Elisha

the disciple of Elijah

Who was Elisha?

Son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen when Elijah threw his cloak over him. 1 Kings 19:19
He asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and saw him go up to heaven. Afterward he worked many miracles. 2 Kings 2:9-12; Sirach 48:12
He healed Naaman, a foreign general, of leprosy. Jesus recalled it in the synagogue at Nazareth. 2 Kings 5:14; Luke 4:27

Also called: Man of God 2 Kings 4:9; 2 Kings 5:8
From: From Abel-meholah; son of Shaphat 1 Kings 19:16
Occupation: Farmer; later, prophet 1 Kings 19:16, 19
Feast day: June 14: Saint Elisha, prophet

What the Bible says

1 Kings 19:19

And Elias departing from thence, found Eliseus the son of Saphat, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen: and he was one of them that were ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen: and when Elias came up to him, he cast his mantle upon him.

2 Kings 2:9-12; Sirach 48:12

⁹And when they were gone over, Elias said to Eliseus: Ask what thou wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Eliseus said: I beseech thee that in me may be thy double spirit. ¹⁰And he answered: Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou hast asked: but if thou see me not, thou shalt not have it. ¹¹And as they went on, walking and talking together, behold a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹²And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the driver thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own garments, and rent them in two pieces.

2 Kings 5:14; Luke 4:27

Then he went down, and washed in the Jordan seven times: according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored, like the flesh of a little child, and he was made clean.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Elisha

Before Jesus. Elisha was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah passed by and threw his cloak over him. 1 Kings 19:19
Before Jesus. Elisha asked to say goodbye to his parents. Then he slaughtered his oxen, fed his people and followed Elijah. 1 Kings 19:20-21
With Jesus. He stayed with Elijah to the end. Three times Elijah asked him to stay behind, and three times Elisha said he would not leave him. 2 Kings 2:2-6
With Jesus. He asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He saw the fiery chariot and saw Elijah go up to heaven in a whirlwind. 2 Kings 2:9-12
Afterward. With Elijah’s cloak he parted the water of the Jordan. The prophets of Jericho said that Elijah’s spirit rested on him. 2 Kings 2:13-15
Afterward. He multiplied a poor widow’s oil. And the son of a woman from Shunem came back to life after Elisha prayed. 2 Kings 4:1-7, 32-35
Afterward. He fed a hundred men with twenty loaves, and there was some left over. 2 Kings 4:42-44
Afterward. He healed Naaman, an Aramean general, by telling him to wash seven times in the Jordan. Elisha died of an illness and was buried. 2 Kings 5:10, 14; 2 Kings 13:14, 20

Words of Elisha

“As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” 2 Kings 2:2

To Elijah, who was asking him to stay behind.

“I beseech thee that in me may be thy double spirit.” 2 Kings 2:9

When Elijah told him to ask for whatever he wanted.

“My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the driver thereof.” 2 Kings 2:12

When he saw Elijah go up to heaven.

“Where is now the God of Elias?” 2 Kings 2:14

When he struck the water of the Jordan with Elijah’s cloak.

“Fear not: for there are more with us than with them.” 2 Kings 6:16

To his servant, who saw the city surrounded by enemy soldiers.

What they were like

Determined: he left his oxen at once and followed Elijah. 1 Kings 19:20-21
Faithful: he would not leave his teacher. 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6
Detached: he did not accept Naaman’s gifts. 2 Kings 5:16

The greatest thing they did

The son of the woman from Shunem came back to life after Elisha prayed. 2 Kings 4:33-35
Naaman was made clean and said there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. 2 Kings 5:14-15

Not to be confused with

Elijah: Elijah was the teacher; Elisha was his disciple and successor. Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind; Elisha died and was buried. 2 Kings 2:11; 2 Kings 13:20

In the Church today

Feast day: June 14, Saint Elisha, prophet (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

In art, recognized by: Elijah’s cloak From 2 Re 2, 13-14; this is how Christian art shows him

What people ask

What is “a double portion” of the spirit?

According to a note in the NAB, the oldest son inherited a double portion. Elisha asked to inherit Elijah’s spirit as his chief disciple. 2 Kings 2:9; NAB note on 2 Re 2, 9

Who was Naaman?

The commander of the army of the king of Aram, sick with leprosy. A young Israelite girl, his wife’s servant, told him about the prophet in Samaria. 2 Kings 5:1-3

Why did Elisha refuse Naaman’s gifts?

The Bible doesn’t say why. It tells us he swore by the Lord, whom he served, that he would not accept them. His servant Gehazi did go after them in secret. 2 Kings 5:16, 20-23

What happened after his death?

A dead man who was thrown into his tomb touched Elisha’s bones and came back to life. 2 Kings 13:21

What about the story of the boys and the bears?

The Bible says some boys mocked Elisha and two bears attacked them. A note in the NAB says it is a popular story about the dignity of the prophet. 2 Kings 2:23-24; NAB note on 2 Re 2, 23-24

Little known He threw salt into the spring at Jericho, and the water became wholesome. 2 Kings 2:19-22 A woman from Shunem made him a room on the roof, with…

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Who Elisha is connected to

Elijah · master and disciple
Jesus · Naaman, the foreigner who was healed
Naaman · healed him in the Jordan

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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