Commemoration Day of
St. Elisha the Prophet
St. Elisha the Prophet
In the life of the Prophet Elijah, we see how Elisha became his disciple and successor. Elisha is one of the most remarkable figures of the Old Testament. After Moses, more miracles are attributed to him than to any other biblical prophet. Elijah is credited with seven miracles, while Elisha is associated with thirteen. Indeed, before Elijah was taken up into heaven, Elisha asked to receive a double portion of his master's spirit.
Among his many miracles, the healing of Naaman the Syrian is perhaps the most famous. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Damascus and suffered from leprosy. Having heard of Elisha's miraculous works, he came to the prophet with horses, chariots, and a great entourage.
Without even leaving his house, Elisha sent a messenger instructing Naaman to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman had expected special treatment from the prophet, perhaps that Elisha would come out personally, lay hands upon him, and pray. When this did not happen, he became angry and prepared to leave, saying, “If washing in a river could heal me, we have rivers in my country far greater and more beautiful than the Jordan.”
His servants, however, calmed his anger and reasoned with him: “If the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it?” Naaman listened, went to the Jordan, washed seven times, and was completely healed.
Returning in gratitude, he declared:
“Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel.”
He then urged Elisha to accept gifts from him, but the prophet firmly refused. Finally Naaman requested permission to take two mule-loads of soil from Israel, saying that from that day forward he would worship no god but the Lord. Elisha blessed him and sent him away in peace.
Yet temptation entered the heart of Elisha's servant, Gehazi. Wondering why his master had refused such wealth, he secretly pursued Naaman and falsely claimed that unexpected guests had arrived and that Elisha now needed money and garments. Naaman gladly gave more than was requested.
When Gehazi returned, Elisha confronted him and said:
“Since you accepted Naaman's gifts, his leprosy shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.”
When Gehazi departed from Elisha's presence, he was already afflicted with leprosy (2 Kings 5).
Although Elisha was Elijah's disciple and successor, the two prophets differed greatly in character and ministry. Elijah lived as a solitary prophet, enduring constant struggles, discouragements, and even moments when he prayed for death. Elisha, by contrast, lived among people and enjoyed a ministry marked by victories, restoration, and success. He loved music and often sought its aid before prophesying (2 Kings 3:15).
Rather than spending his life in continual confrontation, Elisha devoted much of his ministry to guiding, organizing, and strengthening the nation. One account tells how the Syrians surrounded the city where Elisha lived. Rising early, the prophet went out to them and convinced them that they had come to the wrong city. He offered to lead them to the place they sought, and they followed him unsuspectingly.
Elisha led them directly into Samaria, the capital of Israel. Realizing they had fallen into enemy hands, the king of Israel asked whether he should put them to death. Elisha replied:
“No. Feed them, show them hospitality, and send them home in peace.”
The biblical account concludes that after this event, Syrian raiding parties no longer entered the land of Israel (2 Kings 6).
While foreign enemies could be dealt with through mercy, internal corruption posed an even greater threat. Therefore, Elisha instructed that Jehu be anointed king. Jehu destroyed the idolatrous house of Ahab and brought judgment upon Jezebel, who was thrown from a palace window at his command. As the people celebrated victory, dogs consumed the remains of the wicked queen, fulfilling the prophetic word.
Just as Elisha's life was marked by miracles and divine favor, so too were his final days and even his death. On his deathbed, when the king of Israel came to visit him, the prophet encouraged him and gave instructions concerning future victories over Israel's enemies.
After Elisha died and was buried, another man was later being buried nearby. When the dead man's body touched Elisha's bones, he immediately came back to life (2 Kings 13:14–21).
Thus it was no small thing that this gentle yet courageous prophet had asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit.
Elisha lived and ministered during the latter half of the ninth century before Christ.
The Armenian Church commemorates the Prophet Elisha on the Thursday following the fifth Sunday after Pentecost.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
~ 2 Kings 13:14-21 ~
Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, King Joash of Israel went down to him, and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows"; so he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Draw the bow"; and he drew it. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. Then he said, "Open the window eastward"; and he opened it. Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. Then he said, "The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! For you shall fight the Arameans in Aphek until you have made an end of them." He continued, "Take the arrows"; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them"; he struck three times, and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Aram until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Aram only three times." So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. As a man was being buried, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha; as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came to life and stood on his feet.
~ 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ~
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 4:25-30 ~
But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.