Old Testament Story List

Elisha

Leaving Mount Horeb, Elijah did as the Lord commanded. He found young Elisha plowing with oxen in his father's field. Elijah threw his coat over the young man's shoulders. This was a sign that Elisha was to assume Elijah's work as a prophet of God.

Elisha killed the oxen and gave a farewell feast for

Long after, when Elijah was old and the Lord was ready to take him into heaven, he led Elisha down to the Jordan. While fifty of the sons of the prophets stood to watch from afar, Elijah took off his mantle, smote the waters so that they were divided, and the two crossed on dry ground to the other side.

Then Elijah said, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away." And Elisha answered, "I pray that a double portion of your spirit be within me."

"You have asked a very difficult thing," Elijah told him.

"Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so. If not, your prayer will not be answered."

As they still talked, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire that swept between them and bore Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind.

And Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!"

He picked up the mantle which had fallen from Elijah and smote the waters of the Jordan. When they parted to that he could recross on dry ground, the sons of the prophets came and bowed before him. For they saw that the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha.