Jehu (Nimshi’s son) as Israel’s king, and Elisha (Shaphat’s son from Abel-meholah) to replace you as prophet.

Jehu will execute anyone who escapes from Hazael, and Elisha will execute all who escape from Jehu.

Elijah journeyed to find Elisha (Shaphat’s son). He found Elisha in the field where 12 pairs of oxen were being worked. Elisha was with the last pair. Elijah wrapped his cloak, his token of spiritual power, around Elisha,

and Elisha abandoned his oxen and chased after Elijah. Elisha: Before I leave, allow me to tell my parents goodbye, and then I will journey with you. Elijah: Go then. Tell them goodbye. What have I done to you?

Elisha returned, but not to his parents. He killed his oxen, then he used the equipment (harness, yoke, and reigns) to prepare a fire and cook all the ox meat. He offered the food to everyone, and they feasted. Elisha then joined Elijah and became his apprentice.

Meanwhile, Ben-hadad, Aram’s king, gathered his entire army to lay siege to Samaria. He was accompanied by 32 other kings as well as a large group of horses and chariots. He waged war against Samaria.

Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal when the Eternal One planned to snatch Elijah up into the heavens by the power of a fierce dancing wind.

Elijah (to Elisha): I ask you to remain here. The Eternal has commanded me to go all the way to Bethel. Elisha: As certain as your own life and the life of the Eternal, I refuse to abandon you. So the two men traveled down to Bethel together,

where Elisha was approached by the prophets’ disciples who lived there. Prophets’ Disciples: Are you aware that the Eternal One is going to snatch Elijah, your mentor, away from you today? Elisha: Yes, I am aware of this. I want you to keep quiet about it.

Elijah (to Elisha): I beg you to remain here. The Eternal has commanded me to travel to Jericho. Elisha: As certain as your own life and the life of the Eternal, I refuse to abandon you. The two men then traveled to Jericho together,

where the prophets’ disciples living in Jericho approached Elisha. Prophets’ Disciples: Are you aware that the Eternal One is going to snatch your mentor away from you today? Elisha: Yes, I am aware of this. I want you to keep quiet about it.

Elijah (to Elisha): I beg you to remain here. The Eternal One has commanded me to travel to the Jordan River. Elisha: As certain as your own life and the life of the Eternal, I refuse to abandon you. So the two men then traveled to the Jordan River together.

While Elijah and Elisha were standing near the Jordan River, 50 of the prophets’ disciples from that area stood at a distance from them on the other side.

Elijah removed his cloak and rolled it up; then he struck the water with it, and the water divided. Elijah and Elisha then walked across on dry land.

After the two had made it to the other side of the Jordan, Elijah spoke to Elisha. Elijah: Tell me what it is you would like me to do for you before I am taken away from you. Elisha: Please, I wish to receive a double portion of your spirit. As your successor, I want to have twice the portion of your power.

Now as the two continued walking along and talking as they normally did, something incredible happened. A blazing chariot pulled by blazing horses stormed down from the heavens and came between Elijah and Elisha. Then Elijah was swept up into heaven by the fiery storm.

Elisha witnessed this amazing spectacle. Elisha: My father, O my father! The chariots and riders of Israel! Elisha never saw Elijah again. Elisha grabbed the clothes he was wearing, and he ripped them in half.

He picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had dropped to the ground when he was taken up into heaven, and then he went back to the Jordan riverbank and stood. He struck the water with the cloak. Elisha: Where is the Eternal One? Where is Elijah’s True God? After Elisha struck the water, the Jordan River divided, just as when Elijah had struck the waters. Elisha then walked across on dry land.

The prophets’ disciples at Jericho standing on the opposite shore were watching this. Prophets’ Disciples: Elijah’s powerful spirit now rests upon Elisha. Elijah’s cloak now clothes Elisha. Then the prophets’ disciples at Jericho approached Elisha and humbled themselves before him.

