{"id":64281,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:51","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-2011\/"},"modified":"2023-05-17T07:24:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T04:24:00","slug":"wall-2011","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"book-Prophets-II Kings"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"book","wall_id":"2011","book":"II Kings","books_group":"Prophets","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"date":"20191023","static_cube_title":"2 Kings Precis","static_cube_brief":"

The Book of Kings relates the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, from the days of Solomon and David until the destruction of the First Temple. Though it was written as one book, it has been divided into two parts: 1 Kings and 2 Kings.<\/p>\n

2 Kings opens at the end of the period of Elijah the prophet, and continues with his disciple-successor Elisha. 2 Kings documents the rise of the kingdom of Israel, and then its fall: destruction and exile. The book concludes with the subsequent end of the kingdom of Judah, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.<\/p>\n","static_cube_color":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"64596","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"How To Understand It All? ","post_title":"How To Understand It All?","slug":"how-to-understand-it-all","old_id":"64596","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2011","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The explanation of our historic tragedy also articulates the roadmap to our collective return","post_main_content_content":"

After the greatest catastrophe to befall the Jewish nation \u2014 the Temple's destruction, the loss of sovereignty, and national displacement from the covenantal land to foreign soil \u2014 the need for some understanding of the historic situation was urgent. Had God rejected His nation? Was this the end of God's city, the Temple, the Jewish people?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Much like the theological questions raised in recent generations in the aftermath of the Holocaust, Jews in the post-Hurban era needed an explanation, a framework within which to understand the great calamity that had struck the Jewish people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The covenantal theme and language of Kings finds its origin in the Torah. There we read not merely of national ruin and dispersion but of a process of reversal and national rehabilitation. There, a compassionate God refuses to rescind the covenant even after it has been shunned by Israel (Deut. 4:23-31).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God is \"a consuming fire\" when Israel sins, but in exile, when Israel seeks God \"with all [their] heart and soul,\" God is \"compassionate\" and will \"not forget the covenant.\" This is but one text among many that promises a reversal of fortunes after the exile. But a second passage, in the book of Kings itself, includes a segment that in retrospect anticipates this question. King Solomon dedicates the Temple with a remarkable prayer in which he lists an array of circumstances of distress, and in each difficult situation, he affirms that God will accept the prayers that are offered to Him. The final scenario is described as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When they sin against You \u2014 for there is no man who does not sin \u2014 and You are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and their captors carry them off to an enemy land... and they repent and make supplication to You in the land of their captors, saying: \"We have sinned...,\" and they turn back to You with all their heart and soul.... Grant them mercy in the sight of their captors that they may be merciful to them. For they are Your very own people that You freed from Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace. May Your eyes be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, and may You heed them whenever they call upon You. (I Kings 8:46-53)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This remarkable passage, situated at the very moment of the dedication of the Temple during the heyday of Solomon, when any hint of exile would seem an absurd notion, reaffirms the enduring bond, even in exile, between Israel and God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In II Kings, we have encountered powerful kings, astounding prophets and disciples of prophets, priests, courtiers, foreign leaders, and mighty emperors. But the enduring message is the veracity of God's covenant to Israel, both an unbreakable relationship imbued with much divine love for Israel, and a set of rules the denial of which will lead to national ruin. Ultimately, the explanation of our historic tragedy also articulates the roadmap to our collective return.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Alex Israel, II Kings: In a Whirlwind<\/em>, Maggid Books, 2019, Conclusion<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63123,"alt":"","title":"2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","width":923,"height":597,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-768x497.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":497,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","large-width":923,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","1536x1536-width":923,"1536x1536-height":597,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","2048x2048-width":923,"2048x2048-height":597,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","post_full_size-width":923,"post_full_size-height":597,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-649x420.jpg","home_baner-width":649,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Farewell to the Book of Kings: Summing Up","tile_main_caption":"How To Understand It All?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The explanation of our historic tragedy also articulates the roadmap to our collective return","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63123,"alt":"","title":"2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","width":923,"height":597,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-768x497.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":497,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","large-width":923,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","1536x1536-width":923,"1536x1536-height":597,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","2048x2048-width":923,"2048x2048-height":597,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2.jpg","post_full_size-width":923,"post_full_size-height":597,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2Kings1-Schachter-KingsPart2-649x420.jpg","home_baner-width":649,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":"20191023","wall_id":"2011"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"395","name":"Covenant","old_id":"795"},{"term_id":"432","name":"Exile","old_id":"832"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"547","name":"Punishment","old_id":"947"},{"term_id":"647","name":"Return","old_id":"1047"}]},{"order":2,"id":"72256","color":"#effaea","size":"2","name":"24 in 24: Kings (I & II) ","post_title":"24 in 24: Kings (I & II)","slug":"24-in-24-kings-i-ii","old_id":"72256","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":72269,"post_title":"Jeffrey Kobrin","slug":"jeffrey-kobrin","old_id":"72269","first_name":"Jeffrey ","last_name":"Kobrin","description":"Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Kobrin is the Rosh HaYeshiva \/ Head of School of the North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck, NY.","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Kobrin is the Rosh HaYeshiva \/ Head of School of the North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck, NY.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":72270,"alt":"","title":"Jeff-Kobrin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin.jpg","width":751,"height":1004,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin-224x300.jpg","medium-width":224,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin.jpg","medium_large-width":751,"medium_large-height":1004,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin.jpg","large-width":751,"large-height":1004,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin.jpg","1536x1536-width":751,"1536x1536-height":1004,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin.jpg","2048x2048-width":751,"2048x2048-height":1004,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin.jpg","post_full_size-width":751,"post_full_size-height":1004,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Jeff-Kobrin-314x420.jpg","home_baner-width":314,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"443","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"#9: Kings (I & II) - From Wide Angle To Close Up","post_main_content_content":"

