Who was Elisha?

Answer 1

Another answer from our community:

Elisha was the disciple of Elijah chosen by God. When Elijah ascended to heaven Elisha took on his place as the main Prophet to Israel.

1 kings 19 (speaking to Elijah) 15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel---all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

Answer 2

The Second book of Kings describes Elisha as the disciple and successor to Elijah. Apparently Elisha was the only witness when Elijah, alone among the prophets, was honoured by being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11), rather than facing a normal death.

It was in the gift of Elijah to grant his supernatural powers to his companion and protege, Elisha. There is no suggestion that either Elijah or Elisha thought of asking God whether this was to be, and Elisha soon demonstrated that he had these powers by becoming the third person, after Joshua and Elijah, to divide the waters of the Jordan.

In an episode remarkably like one earlier attributed to Elijah, Elisha made a pot of oil into one that never emptied, no matter how much was poured from it (2 Kings 4:3-7). Later, just as the woman friend in whose home Elijah was staying had accused Elijah of bringing evil that caused the death of her son, so a woman friend in whose home Elisha often stayed, accused him of deceiving her, after her son had died. And just as Elijah lay on top of the son to revive him, so Elisha lay on top of the other son to revive him (2 Kings 4:28-35). The close similarities of these episodes to the stories already told about Elijah, suggests that perhaps at one stage in early Israelite tradition Elijah and Elisha were the same person, and only became separate people in later tradition.

Answer 3

Elisha was a major Israelite prophet during the First Temple era. See also:

More about the Israelite prophets

Answer 4

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