And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
And Elisha died, and they buried him. He was a prophet of God. His death came during the reign of Jehoash, also called Joash, after about sixty years of ministry, following his final sickness, amid Israel's continuing troubles. About forty-five years had passed since Jehu was anointed, spanning the reigns of Jehu and Jehoahaz and part of Joash's reign. At that time Israel was suffering Syrian depredations under Hazael.
Bands of Moabite raiders invaded Israel at the beginning of the year, in annual raids into the land. The Moabites were descendants of Moab, born to Lot and one of his daughters after the destruction of Sodom, and lived east of the Dead Sea. The verse marks the setting for the remarkable incident that follows, when a dead man is revived after touching Elisha's bones. Together with the next verse, it records that a man was restored to life after his body touched Elisha's bones in the tomb, and stood on his feet.
The statement that Elisha died and was buried distinguishes his death from Elijah's being taken alive to heaven; the two events do not mean the same thing. Elisha did not go to heaven alive as Elijah did. The verse shows that even a faithful saint dies, and that the dead do not merely change their mode or form of life.
The account is one of three resurrection cases from the earlier dispensation proving that people were raised before Christ's resurrection. It stands as an exception to the general rule that the dead live again only through a future resurrection. The revival illustrates that trials bring a daily death to self, but contact with Christ brings resurrection power and renewal. The account of Elisha's life and miracles is among those that some critics dismiss as pious legends and myths rather than true events.
And Elisha died, and they buried him. He was a prophet of God. His death came during the reign of Jehoash, also called Joash, after about sixty years of ministry, following his final sickness, amid Israel's continuing troubles. About forty-five years had passed since Jehu was anointed, spanning the reigns of Jehu and Jehoahaz and part of Joash's reign. At that time Israel was suffering Syrian depredations under Hazael.
Bands of Moabite raiders invaded Israel at the beginning of the year, in annual raids into the land. The Moabites were descendants of Moab, born to Lot and one of his daughters after the destruction of Sodom, and lived east of the Dead Sea. The verse marks the setting for the remarkable incident that follows, when a dead man is revived after touching Elisha's bones. Together with the next verse, it records that a man was restored to life after his body touched Elisha's bones in the tomb, and stood on his feet.
The statement that Elisha died and was buried distinguishes his death from Elijah's being taken alive to heaven; the two events do not mean the same thing. Elisha did not go to heaven alive as Elijah did. The verse shows that even a faithful saint dies, and that the dead do not merely change their mode or form of life.
The account is one of three resurrection cases from the earlier dispensation proving that people were raised before Christ's resurrection. It stands as an exception to the general rule that the dead live again only through a future resurrection. The revival illustrates that trials bring a daily death to self, but contact with Christ brings resurrection power and renewal. The account of Elisha's life and miracles is among those that some critics dismiss as pious legends and myths rather than true events.