Prophets’ Disciples: There are 50 strong men along with us, your servants, who could go looking for your mentor. Perhaps the Spirit of the Eternal inside the whirlwind swept Elijah up into heaven and left him on some mountaintop or in some valley of the lowlands. Elisha: That won’t be necessary.

The search party came back to Elisha while he was still in Jericho. Elisha: I told you not to go. He’s gone from the earth.

Elisha: Fetch me a new bowl, and pour some salt into it. So they brought him the bowl with the salt he had requested.

He then walked outside to the water spring and tossed some salt into it. Elisha: This is the Eternal’s message: “This water is now entirely pure. It will no longer bring death or cause the earth to be barren.”

This water has been potable ever since, just as Elisha said.

Elisha then traveled north to Bethel retracing his last steps with Elijah. On his way there, a large group of young boys came out of the city and began making fun of him: “Keep going, baldy! Keep going, baldy!”

When Elisha looked back at them, he spoke against them by the authority of the Eternal. Almost immediately, 2 female bears walked out of the forest and ripped up 42 of the young boys.

Elisha then returned to Mount Carmel, and he went back to Samaria.

Jehoshaphat: Surely there is a prophet of the Eternal One among us. If so, let him come forth so that we can talk with the Eternal through him. Jehoram’s Servant: Yes, there is a prophet of the Lord among us! Elisha (Shaphat’s son)! He used to serve the great Elijah by pouring water on his hands!

Jehoshaphat: The message and power of the Eternal One accompany him. So Israel’s king (Jehoram), Jehoshaphat (Judah’s king), and Edom’s king went to find Elisha.

Elisha (to Jehoram): What business do I have with you? Why don’t you go to the prophets of your parents’ god? Jehoram: I can’t because the Eternal called the three of us together in order to hand us over to Moab.

Elisha: As certain as the life of the Eternal One, Commander of heavenly armies, to whom I offer my life, I would pay you no attention except that I have such great respect for Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. But I have no regard for you! I will not even look at you!

But now, bring me a musician! While the musician was playing, Elisha was empowered by the Eternal.

Elisha: This is the Eternal’s message: “Dig trenches throughout this entire valley.”

The wife of one of the prophets’ disciples pleaded with Elisha. Woman: My husband who served you is now dead. He greatly feared the Eternal. You yourself know this to be true. The creditor is now trying to take away my only two children and make them into slaves.

Elisha: What is it that you want me to do? Do you have anything of worth in your house? Woman: I don’t really have much of anything. The only thing I have in my house that might be of any worth is a jar of oil.

Elisha: Borrow as many large empty containers as you can. Ask neighbors for anything they can give to you. Be sure to collect a lot of them.

The widow went away from Elisha and enclosed herself in a room with her sons. One at a time, her sons held a container before her, and she poured.

The widow then went back to Elisha, the man of God. Elisha: Now go sell the oil, and pay the creditor what you owe. Then your children won’t be made into slaves, and you and your sons can live on the remaining money.

One day, Elisha traveled to Shunem. There was a well-known woman who lived there, and she convinced him to eat something. So whenever he walked by her house, he went in and ate.

Elisha went by their house to eat one day, and he went and lay down in the upper room.

He spoke to his servant, Gehazi. Elisha: Tell the Shunammite woman to come here. So Gehazi called out her name, and she came to him.

Elisha (to Gehazi): Tell her, “You have been fearfully attentive to us. We thank you for all of your care. Now what can I do to repay you? Would you like for me to speak to the king or the military commander on your behalf?” Shunammite Woman: No, that’s OK. I dwell with my own people.

Elisha (to Gehazi): Is there anything at all that I can do for her? Gehazi: Actually, her husband is an old man, and she doesn’t have a son.

Elisha: Tell her to come here. Gehazi called out her name, and she came and stood at the entrance to the room.

Elisha: This time next year, when spring is full of new life, you will hold a son of your own in your arms. Shunammite Woman: That’s impossible, my lord! You are a man of great integrity, a man of God, so please do not deceive me, your servant.

But that time next year, the Shunammite woman did conceive and deliver a son, just as Elisha said she would.

