{"id":63211,"date":"2019-09-19T14:25:36","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T11:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=63211"},"modified":"2023-04-14T14:42:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T11:42:27","slug":"the-transformation-of-servant-to-successor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-transformation-of-servant-to-successor\/","title":{"rendered":"The Transformation Of Servant To Successor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On the final journey Elijah and his disciple Elisha, we see an intriguing feature of their relationship, present since they first met.<\/span><\/p>\n

As they travel to the place was God will take up Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah three times urges Elisha, \u201cstay here, because for the Lord has sent me on to\u2026\u201d Elijah enjoins his student to stop following him. Yet three times, Elisha replies by swearing, \u201cAs the Lord live and as you live, I will not leave you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This echoes their initial encounter. God had told Elijah to appoint Elisha as his successor. Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha, who said \u201cLet me kiss my mother and father goodbye and I will follow you.\u201d (I Kings 19:20) Yet Elijah replied, \u201cGo back. What have I done to you?\u201d Here too the prophet appears to tell the disciple not to follow him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why would he do this? Perhaps because when the master seems, with an air of mystery, to reject students, the urge to follow him becomes all the stronger. I recall hearing somewhere, \u201cthe teacher is never so alluring, as when he turns away,\u201d though I couldn\u2019t find this quote.<\/span><\/p>\n

This turning away may also enable the disciple to become an independent person. The power of the master\u2019s spiritual example can mould the student to the extent that he or she becomes an imitation of the teacher, rather than a unique individual. Indeed, as Rabbi Alex Israel notes, although Elisha was Elijah\u2019s close disciple, he was very different from him in personality and style. Whereas Elijah was isolated and solitary, Elisha is depicted as sociable and frequently surrounded by people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Elchanan Samet argues that Elijah\u2019s attempts to turn away Elisha aim to test the latter\u2019s commitment. After Elisha has thrice refused to go back, Elijah knows for sure that this is his worthy successor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Samet supports this with a beautiful intertextual reading. He points out that Elijah\u2019s initial urging of Elisha to \u201creturn here\u201d echo the words of Abraham\u2019s instructions to his servants on the way to the Akedah to proceed no further. However, after Elisha has proven his dedication, the verse recounts that the \u201ctwo of them went on,\u201d recalling the language the Torah uses to describe Abraham and Isaac continuing on together to Mount Moriah. With this reference, the author signals Elisha\u2019s transformation from Elijah\u2019s servant into his spiritual son and heir.<\/span><\/p>\n

image by Ben Schachter.<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":63213,"id":63213,"title":"2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven","filename":"2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-transformation-of-servant-to-successor\/2kings2-schachter-elijahascendstoheaven\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"2kings2-schachter-elijahascendstoheaven","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":63211,"date":"2019-09-19 11:25:11","modified":"2022-02-09 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