).
12. Elijah anticipated the movements of the king of Syria was warring against Israel, and warned the king of Israel, thus avoiding the attacks of the enemy (2 Kings 6:8-12).
13. Through the prayer of Elisha, the Lord allowed the servant of Elisha saw the horses and chariots of fire round about him (2 Kings 6:13-17).
14. Once the army of the Syrians came to arrest Elisha, but he prayed and the Lord gave them to be injured blindness (2 Kings 6:18). Elisha led the Syrians blind to the middle of Samaria, and there asked the Lord to open their eyes, and that he did (2 Kings 6:19-20).
16. The Syrians were now in power of the king of Israel and this would hurt them but was reprimanded by Elisha, who advised them to be fed and sent away (2 Kings 6:8-23). Impressed by this, the Syrians ceased to harass Israel.
17. On one occasion Samaria was besieged and the population suffered from terrible famine. The king wanted to kill but this Elisha predicted deliverance the Lord during the night and this happened: the Syrian army was seized with panic thinking that the Hittites were attacked, they fled and left everything they had for the Samaritans (2 Kings 6:24 - 7:20).
Elisha continued to have a beneficial influence on the kingdom of Israel, whose kings were wicked and rebelled against the Lord. The young King Joash went to visit him on his deathbed, and then Elisha prophesied that he would have victory over the Syrians, but not hurt enough and that they would return to war. After his death and burial took place one last miracle, the resurrection of a dead man whose body was thrown into the grave of Elisha.
Known as "the man of God," Elisha has proved his right to the title by his zeal for God and the service providing the most caring, always doing good, teaching and helping others.