Shunammite Woman (to her husband): I beg you to send me a servant and a donkey so that I can go find Elisha, the man of God. As soon as I do, I will come back here.

She rode quickly toward the man of God who was staying about a day away on Mount Carmel. As she approached, Elisha saw her at a distance. Elisha (to Gehazi): Look! It’s the Shunammite woman.

When she approached the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground and hugged his feet. Gehazi approached to pull her away, but the man of God stopped him. Elisha: Leave her be. Her very soul is distressed, but the Eternal has kept her troubles hidden from me.

Elisha (to Gehazi): Prepare yourself, and carry my staff to where the boy is now. Do not acknowledge any blessing to anyone on your way there. If someone speaks a blessing to you, do not respond. When you get there, lay my staff on the boy’s face.

Shunammite Woman (to Elisha): As certain as the life of the Eternal and your own life, I will not leave without you. Elisha then stood up and followed her to her house.

Gehazi went ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but nothing happened. The boy did not move or make a sound. Gehazi went back to Elisha and reported this to him: “The boy did not wake up.”

Elisha arrived at the house and saw the lifeless body of the boy lying on Elisha’s bed.

Elisha approached the boy and lay down, placing his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes, and his hands on the boy’s hands. He covered the boy with his own body, and warmth returned to the boy’s body.

Elisha turned around and paced back and forth in the house, then he went back into the room and covered the boy’s body with his own body. The boy sneezed seven times, and then he opened his eyes.

Elisha (to Gehazi): Tell the Shunammite woman to come here. Gehazi told the Shunammite woman to go inside the room, and she did. Elisha: Lift up your son, for he is alive.

Elisha returned to Gilgal, and he found that there was a famine throughout the entire country. While the disciples of the local prophets were sitting with him, he told his servant to find a big pot and make a big stew for the prophets’ disciples.

Elisha: Go bring some meal. They brought him some meal, and Elisha threw it in the large pot and renewed the stew. Elisha: Distribute this food to the people so that they may fill their hungry bellies. Everyone ate it, and there was nothing wrong with it this time.

Sometime later, a man from Baal-shalishah brought some food from the firstfruits of the harvest to the man of God: in his sack were 20 barley loaves and fresh produce still in the husk. Elisha: Distribute this food to the people so that they may fill their hungry bellies.

Servant: Do you really think this will be enough for 100 hungry men? Elisha: Yes, do as I said, and distribute this food to the people. The Eternal One says, “They will fill their bellies and still have some food left over.”

Elisha, the man of God, received word that Israel’s king had ripped his clothing, so he sent a message to Israel’s king. Elisha’s Message: What has caused you to rip your clothing? Tell the man who has come to you for healing to come to me. Then he will be assured that a prophet lives in Israel.

The king told Naaman to go find Elisha, so Naaman showed up at Elisha’s door with his horses and chariots.

Elisha did not show his face to Naaman, but instead sent instructions: “Wash yourself in the Jordan River seven times. The waters will heal you, and your skin will be back to normal. You will be cleansed.”

Naaman boiled with anger as he left Elisha. He had come to his house expecting something much different. Naaman: What is this! I came here thinking that Elisha would come outside and call upon the name of the Eternal One his God, and that Elisha’s hand would pass over my sores and heal my skin disease, not the waters of the Jordan River.

Elisha: As certain as the life of the Eternal whom I worship, I refuse to take any gifts. Naaman tried again to give Elisha a gift, but Elisha would not take it.

Elisha: Go, and be at peace about this matter. So Naaman left and traveled for a while.

About this time, Gehazi, who served Elisha, the man of God, had a wicked thought: “My master let this Aramean Naaman leave and refused Naaman’s gift! That means the gift is still with Naaman. As certain as the life of the Eternal, I vow to go after him and try to get the gift from him myself.”

Gehazi: Yes, everything is well. Elisha told me to hurry after you and give you this message. He says, “Two young men who are the prophets’ disciples have just arrived from the hilly land of Ephraim. I request that you give them 75 pounds of silver and two changes of clothing.”