In an effort to bring more Torah content to your homes and devices, we are pleased to announce this new initiative.<\/p>\r\n

There are 24 hours in a day, 24 books of Tanakh and \u2013 counting from Monday \u2013 24 days until Pesach. Count up with us at 929!<\/p>\r\n

3.5 years to complete all of Tanakh might feel a bit long. If you are ready to dive into some of the later books of Tanakh, \u201c24 in 24\u201d is for you.<\/p>\r\n

Starting on Monday the 16th<\/sup> of March (click here to see all the videos to date<\/a>), alongside our daily chapter, we will be starting a parallel learning cycle, with the goal of working our way through all 24 books of Tanakh over the next 24 days. Drawing from our community of educators and writers, each day, here on the site, in our daily newsletter and through our social media channels we will be sharing a 20-30 minute video exploring a resonant theme in each of the 24 books of Tanakh, starting with Bereishit\/Genesis on Monday March 16, and ending with Divrei Hayamim\/Chronicles.<\/p>\r\n

Join us for this journey in text \u2013 from the comfort (and appropriately socially distanced semi-isolation) of your own home!<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_gzWutWtDUA","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"24 in 24","tile_main_caption":"#9: Kings (I & II) - From Wide Angle To Close Up","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with: Jeffrey Kobrin","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_gzWutWtDUA","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"43","chapter_main_number":"443","date":"20270511","wall_id":"443"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"332","name":"24 in 24","old_id":"732"}]},{"order":3,"id":"63211","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"The Transformation of Servant to Successor ","post_title":"The Transformation Of Servant To Successor","slug":"the-transformation-of-servant-to-successor","old_id":"63211","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36277,"post_title":"Yedidya Sinclair","slug":"yedidya-sinclair","old_id":"36277","first_name":"Yedidya","last_name":"Sinclair","description":"Rabbi Yedidya Sinclair serves as Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon, the leading US Jewish environmental organization. From 2011-16 he was Vice President for Research and Senior Economist at Energiya Global, a Jerusalem-based solar energy company focused on the developing world and he continues to consult on renewable energy and climate change preparedness. In 2014 he published together with Hazon, a translation of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's great work on shmitta, the Sabbatical year, \"Introduction to Shabbat Ha'aretz.\" Yedidya holds a BA from Oxford University, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and lives with his family in Jerusalem.","short_description":"Yedidya Sinclair is a Jerusalem-based rabbi and economist, and is Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36278,"alt":"","title":"yedidya sinclair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When rejection is the highest form of acceptance","post_main_content_content":"

