Part 1. 2-Kings chs 2 to 5 (10 May 2017, 14 Iyar, 5777)
Continued from Eliyahu
To see the story of Elisha in more detail with Brit-Am Biblical Commentary go to:
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings2.html
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings3.html
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings4.html
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings5.html
Contents:
1. The Prophet Elisha Succeeds Elijah
2. The Impudent Youths of Beth-el
3. War Against Moab
4. The Miracles of Elisha
5. The Curing of Naaman Chief General of Aram
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Main Biblical Source: 2-Kings ch.2
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings2.html
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1. The Prophet Elisha Succeeds Elijah
The Prophet Elisha was the successor of Elijah.
The name "Elisha" in Hebrew connotes "God [El-] Saves[sha] or "Hears ["sha].
Elisha was from Abel-meholah (in Hebrew pronounced as "Avel Mehola"). This has been explained to mean "Meadow of Dancing." It was located in the territory of Issachar near the Jordan River south of Beth-Shean in Manasseh.
Eljah had been commanded to anoint "Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah" to succeed him as prophet (1-Kings 19:16).
Elisha saw Elijah be taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot (2-Kings 2:11). Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah. When Elijah accompanied by Elisha had come to the spot they were on Elijah had rolled his mantle up and struck the Jordan River with it. The Jordan River passed asunder. The two had then passed over the dry river bed (2-Kings 2:8). Now Elisha took the mantle and in his turn struck the Jordan River with it. The Jordan River divided into two just as it had done for Elijah (2-Kings 2:14). The Sons of the Prophets, meaning those serving as apprentices to the Prophets and hoping to be like them, now recognized that Elisha was the successor of Elijah (2-Kings 2:14).
The water supply of the city of Jericho was bad. It was causing sickness and death. Elisha cast salt into its sources and cured it (2-Kings 2:22).
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2. The Impudent Youths of Beth-el
Elisha continued from Jericho in the direction of Beth-el. Both places were in the territory of Benjamin which at that time pertained to the Kingdom of Judah in the south.
The Hebrew says that they met us with a crowd of "small boys" [Hebrew: "narim katanim"] not "youths" but this may have been a euphemism for men that act irresponsibility like children.
The boys called Elisha "Baldy" so he cursed them. Two female bears came out of the woods and tore 42 of the boys to pieces.
From there Elisha continued northward into the northern Kingdom. He went first to Mount Carmel and from there back south a ways to Samaria the capital.
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Main Biblical Source: 2-Kings ch.3
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings3.html
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3. War Against Moab
Yehoram sonof Ahab was king of Israel in Sarmaria. Yehoram was better than his father but still continued the pagan practices of Jeroboam son of Nebat the first king of northern Israel. Yehoram had ruled over Moab which was rich in sheep and had given tribute to Israel. Moab rebelled. Yehoram asked King Yehoshaphat of Judah to assist him, Together with the King of Edom they invaded Moab. The allied forces found themselves wandering in the wilderness without water and in danger of perishing.
Elisha agreed to intercede. He requested a musician to play his instrument to facilitate inducing the state of Prophecy.
He then told them that water was on its way and they would be victorious against the Moabites. A river of water arrived from the direction of Edom. This sometimes happens in desert regions with rain falling higher up and the dry wadi bed filling up with water further down. The Moabites had meanwhile gather together to war against the Allies. They saw the sun shining on the water in the morning. It looked like red blood and they imagined that the Allies had quarrelled and fought against each other.
They entered the camp of Israel expecting to find dead bodies but the Israelites fell upon them. The Moabites were driven back into their city and were losing the fight until he king of Moab sacrificed his son on the city wall.
The Allies then retreated.
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Main Biblical Source: 2-Kings ch.4
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings4.html
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4. The Miracles of Elisha
A widow of one of the Prophets owed money and was on the verge of surrendering her two sons into servitude to pay off the debt.
She cried out to Elisha who asked what had she left in the house. She replied a vial of olive oil. Elisha told her to borrow empty vessels from all her neighbors, as many as possible.
She then from the small vial of oil filled up all the vessels. Elisha told her to sell the oil, pay her debt, and live off what was left over.
Elisha with his servant Gehazi were in the habit of intermittently sojourning in the household of a couple in Shunem which was in the territory of Issachar in the Jezreeel Valley in the east of north Israel.
They had set aside a room with furniture for Elisha. Out of gratitude he promised the couple a son which was duly born.
Later after the boy had grown he was apparently smitten by sunstroke and died. The lady of the house took the boy, laid him on the bed in the room of Elisha, and then travelled by donkey to Mount Carmel, where Elisha was staying, demanding that he come to the house.
Elisha did so and brought the boy back to life using a technique resembling mouth to-mouth resuscitation.
Elisha was staying with the Children of the Prophets at Gilgal. There was a famine in the land. The communal pot of stew had inadvertently been poisoned by the insertion of wild herbs.
Elisha told the attendants to put flour in the pot and stew became edible.
A visitor came with a few loaves of bread, and some currants. Elisha caused the food to be placed before a hundred men and it more than sufficed for them all.
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Main Biblical Source: 2-Kings ch.5
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings5.html
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5. The Curing of Naaman Chief General of Aram
The Chief General of the King of Aram (Syria and the north) was named Naaman. He was a leper. The Aramaeans had taken a little Israelite girl captive and she served as a maid for the wife of Naaman.
The girl told her mistress that in Israel was a prophet named Elisha who could cure Naaman of his leprosy.
Subsequently the King of Aram send a gift of gold and silver and clothing to the King of Israel in Samaria.
he told him that Naaman would be arriving soon and that he was to be cured of his leprosy.
The Israelite monarch thought the Aramaeans were simply playing with him and looking for an excuse to start a war.
Elisha sent a message to the king saying that Naaman should be sent to him.
When Naaman with his entourage approached the house of Elisha a messenger came out telling him to go and immerse himself seven times in the Jordan River.
Naaman was insulted by this cursory treatment but his attendants prevailed upon him to do as requested.
Naaman was cured.
Naaman returned, went to Elisha and acknowledge the God of Israel as God.
He asked Elisha to take a gift from him but Elisha refused. Naaman undertook to correct his ways and then continued on his way.
Gehazi the servant of Elisha made an excuse to leave the presence of Elisha.
Gehazi then pursued after Naaman. he told him that messengers form the Sons of the Prophets had just come to Elisha.
An urgent need for funds had suddenly arisen.
Naaman gave Gehazi as much silver and clothing as two men could carry.
Gehazi went and hid them in his house and then came to Elisha.
The Prophet told Gehazi that he had seen through prophecy what had happened.
Gehazi would indeed now be exceeding rich BUT he and his descendants would also be smitten with the leprosy that Naaman had previously been afflicted with.
And so it was.
CONTINUED at Elisha-2
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See Also:
The Prophet Elisha - Elijah's Succesor
By Nissan Mindel
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/111858/jewish/The-Prophet-Elisha-Elijahs-Succesor.htm