The Prophet Elisha

Elisha (Hebrew: אֱלִישַׁע), meaning “My God is salvation” or “God is the God of salvation,” was born in the mid-9th century BC. He succeeded Elijah in the office of prophet in Israel (1 Kings 19:16, 19-21; 2 Kings 5:8). In 1 Kings 19:19, he was called to follow Elijah and served as his prophetic disciple for several years until Elijah’s ascension. At that time, Elisha began his ministry, spanning the reigns of Kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash, serving as a prophet for about 50 years.

Elisha’s calling and dedication are primarily recorded in the Books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Old Testament. Elisha’s call was by divine election. When Elijah threw his cloak over him, calling him to be a prophet, Elisha immediately obeyed. He promptly ran home, slaughtered his oxen used for plowing, burned his farming equipment, and prepared a feast to bid farewell to his parents and friends, thus becoming a servant of God (1 Kings 19).

Before Elijah’s ascension, he was commanded by God to select Elisha to continue his work. Elisha knew Elijah would be taken by God and steadfastly followed him. Elijah tested Elisha multiple times, urging him to leave, but Elisha remained resolute. Finally, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit of wisdom and was privileged to witness Elijah being taken up by God in a whirlwind.

Jesus mentioned Elisha in Luke 4. When the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus, He told them that no prophet is accepted in his hometown (Luke 4:24). Jesus reminded them that “there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27).

Elisha’s life demonstrates the prophet’s humility (2 Kings 2:9; 3:11), his compassion for the Israelites (2 Kings 8:11-12), and his faithfulness throughout his service. Elisha obeyed God’s call, eagerly and faithfully following Elijah. Elisha sought God and trusted God, and through him, God worked powerfully.