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CHAPTER 10 : THE MINISTRY OF ELISHA AS THE PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LIVING GOD IN ISRAEL - The
Prophet's Widow and her Miraculous Deliverance – The
Shunammite and Elisha - The God-given Child - His Death and
Restoration to Life - Elisha at Gilgal with the " Sons of the
Prophets" - " Death in the Pot" and Removal of the Harm - The
Man from Baal-Shalisha - God's Sufficient and Unfailing
Provision for His own. (2 Kings 4)
THERE is something grand and truly characteristic of "prophetic history" when the
Biblical narrative abruptly turns from the expedition against Moab, which, although
so simply told, was of such deep and lasting political importance, to tell what reads
like a summary of the prophetic activity of Elisha. It shows, on the one hand, how all
events are regarded from the Divine point of view, while on the other hand, it helps
us to understand the real meaning and purpose of the miraculous element in the
ministry of Elisha, as designed to recall Israel to a realizing sense of the presence and
power of Jehovah, and by such religious revival to avert imminent national judgment.
Accidentally we obtain in the course of the narrative, interesting side-glimpses into
private and public life in Israel, which generally confirm our confidence in the
historic truth of what is related.
At the outset we may say that the impression which this history as a whole makes on
us, is that it seems transferred or perhaps rather summarized, from some special
narrative or work descriptive of the activity of Elisha. The incidents do not seem
arranged in their strict chronological succession, but grouped according to their
internal connection, so that an account of the more private activity of the prophet, as
regards individuals, families, and communities, is followed by that of his public
activity, in its bearing on Israel and Syria. Again, it is reasonable to suppose that all
which is here recorded had not occurred exclusively during the reign of Joram, which
lasted only twelve years (2 Kings 3:1). For as Elisha died during the reign of Joash (2
Kings 13:14), his ministry must have extended over four reigns, and lasted altogether
about fifty-five or fifty-seven years. Hence there would be a blank of forty-five years
in the narrative if all that is recorded of Elisha had taken place in the time of Joram.
But the deepest lesson which the life and ministry of Elisha were intended to teach
was to set forth, as against the dark background of coming judgment upon Israel's
apostasy, the tender care, the sufficient provision, the ever-present help which the
LORD would extend to His own servants and people.
(^)