ELISHA THE PROPHET - Return to Jericho - Acknowledgment by the Sons of the Prophets - Healing of the Waters

of Jericho - Judgment on the Young Men at Bethel - Settlement in Samaria.

(2 Kings 2:15 -25)

THE history which now follows reads almost li ke a chronicle of Elisha. More correctly it may be described as the

prophetic history of that period. With the removal of Elijah, Elisha had begun his ministry, the test of its reality having

been the parting of the waters of Jordan. The next three incidents must be considered as preparatory to his prophetic

activity; the first, as regarded his public acknowledgment by the sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2:15 -18); the second and

third that by the people, when Elisha publicly appeared as the instrument of God - in the one case, for mercy (vv. 19-

22), in the other, for judgment (vv. 23, 24). Having thus established his authority, Elisha immediately afterwards

assumed the place of God's representative in the affairs of Israel.

1. As we look more closely into it , a special significance attached to each of the three preliminary events just referred

to. In the first it was seen that Elisha occupied precisely the same position of superiority as Elijah over the ordinary

"sons of the prophets," as also the folly of their attempted interference in his work. Henceforth they would be

unquestioning, obedient instruments of his behests, and this was the rightful position alike for them and as regarded the

work of Elisha. According to our modern notions the circumstances may seem strange, but they are in agreement with

the condition of the times and with the degree of spiritual understanding possessed even by the sons of the prophets. As

Elisha returned alone, the "sons of the prophets," judging that the spirit of Elijah rested upon him, perhaps because they

had watched as the waters of Jordan parted when he smote them - went to meet the prophet and to do him homage. And

yet they began by urging a strange request - perhaps because notions such as they expressed were popularly entertained

(as by Obadiah, 1 Kings 18:12) in regard to the influence of the Spirit on the prophets generally, or it may be only on

the great prophet of fire. Or perhaps they imagined that Elijah might be in a trance or dead in some valley or on some

mountain-height; or it may have been only from morbid curiosity to learn something more of what had happened. In

any case their proposal marked an entire lack of spiritual understanding and sympathy.

There were fifty strong men among them, capable of enduring any fatigue, and equal to any work or burden. Might

these not go to search whether peradventure the Spirit of Jehovah had not uplifted and then cast Elijah into some

remote corner of that desolate and rocky region near Jericho?134

To men who entertained such notions, it would have been impossible to communicate even what Elisha had witnessed,

still less its predicted import to himself. Accordingly he contented himself with a simple negative to their request. And

this should have taught them what was the first duty as well as qualification alike of a prophet and of the sons of the

prophet: simple, unquestioning obedience. But, like many of us, in the process of our personal sanctification, they had

to learn it by painful experience. Their insistence at last made him "ashamed,"  135 since it might seem as if he felt less

concern for his master than they, and he yielded to their importunity.

When after three days' unavailing search they returned to Jericho, he reminded them of his first refusal - although for

reasons which need not be repeated, he did not even then communicate to them what he had witnessed. But ever

afterwards a spirit of willing submission to Elisha prevailed among the sons of the prophets.

2. The next requisite seemed to make such public manifestation of his prophetic authority as would secure for his

message the faith and submission of the people. Besides, this was necessary in the contest with Baal, whose worship, if

it had been finally established, would, so to speak, have denationalized Israel, even as it ultimately led to that

banishment which has not yet been recalled. It was of absolute importance that the presence of Jehovah should appear,

as it were, in a concrete form, through a living representative, who should be quick to bring blessing or judgment, and

so to demonstrate what he proclaimed, in the only manner which the men of that time could understand. This may also

in part explain why the mission of Elijah and Elisha differed in so many respects from that of the other prophets. And,

as we farther consider it, we have evidence that it accomplished its purpose. We remember how once and again Ahab

himself was arrested through the influence of Elijah. At first the reign of Ahaziah had seemed a return to the worst days