2 Kings 2:15
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho 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. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho 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.
The sons of the prophets were schools of young men who studied God's word and sought wisdom from above, prepared for service as teachers and leaders in Israel. Elijah and Elisha stood among prophets raised up to bear divine wisdom and to warn Israel in a time of idolatry and widespread wickedness, and Elijah's work was guided by the Holy Spirit. What is described took place after Elijah was taken up from Elisha. Elisha had returned across the Jordan to where the prophets at Jericho were watching.
When the prophetic company at Jericho saw Elisha, they recognized that Elijah's prophetic spirit, work and authority rested on him. By coming to meet him and bowing to the ground before him, they honored him and acknowledged him as Elijah's successor and as one carrying prophetic authority. Elisha received a double portion of the spirit that had rested on Elijah. The spirit that had rested on Elijah fell on Elisha in full measure.
In Elisha the power associated with Elijah was joined with gentleness, mercy and tender compassion belonging to the Spirit of Christ. His ministry was marked by kindness and gentleness exceeding Elijah's severity, showing a successor whose spirit and manner suited what the work at that time required. He proved faithful to the end, never wavering or losing trust in God's power, and when the way seemed closed he advanced by faith and God honored his confidence by opening the way.
The event shows Elijah preparing Elisha to continue his work, including teaching him how to teach the truth to others. It illustrates the importance of experienced workers preparing younger people to carry the work forward after them. Elijah's example in so preparing Elisha places a duty on experienced ministers to give younger workers opportunity to learn how to teach the truth. As Elijah was full of the Holy Spirit, so Luther is presented as a man full of the Holy Spirit in comparison with Elijah.