Note.—Elisha had been chosen as the successor of Elijah by the direct command of the Lord (1 Kings 19:16), and after his anointing he had accompanied Elijah as a servant. There were schools of the prophets (schools where young men were taught by the prophets) at Gilgal, at Bethel, and at Jericho. Elijah and Elisha were at Bethel when the time came “when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven.” Elijah told his servant to remain there till he went to Bethel; but Elisha refused to leave his master, and they went together. At Bethel Elijah proposed that Elisha remain there while he went to Jericho, but his servant insisted on accompanying him; “so they came to Jericho.” At both Bethel and Jericho the “sons” (or students) of the prophets said to Elisha, “Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day?” and he told them that he knew it. These facts bring us to the lesson proper.
6 “And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off; and they two stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more; and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13 And he took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over. 15 And when the sons of the prophets which were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.”
Golden Text:“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.”Luke 11:13.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What did Elijah say to Elisha at Jericho? What was Elisha’s reply? V. 6. Note 1. (2) What did some of the students at Jericho do? V. 7. (3) As the two men stood by the river, what did Elijah do? What was the result of this action? V. 8. (4) When they had passed over the river, what did Elijah say to his servant? V. 9. Note 2. (5) What was Elisha’s reply? V. 9. Note 3. (6) What did Elijah say to this request? V. 10. Note 4. (7) As they went on and talked, what appeared to them? What was the effect of this appearance? And what became of Elijah? V. 11. (8) As Elisha saw it, what did he cry? As his “father” went out of sight, how did Elisha manifest his feelings? V. 12. Note 5. (9) Then what course did he pursue? V. 13. (10) Coming to the Jordan, what use did Elisha make of the mantle? With what result? V. 14. Note 5. (11) What did the “sons of the prophets” recognize when they saw Elisha return over the Jordan? How did they show their recognition? V. 15. Note 6.
NOTES.
1. I will not leave thee.—The journey was revealed to Elisha only stage by stage, as his master bade farewell to the schools. In this way the faith of Elijah’s successor was tested, and proved to be unfaltering. Elijah had not told his servant that he was to be taken away, but Elisha was in some way conscious of the fact, as is shown in his answers to the young men at Gilgal and Bethel when asked if he knew it. See verses 3 and 5 of the lesson chapter.
2. Ask.—Elijah’s satisfaction with Elisha’s fidelity, and consequent fitness to carry on the work to which he had been anointed, is shown in his words, “Ask what I shall do for thee.” But what could he give who had no possessions save the common garments of one noted for his plainness of dress? When we remember that, though poor in this world’s goods, he was “rich in faith,” it is clear that there is no irony in the suggestion.
3. A double portion.—The “double portion” which Elisha asked and received is not to be understood as being twice as much of the Spirit as Elijah had, but it refers to the double portion which was the recognized lot of the first-born. See Deut. 21:15–17. Elijah had no natural children, but Elisha was his son in the faith, as Paul says of Timothy (2 Tim. 1:2; 2:1), of Titus (Titus 1:4), and of Onesimus (Philemon 10). Verse 12 of the lesson scripture shows that Elisha regarded Elijah in the light of a father.
4. A hard thing.—Elisha had asked what was to Elijah a hard thing, because it was a spiritual gift, which he could not bestow. However, the words, “If thou see me taken from thee” (R.V.), were an incentive to watchfulness and prayer as they continued their journey. We may be sure that Elisha did not lose sight of his master for an instant from that time till the parting took place, and his faith brought the desired blessing.
5. “My father, my father,” etc.—Elisha saw his “father” taken from him, and thus believed that the “double portion” was his. So he took up Elijah’s mantle and went back to the Jordan. Here was the first opportunity to test the promise that had been given, and the Lord honored His word which had been spoken through His prophet.
6. The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.—The students of the school at Jericho (called “sons of the prophets”) had gone out to see if there would be any unusual manifestation. It is evident that they saw the two men cross the Jordan together, and had observed the manner of their crossing. And as Elisha returned alone, and used the same means, with the same result, these young men had the ocular evidence that Elisha had indeed been endowed with the spirit of prophecy. The mantle of Elijah had fallen to him in more than a literal sense. From this circumstance the mantle is made a symbol of succession to office or authority unto this day.