On the final journey Elijah and his disciple Elisha, we see an intriguing feature of their relationship, present since they first met.<\/span><\/p>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\n

image by Ben Schachter.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63213,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","width":1055,"height":793,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-768x577.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":577,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-1024x770.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","1536x1536-width":1055,"1536x1536-height":793,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","2048x2048-width":1055,"2048x2048-height":793,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","post_full_size-width":1055,"post_full_size-height":793,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-559x420.jpg","home_baner-width":559,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Transformation Of Servant To Successor","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"When rejection is the highest form of acceptance","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63213,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","width":1055,"height":793,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-768x577.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":577,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-1024x770.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","1536x1536-width":1055,"1536x1536-height":793,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","2048x2048-width":1055,"2048x2048-height":793,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","post_full_size-width":1055,"post_full_size-height":793,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-559x420.jpg","home_baner-width":559,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II 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She has been sharing her passion for Jewish texts of all kinds for over 15 years, with students of all ages. Sarah\u2019s essays have been published in a variety of internet and print media, including Times of Israel, Kveller, Jewish Action, OU Life, The Lehrhaus, TorahMusings, and more. Sarah lives in Cleveland with her husband and four children, but is privileged to learn online with students all over the world through www.TorahTutors.org and www.WebYeshiva.org. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34251,"alt":"","title":"Sarah R","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","width":2824,"height":4246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","1536x1536-width":1022,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","2048x2048-width":1362,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"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","post_main_content_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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\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>\r\n

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

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

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

image: Elisha the Prophet, by vebelfetzer (CC 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She holds degrees in Israel studies , education and psychology, and has been a leader and educator in Northern California for over 25 years. Her first novel, Hachug (\"Extracurricular\") was published in Israel in 2016 and her weekly blog can be found at http:\/\/www.miko284.com\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42747,"alt":"","title":"michal kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","width":214,"height":226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":226,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium_large-width":214,"medium_large-height":226,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","large-width":214,"large-height":226,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","1536x1536-width":214,"1536x1536-height":226,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","2048x2048-width":214,"2048x2048-height":226,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","post_full_size-width":214,"post_full_size-height":226,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","home_baner-width":214,"home_baner-height":226}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"310","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An image of death which echoes through the ages\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

