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great trysting-place for the final consecration of the tribes after their entrance into the
land of promise. We remember that Saul had gathered Israel there before the great
defeat of the Philistines, when by his rash presumption the king of Israel had shown
his moral unfitness for the kingdom (1 Samuel 13:12-15).^128
The town lay in the mountains to the south-west of Shiloh, within the territory of
Ephraim. The site is now occupied by the modern village Filjilieh. A walk of eight or
nine miles due south would bring them "down" to the lower-lying Bethel, whither, as
Elijah said, God had sent him. Alike Gilgal and Bethel were seats of the sons of the
prophets, and the two are also conjoined as centers of idolatry in prophetic
denunciation (Hosea 4:15; Amos 4:4; 5:5).
Perhaps on that very ground the two were chosen for the residence of the prophets.
The motive which induced Elijah to ask Elisha to leave him has been variously
explained. We cannot persuade ourselves that it was from humility, or else because
he doubted whether the company of Elisha was in accordance with the will of God -
since in either case he would not have yielded to the mere importunity of his disciple.
As in analogous cases, we regard it rather (Ruth 1:8, 11, 12; Luke 9:57-62; John
21:15-17), as a means of testing fidelity. There are occasions when all seems to
indicate that modest and obedient retirement from the scene of prominent action and
witness, perhaps even from the dangers that may be connected with it, is our duty.
But he who would do work for the LORD must not stand afar off, but be determined
and bold in taking his place, nor must he be deterred from abiding at his post by what
may seem cross-Providences. Again, we cannot help feeling that the visit of Elijah to
the schools of the prophets at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho, must have been intended as
a test to them; while at the same time it was somehow connected with his
approaching departure. This the sons of the prophets evidently perceived, in what
manner we know not. But any formal leave-taking would seem entirely incongruous
with Elijah's whole bearing - especially on that day; and it is inconsistent with the
question to Elisha:" Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy
head today?" The word "today" may, indeed, be taken in a more general sense, as
equivalent to "at this time,"^129 but even so the question would have had no meaning
if Elijah had come to say "farewell."
At each of these places, when Elijah and Elisha left it in company - in Gilgal, Bethel,
and Jericho - the testing suggestion that Elisha should tarry behind, was repeated; on
each occasion it was answered by the determined assertion that he would not leave
his master. On each occasion also Elisha was met by the same question of those
whose morbid curiosity, rather than intelligent interest, had been stirred, and on each
he answered^130 in manner to show how little inward sympathy there was between
him and those who would have intruded themselves into the sanctuary of his soul. At
last fifty of their number followed to view afar off - not to see how the two would
(^)