Elisha meaning?
Elisha’s name in Hebrew means “God is salvation” (New Bible Dictionary). Elisha is mentioned only once in the New Testament, using the Greek version of his name, Elisaios, in Luke 4:27 (King James Version).
Elisha the man of God
God, who sees in secret, always knows all who are His, and He had earlier declared to Elijah that there were 7,000 persons in Israel who had not done homage to Baal during a very wicked time (1 Kings 19:18).
As Elijah was nearing the end of his ministry, God directed him to anoint a younger man named Elisha to take his place. Elisha, son of Shaphat, was from Abel Meholah, of the Jordan Valley (1 Kings 19:16).
After a few years of training, Elisha would become God’s spokesman to the northern kingdom; and his ministry would be filled with signs and miracles, proclamations and warnings. He would become known as the prophet of peace and healing.
Elijah and Elisha: mantle is passed
Elijah was divinely directed by God to seek his successor, and Elijah found Elisha out in a field plowing on his father’s farm. Elijah placed his mantle (an outer garment, like a cloak) on Elisha’s shoulders, and Elisha apparently understood this symbolic act as being appointed to the role of a prophet.
Without hesitation, Elisha accepted the call to service, leaving the comfort of his family and home to follow a less predictable life that would require personal sacrifice (1 Kings 19:19-21).
Elisha began his ministry as Elijah’s student and personal attendant. The young man would first prove himself faithful in small things, such as the humble duty of pouring water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11). Elisha’s training under Elijah would gradually prepare him for a work that he would one day take up alone.
Elijah and Elisha: double portion request?
On the day that the prophet Elijah understood his ministry was coming to a close and that Elisha would take his place, Elijah said to Elisha, “‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me’” (2 Kings 2:9).
“The ‘double portion’ is that which denotes the proportion of a father’s property which was the right of an eldest son (Deuteronomy 21:17). Elisha therefore asked for twice as much of Elijah’s spirit as should be inherited by any other of the ‘sons of the prophets.’ He wished to be acknowledged as Elijah’s ‘firstborn spiritual son’” (Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, 2 Kings 2:9).
Elisha didn’t ask for worldly honor or for a high place among men. What he really desired was a large measure of the Holy Spirit that God had so freely placed upon the prophet Elijah. He knew that He needed God’s Holy Spirit to equip him for the responsibilities that lay ahead.
Elijah then answered, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so” (2 Kings 2:10).
The Hebrew words in this verse mean that if Elisha would be given the privilege of seeing the miraculous way God would take Elijah away, then it would be a sign that his request would be granted.
“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’” (2 Kings 2:11-12).
God had suddenly taken Elijah out of service, and Elisha was privileged to watch the miraculous way in which his master departed.
Crossing the Jordan
Elisha reached down and picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from the prophet when he was taken away. This represented the authority God had given His prophet. Elijah had used it earlier that same morning in miraculously causing the waters of the Jordan River to divide (verse 8).
After picking up Elijah’s mantle, Elisha went to the bank of the Jordan River to test whether the spirit of Elijah had really fallen upon him. Approaching the river, he asked, “‘Where is the LORD God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over” (verse 14).
The sons of the prophets also recognized that the “spirit of Elijah” now rested on Elisha, and they bowed before him in respect (verse 15). Elisha then began his prophetic career, which likely lasted some 50 years, as it extended over the reigns of four kings of Israel: Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz and Joash.
Miracles of Elisha
Elisha’s next recorded miracle granted an impoverished family of faith a financial blessing. A student of one of the religious training centers died and his wife became a widow. She was very poor and owned just one marketable item of value, a jar of olive oil. She had two sons to care for, and she asked Elisha to help her as she feared her sons would be taken away to pay a debt.
Elisha instructed her to go to all her neighbors and borrow as many empty jars as she could. A miracle was going to occur that would allow her to fill every empty jar to the top by pouring from her one jar of olive oil. The one jar of oil was multiplied miraculously, and she was able to sell enough of the valuable oil to pay off her debt and live off the remainder (2 Kings 4:1-7).
Ministry of Elisha
The ministry of Elisha the prophet was different from that of Elijah in some regards. Elijah was commissioned to deliver fearless messages of condemnation and judgment to the king and to the people, warning them to turn from sin. Elisha’s ministry was to build on the work that Elijah had begun by teaching the people God’s ways.
Throughout his long and effective years of labor, Elisha continued to advance the important spiritual education that was so needed at the schools of the prophets. For more understanding of Elijah’s prophetic role, read our related article “Elijah the Prophet.”
Elisha: Lessons for today
When we remember these stories, we can draw strength from them and understand that God is willing and able to help us with what we need, when we need it (2 Corinthians 9:8). We can learn that He expects us to keep all of His commandments if we are to boldly come before Him in times of need (John 14:12-15; Hebrews 4:14-16). And we can grow to believe that those who trust in God are to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Elisha’s lifework was in educating people about keeping God’s requirements and His blessings for living in faith. His message is just as important for us today, as we seek to draw close to and become more like the God who worked through Elisha. We must pray for God’s help and seek His Spirit as Elisha did.