For many of us, Lord of the Flies is a book we have had to read in school. The famously horrifying 1954 novel by William Golding (his first!) tells the story of a group of boys who are stranded on an uninhabited, paradise-like island, and their descent into savagery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the book, the Lord of the Flies is a pig\u2019s head, mounted on a sharpened stick, which is soon swarmed by flies. It\u2019s disgusting but it reveals the truth to one of them: the beast, whom they are trying to offer the pig\u2019s head to, is really not outside, but rather, inside them all. The boy who discovers this, rushes to tell the other boys, but ends up being mistaken for the beast; attacked and killed by them. Even though Lord of Flies tells the truth, it is a truth that can\u2019t be handled safely, and becomes part of the confusing, dangerous world they all live in.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The book, which was originally entitled <\/span>Strangers From Within<\/span><\/em>, was initially rejected by a reader at <\/span>Faber and Faber<\/span> as \"rubbish & dull. Pointless.\" The title was considered \"too abstract and too explicit\". Following a further review, the book was eventually published as <\/span>Lord of the Flies<\/span><\/em>. In Hebrew it\u2019s been translated as <\/span>Baal Zvuv<\/span><\/em>, and it\u2019s hard not to think of the Philistine god mentioned in the second verse of this chapter:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ahaziah\u2026 sent messengers, whom he instructed: \u201cGo inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Baal literally means owner, master, and is the name of the Canaanite god, while zvuv<\/em> means fly. Malbim and Rav Shimshon Rafael Hirsch think that <\/span>there was a relationship between the Philistine god and cults of flies\u2014referring to seeing them as pests, feasting on excrement\u2014symbolizing the power to heal and destroy, affect life and death, as is also evident by our verse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Others think, that its original name was actually Baal Zevul<\/em> (like Zevulun, son of Leah and Jacob) which could have meant \u201cLord of (heavenly) dwelling\u201d, and <\/span>zvuv<\/span><\/em> might have been a derogatory pun on it.One more possibility is that its name is associated with the fly\u2019s small size, based on the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 183b), where is says that \u201ceach and every person made for themselves an image and put it in their pocket; when they remembered it, they would pull it out and kiss it\u201d. Indeed, archeologists have found little statutes of flies near Ekron.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lord of the Flies appears in religious Christian literature from the New Testament and onwards throughout the centuries as Satan or the devil. It even made its way into Queen\u2019s \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d: \u201c<\/span>Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go; <\/span>Beelzebub<\/span> has a devil put aside for me\u201d\u2026.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Ultimately, Ahaziah\u2019s efforts to be healed through this Lord of Flies, did not succeed. His reign lasts only this one chapter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by Ben Schachter, courtesy of the artist.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63138,"alt":"","title":"2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","width":928,"height":1094,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-768x905.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":905,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-869x1024.jpg","large-width":869,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","1536x1536-width":928,"1536x1536-height":1094,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","2048x2048-width":928,"2048x2048-height":1094,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","post_full_size-width":928,"post_full_size-height":1094,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-356x420.jpg","home_baner-width":356,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Lord Of The Flies","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An image of death which echoes through the ages\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63138,"alt":"","title":"2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","width":928,"height":1094,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-768x905.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":905,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-869x1024.jpg","large-width":869,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","1536x1536-width":928,"1536x1536-height":1094,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","2048x2048-width":928,"2048x2048-height":1094,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies.jpg","post_full_size-width":928,"post_full_size-height":1094,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings1-Schachter-LordofFlies-356x420.jpg","home_baner-width":356,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"310","date":"20261105","wall_id":"310"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"373","name":"Literature","old_id":"773"},{"term_id":"429","name":"Idolatry","old_id":"829"}]},{"order":6,"id":"63289","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Elisha v. Elijah: A Study In Contrasts ","post_title":"Elisha v. Elijah: A Study In Contrasts","slug":"elisha-v-elijah-a-study-in-contrasts","old_id":"63289","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"313","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Highlighting healing and hope, Elisha offers encouragement, not confrontation or criticism","post_main_content_content":"

Elisha\u2019s miracle of the oil jug is highly reminiscent of Elijah\u2019s miracle with the widow of Tzarafat (I Kings 17:11). The differences between their miracles are significant:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Whereas Elisha's sole motive is to provide for the widow's welfare, in Elijah's story, the widow is there to assist him, to sustain him as he hides from King Ahab.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Elisha does not test the widow. By contrast, Elijah challenges the widow from Tzarafat.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Elisha does not benefit from the miracle he performs; his is a thoroughly altruistic gesture. Elijah benefits from his miracle.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Precisely because of its parallelism with Elijah, our story leads to a study of contrasts between Elisha and Elijah. Here is a prophet who offers support rather than criticism, whose demeanor is that of kindness and assistance rather than confrontation and accusation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    What are the sources of the differences between the two prophets?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Elisha may represent an alternative tactical approach. If one wishes to draw the nation to Judaism, what is the more effective educational method: The stick or the carrot? Confrontation or encouragement?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Elijah's strategy sought to pressure the people into affirming their religious commitment openly, and to forcefully demonstrate God's supremacy. By contrast, Elisha practices kindness and generates miracles which allow the average Israelite to realize that \"there is a prophet in Israel\" (II Kings 5:8).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Lastly, the difference between Elijah and Elisha may be a function of the times in which they live and serve. Elijah operates during the reign of King Ahab, when the kingdom enjoys economic prosperity and wields international influence and power. Elisha's era is plagued by Aram's domination of the northern kingdom as well as bouts of famine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Whereas Elijah may feel it necessary to rebuke Israel for its waywardness, presenting a dour and sobering counterbalance in heady times and challenging the leadership in a fortunate era, Elisha senses that during difficult times, such an approach is deeply unjustified. When the nation is under siege, relief, inspiration, and encouragement are needed. There will be times in which Elisha too will play his part in the divine punishment of the house of Omri, but to the largest extent possible Elisha dedicates his role as prophet to offering hope and healing, highlighting God's special connection with His people, through the miracles he performs and the assistance he offers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Alex Israel, II Kings: In a Whirlwind,<\/em> Maggid Books, 2019, Elisha: Prophet of Miracles\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63310,"alt":"","title":"Alex Israel - 2_kings_cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","width":1711,"height":1821,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-282x300.jpg","medium-width":282,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-768x817.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":817,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-962x1024.jpg","large-width":962,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1443,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1711,"2048x2048-height":1821,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-1128x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1128,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-395x420.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Excerpts from: II Kings - In A Whirlwind","tile_main_caption":"Elisha v. Elijah: A Study In Contrasts","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Highlighting healing and hope, Elisha offers encouragement, not confrontation or criticism","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63310,"alt":"","title":"Alex Israel - 2_kings_cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","width":1711,"height":1821,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-282x300.jpg","medium-width":282,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-768x817.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":817,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-962x1024.jpg","large-width":962,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1443,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1711,"2048x2048-height":1821,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-1128x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1128,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-395x420.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"313","date":"20261110","wall_id":"313"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"}]},{"order":7,"id":"63106","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Two Grieving Mothers And One Dead Baby ","post_title":"Two Grieving Mothers And One Dead Baby","slug":"two-grieving-mothers-and-one-dead-baby","old_id":"63106","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"315","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But this time, no Solomonic decision is possible","post_main_content_content":"

