Prophet
Elisha
Jewish prophet of the Old Testament.
A disciple of Elijah was a prophet in Israel. He worked wonders for the benefit of foreigners and foretold the future salvation for all men.
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Elisha the Prophet
Elisha was the son of Safat, from Abel-Mecola, and became a disciple of Elijah, after he received a prophecy on Mount Oreb (Sinai) in which God told him that he had chosen Elisha as his spiritual heir. On the way from Sinai to the city of Damascus, Elijah met Elisha who was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen and leading the twelfth pair.
Elijah joined him and placed his cloak on his shoulders, as a sign of taking charge of his person. Elisha understood the meaning of the gesture and only asked to say goodbye to his parents. Then Elisha took a pair of oxen, killed them and slaughtered them; he had the meat cooked with the fire lit by the wood of the yoke; then he offered some to eat to his people. So Elijah adopted Elisha as a son and invested him with his prophetic role. Elisha was the main disciple of Elijah, until the latter was kidnapped in heaven, on a flaming chariot, while traveling the road to Jericho.
Thanks to Elijah's prodigious cloak, which he had had time to drop, Elisha crossed the Jordan River and reached Jericho where he was recognized as the true heir of Elijah. In this city he performed the miracle of healing his arid land with salt and water.
After passing through Bethel, where the population worshiped a golden calf, Elisha was mocked by a group of boys who challenged him to follow Elijah to heaven saying "go up bald". He cursed them for this offense and God arranged to send two bears, miraculously appeared from the forest, who slaughtered 42 children among those who had dared to make fun of the prophet.
Before settling in Samaria, he stayed for a short time on Mount Carmel. A vision of him foretold the victory of the Moabite army in the war. He led the nation of Israel against its enemies, especially the Syrians.
"When the Lord was about to lift Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha left Galdala. And Elijah said to Elisha:" Stop here, because the Lord is sending me as far as Beth-el. "But Elisha answered him: "As it is true that the Lord lives and you also live, I will not leave you." And they went down to Beth-el. The disciples of the prophets, who were in Beth-el, went out to meet Elisha and said to him: "Not do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you, raising him above your head?".
He replied, "Shut up! I know too." Elijah then said to Elisha: "Stop here, because the Lord is sending me to Jericho." But Elisha said: "As it is true that the Lord lives and you also live, I will not leave you." And they went down to Jericho. The disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said to him, "Don't you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you by elevating him above your head?" He replied, "Shut up! I know too." Then Elijah said to him: "Stop here, because the Lord is sending me as far as the Jordan." But he said: "As it is true that the Lord lives and you also live I will not leave you." Then they both went together, followed by fifty disciples of the prophets, who stood in front of them from afar.
When they both reached the bank of the Jordan, Elijah took up his cloak and rolled it up and struck the waters, which divided into two parts, and both passed through dry land. After that, Elijah said to Elisha: "Ask what you want from me, before I am taken away from you." Then Elisha said to him, "I ask for a double portion of your spirit". Elijah replied: "You asked a difficult thing; however, if you see me, when I am taken from you, you will receive what you asked for; but if you do not see me, you will not have it".
