Day 114: Elisha Succeeds Elijah


*2 Kings 2:13-25

Elisha inherits Elijah’s prophetic mantle by parting the Jordan River and performs miracles of healing water and judgement upon mocking youths.

  • Elisha Witnesses Elijah’s Departure:
    • Elisha witnesses Elijah’s departure as he ascends to heaven in a whirlwind, accompanied by a chariot of fire and horses of fire.
    • Elisha cries out in grief and desperation as he watches Elijah disappear from sight, tearing his own clothes in anguish at the loss of his mentor and spiritual father.
  • Elisha’s Reaction:
    • Elisha picks up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen from him as he ascended, and returns to the bank of the Jordan River, where he stands in awe of the miraculous event he has witnessed.
    • Elisha then takes Elijah’s cloak and strikes the water of the Jordan River, calling out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” and the waters part, allowing him to cross over on dry ground.
  • Elisha’s Authority Confirmed:
    • The company of prophets from Jericho witness Elisha’s miraculous parting of the Jordan River and acknowledge that the spirit of Elijah now rests upon Elisha, confirming his status as Elijah’s successor.
    • They come to meet Elisha and bow down before him, showing reverence and respect for his newfound authority as a prophet of the Lord.
  • Elisha’s Encounter with Jericho’s Problem:
    • The men of the city of Jericho inform Elisha that the city’s location is pleasant, but its water is bad and causes miscarriages and barrenness in the land.
    • Elisha responds by instructing them to bring him a new bowl with salt, which he then throws into the spring, declaring, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'”
  • Outcome of Elisha’s Action:
    • The waters of the spring are miraculously healed by Elisha’s act of faith, and the land becomes fertile once more, putting an end to the curse that had afflicted Jericho’s water source.
    • The city of Jericho is restored to health and prosperity, and the people are grateful for Elisha’s intervention and the Lord’s mercy upon them.
  • Elisha’s Journey to Bethel:
    • Elisha leaves Jericho and travels to the city of Bethel, following in the footsteps of his mentor Elijah and continuing his prophetic ministry.
    • As he approaches Bethel, a group of young boys comes out of the city and begins mocking and taunting him, calling him a “baldhead” and ridiculing him.
  • Elisha’s Response:
    • In response to the boys’ mockery, Elisha turns around, looks at them, and curses them in the name of the Lord.
    • Immediately, two female bears come out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys, demonstrating the severity of God’s judgment against those who disrespect His prophet.

2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

2:17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

2:18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not? 2:19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

2:20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

2:22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

2:25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.