    6:30 \u201cAnd it happened when the king of Israel heard the woman\u2019s words, he rent his garments as he was passing on top of the wall, and the people saw, and, look, sackcloth was on his flesh underneath.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

    The situation of the two women, one asking for justice from the king after her child has been cannibalized, is reminiscent of the two whores with the dead child and the living child in 1 Kings 3. This king, however, has no option to exercise Solomonic wisdom after the woman\u2019s child has been eaten, and instead, despairing, he rends his garments in an act of mourning.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

    From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Two Grieving Mothers And One Dead Baby","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But this time, no Solomonic decision is possible","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"315","date":"20261112","wall_id":"315"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"63394","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Mother Of The Movement ","post_title":"Mother Of The Movement","slug":"mother-of-the-movement","old_id":"63394","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":59587,"post_title":"Benjamin Morse","slug":"benjamin-morse","old_id":"59587","first_name":"Benjamin ","last_name":"Morse ","description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history at Vassar, Oxford, and the Courtauld before completing a PhD in biblical interpretation. His dissertation reads the Hebrew Bible\u2019s \u201cmodern methods\u201d through the lens of painting and collage. His illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever, has won multiple awards.\r\nPhoto by Lenka Opalena.","short_description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history, and is the author and illustrator of the illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever. 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    \u201cSo we cooked my son and ate him\u201d (v. 29)\u2014a passing moment in the cycles of kingship that leaves little room for moral judgment. Famine in besieged Samaria has led Israel to cannibalism. When the woman who coaxes this mother into surrendering her child for their survival hides her own, the mother seeks justice. It is not the women but the leaders who have blood on their hands. The culture of economic disparity, political corruption, and religious malfeasance under which these women live cuts to the present.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Sybrina Fulton is running for Miami-Dade County Commissioner. It took her son, Trayvon Martin, being shot down in order for her to stand up. With the other Mothers of the Movement she told the 2016 Democratic National Convention that she did not want the spotlight. She will now do everything she can \u201cto focus some of this light on the pain of a path out of the darkness.\u201d Grief rallies them to lift up the bereaved and take action in the quest for public safety, compassion, and equality.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The king of Israel enacts his thoughts and prayers by rending his clothes and blaming Elisha. God\u2019s apparent disloyalty permeates this chapter and its accompanying passages. He seems well on the side of the Syrians as he cures their commander Na\u2019aman of leprosy and spares them becoming prisoners of war in Samaria. Elisha\u2019s servant Gehazi and the lepers who plunder the abandoned Aramaean camp might be forgiven for trying to make ends meet when the country is at war.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But it is the mothers who call BS on the turmoil over which the king of Israel presides.<\/span><\/p>\r\n