Gehazi then went to find Elisha. Elisha: I’ve missed you. Where have you been, Gehazi? Gehazi: I’ve been here all along.

Elisha: You must not be aware that I knew where you were when Naaman stepped down from his chariot and asked you if everything was well. Do you think you are in a place to accept money, clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and servants on my behalf?

Because you have sought to deceive me and have deceived Naaman, the skin disease that was washed away from Naaman in the Jordan River will now infect you and your offspring for all of time. Gehazi turned and departed from Elisha. By the time Gehazi had walked out of the room, the skin disease had entirely infected him, and his skin was as white as snow.

The students of the prophets spoke to Elisha. Students of the Prophets: The place where we are staying with you is too small for us.

Allow us to travel to the Jordan Valley, cut down trees, and build a house there for ourselves. Elisha: Go.

One of the Students: Will you please travel with us, your servants? Elisha: Yes, I will go with you.

Elisha traveled with them, and they cut down trees when they arrived at the Jordan.

While one of the students was cutting down a tree, the iron of the ax broke off and dropped into the river. Student of the Prophets (to Elisha): Oh no, master! This ax is not mine! I borrowed it!

Elisha: Where did it drop into the river? The man showed Elisha where it had dropped into the water, and Elisha took a stick and tossed it into the river. Then the iron of the ax floated to the surface.

Elisha: Get your iron out of the water. The man then grabbed it.

Servant: It is none of us, my lord and king. The prophet Elisha, who lives in Israel, is the one who informs Israel’s king of these things. Elisha somehow knows everything you say—even the secret things you whisper in your private chambers.

King of Aram: Find Elisha right away so that I may capture him! The servants found Elisha and informed Aram’s king, “Elisha is in Dothan.”

Elisha: Have no fear. We have more on our side than they do.

(praying) O Eternal One, I ask You to allow my servant to see heavenly realities. The Eternal awakened Elisha’s servant so that he could see. This is what he saw: the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

When the enemy approached Elisha, he prayed. Elisha: Eternal One, I ask you to blind these people. The Eternal blinded them, just as Elisha had requested.

Elisha (to the blind army): You are wrong. This is the wrong path and the wrong city. I will lead you to the person you are really after. Elisha then led them to Samaria.

Elisha (arriving in Samaria): O Eternal One, I ask you to allow these men to see. The Eternal awakened the men so they could see. This is what they saw: they were in Samaria.

The king of Israel saw them. King of Israel (to Elisha): Do you want me to slaughter these men, my father? Shall I slaughter them?

Elisha: No, do not slaughter them. Would you really slaughter men whom you have captured with your sword and with your bow? Set the table and fill it with bread and water. Let them eat and drink and return to their own master.

Israel’s king had the table set and offered the Arameans a great feast. After they ate and drank, Israel’s king told them to leave. They returned to their own master, and the Arameans stopped sending raiding parties into Israel.

King of Israel: May God behead me and even worse if the head of Elisha (Shaphat’s son) is still attached to his body by the end of today.

Meanwhile Elisha was resting in his house with the elders. The king had sent a messenger to him; but before the messenger arrived at Elisha’s house, Elisha knew what would happen. Elisha (to the elders): Watch closely. A murderer’s son desires my head on a platter. When the messenger arrives, close the door and hold it tightly shut. Certainly his master will be close behind him.

While Elisha was telling the elders these things, the messenger arrived. Messenger: This wickedness is from the Eternal. Why should I be patient for Him?

Elisha: Pay attention to this prediction from the Eternal. This is His message: “By this time tomorrow, 7 quarts of flour and 13 quarts of barley will sell for 11 grams at the market in the gate of Samaria.”

Then the king’s first officer responded to the man of God. First Officer: Even if the Eternal carved out windows in heaven, is this really possible? Elisha: You will witness this event, but you will not be allowed to enjoy the feast.

The officer had then asked, “Even if the Eternal carved out windows in heaven, is it really possible?” Elisha had replied, “You will witness this event, but you will not be allowed to enjoy the feast.”

