{"id":63275,"date":"2019-09-22T14:13:09","date_gmt":"2019-09-22T11:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=63275"},"modified":"2023-04-17T08:49:45","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T05:49:45","slug":"elisha-the-peoples-prophet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/elisha-the-peoples-prophet\/","title":{"rendered":"Elisha, The People\u2019s Prophet"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[527,931,512,506],"acf":{"old_id":"63275","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":34250,"related_cahpter":"312","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Harsh, sarcastic, but likes that old time music that soothes the soul","content":"

Elisha is often seen as the \u201cpeople\u2019s prophet,\u201d in contrast to his predecessor, Elijah. For Elijah, God is first and foremost, and communication with the people often involves literal or metaphorical fire and brimstone. Elisha tends towards a softer approach, roaming the countryside and helping the common people in mundane though miraculous ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, when he first takes over from Elijah, Elisha displays a harshness reminiscent of his teacher; for instance, when he sends a couple of bears after some kids who mocked him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Less fatal, but more biting in the figurative sense, is Elisha\u2019s response when asked to advise the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom:<\/span><\/p>\n

Elisha said to the king of Israel, \u201cWhat have you to do with me? Go to your father\u2019s prophets or your mother\u2019s prophets\u201d (3:13).<\/span><\/p>\n

Remarkably, the king keeps his head; instead of responding angrily, he simply says \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d Commentaries suggest he meant \u201cDon\u2019t bring up something (my parents\u2019 idolatry) that might arouse harsh judgment when we\u2019re in danger!\u201d Perhaps there is also something more basic here, along the lines of the contemporary phrasing: \u201cDon\u2019t go there!\u201d Don\u2019t talk about my parents and their mistakes; I\u2019m trying to come to you for help!<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether partly due to the reproach in that sharp \u201cDon\u2019t\u201d or purely because of the involvement of the king of Judah (as Elisha claims in verse 14), Elisha then prepares himself to receive the prophetic answers requested.<\/span><\/p>\n

How?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow then, get me a musician.\u201d (v. 15)<\/span><\/p>\n

Why music? To calm down, because he was angry and anger interferes with prophecy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several things are striking here: One is the awareness of music\u2019s power to soothe the soul (even older than rock and roll) \u2013 but of course we knew that, and we knew from David and Saul that the Prophets knew it too. What is particularly remarkable in this moment is not that music will help Elisha, but that he realizes and admits he needs it.<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be hard to recognize one\u2019s own psychological state, to anticipate its potential negative effects, to understand what will help, or to ask for that help. Elisha, to his credit, does all of that.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Radak suggests that actually, Elisha was in a bad mood \u2013 and therefore missing his prophetic connection \u2013 even before this encounter, ever since he lost his teacher. In that light, we can perhaps better understand Elisha\u2019s harsh moments, in the throes of mourning the man he called \u201cfather, father! Israel\u2019s chariots and horsemen\u201d (2:12). (We might also wonder whether that negativity contributed to the bear incident \u2013 though it seems there must be more to it.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We might imagine Elisha stuck in a cycle: His prophetic predecessor was gone, he was depressed and unable to access his own prophecy, which only sent his mood further downhill, which led to his biting reaction to the king of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n

But ultimately, he broke the cycle by seeking the help he needed to move forward and become the people\u2019s prophet Providence provided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

image: Elisha the Prophet, by vebelfetzer (CC 3.0).<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":63276,"id":63276,"title":"2kings3-elisha_the_prophet_by_vebelfetzer_d3ftdi6","filename":"2kings3-elisha_the_prophet_by_vebelfetzer_d3ftdi6.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings3-elisha_the_prophet_by_vebelfetzer_d3ftdi6.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/elisha-the-peoples-prophet\/2kings3-elisha_the_prophet_by_vebelfetzer_d3ftdi6\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"2kings3-elisha_the_prophet_by_vebelfetzer_d3ftdi6","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":63275,"date":"2019-09-22 11:12:32","modified":"2022-09-25 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