Elisha went and warned the mother of the boy whom he had brought back to life. Elisha: Get up and gather together your family and servants. Travel as far away from here as you can, and live as a resident alien. The Eternal is going to cause a great famine in the land for the next seven years.

The king was speaking with Gehazi, servant of the man of God. King of Israel: Tell me everything about Elisha. Fill me in on all the wonders he has done.

So Gehazi told the king everything. Just when Gehazi got to the part about Elisha bringing the dead boy back to life, the boy’s mother walked in and argued that the king should give her back her house and her field. Gehazi’s excitement was piqued by the visitor’s timing. Gehazi: My lord and king, this is the woman I was just telling you about. And this is her son, the boy whom Elisha brought back to life!

Now when Elisha arrived in Damascus, Aram’s king, Ben-hadad, was ill. A message arrived for the king: “The man of God has just arrived in Damascus.”

Hazael greeted Elisha with a gift and with kindness. He did as instructed and offered him many excellent items from Damascus—40 camel loads of gifts. Hazael (standing before Elisha): Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, who honors you like a father, has asked me to come to you and ask you, “Am I going to get well?”

Elisha: Yes, he will get well, but the Eternal has revealed to me that Ben-hadad will certainly die.

Elisha held his gaze on Hazael until the prophet was ashamed, but then the man of God broke down and cried.

Hazael: Why are you crying, my lord? Elisha: Because I am aware of all the wicked things you will do to the Israelites. You will set their strongholds on fire, slaughter their young men with swords, dismember their children, and tear open the bodies of pregnant women.

Hazael: But I have no such will or power. Am I, your servant, as low as a dog? Why do you think that I will do such a terrible thing? Elisha: The Eternal has revealed to me that you will reign over Aram as king.

Hazael went away from Elisha and went back to his king. Ben-hadad: What did Elisha tell you? Hazael: He said that it is certain that you will get well.

The prophet Elisha gave instructions to one of the prophets’ disciples. Elisha: Prepare yourself, and transport this bottle of oil to Ramoth-gilead.

Now Elisha was sick with a terminal illness; and Joash, Israel’s king, came to visit him. He cried over Elisha, Joash: My father, O my father! The chariots and riders of Israel!

Elisha: Quickly find a bow and some arrows. Joash did as Elisha instructed and brought a bow and some arrows back to Elisha’s bedside.

Elisha: Now grip the bow tightly. So Joash gripped the bow, and Elisha placed his hands over the king’s hands.

Elisha: Now open the window facing east. So Joash opened the window. Elisha: Now launch the arrow as far as you can! So Joash drew back the bow and launched the arrow as far as he could. Elisha: That was the Eternal’s victory arrow! You will crush the Arameans at Aphek! You will do more than just win; you will ruin them!

(pausing) Here, take these arrows. So Joash took the arrows. Elisha: Hit the ground with them. So Joash hit the ground three times and stood up.

But the man of God became angry at this. Elisha: You only hit the ground three times! If you had hit the ground five or six times, then you would have completely ruined the Arameans. But because you only hit the ground three times, you will only defeat Aram three times.

Elisha then died and was laid to rest. The Moabite bandits used to storm the land every spring. It was expected by the people.

During the springtime, while a group of men were out burying a man, they spied a gang of bandits approaching them. They became afraid, so they threw the dead man’s body into Elisha’s grave. As soon as the dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, the dead man miraculously came back to life and stood up.

Hazael, Aram’s king, persecuted and abused the Israelites all during Jehoahaz’s reign.

Jehoash, the king of Israel and Jehoahaz’s son, captured the same cities from Ben-hadad (Hazael’s son) that Ben-hadad had captured from his father, Jehoahaz. Joash crushed him and delivered Israel’s cities three different times just as Elisha had prophesied.

It was in those days that Jesus left Nazareth (a village in the region of Galilee) and came down to the Jordan, and John cleansed Him through baptism there in the same way all the others were ritually cleansed.

It was the same with the prophet Elisha. There were many Jewish lepers in his homeland, but the only one he healed—Naaman—was an outsider from Syria.