Subject: The Miracles of Elisha |
Bible Note: Greetings Love Fountain! To reflect back upon our correspondence concerning the miracles of Elijah and Elisha, I first posted a list, although it was incomplete at first, of the miracles of Elisha. However, we have added to it, and have come up with: 1. Parts the Jordan River - 2 Kings 2:13-14 2. Makes Jericho spring drinkable - 2 Kings 2:19-22 3. Sends bears to punish irreverent youths - 2 Kings 2:23-25 4. Floods ditches to confuse Moabites - 2 Kings 3:1-27 5. Multiplies widow's oil - 2 Kings 4:1-7 6. Shunammite woman bears a son - 2 Kings 4:8-17 7. Resurrects Shunammite's son - 2 Kings 4:18-37 8. Purifies poisoned stew - 2 Kings 4:38-41 9. Feeds 100 men - 2 Kings 4:43 10. Heals Naaman's leprosy - 2 Kings 5:1-14 11. Gehazi struck with leprosy - 2 Kings 5:15-27 12. Floats lost axhead - 2 Kings 6:1-7 13. Gives special sight to the king's messenger - 2 Kings 6:16-17 14. Strike men with blindness - 2 Kings 6:18 15. Restoring sight of men - 2 Kings 6:20 16. His bones resurrect a dead man - 2 Kings 13:20-21 When I suggested that we add "Strike men with blindness", I was suggesting that we 'replace' the entry "Blinds the Aramean Army" (2 Kings 6:8-23) with "Strike men with blindness - 2 Kings 6:18" because it seemed that we felt that the topic of "Blinds the Aramean Army" was a bit too broad and included two miracles instead of just one. If we do this, and include the miracle that you mentioned where Elisha feeds the 100 men (2 Kings 4:43), then we come up with 16 total miracles, instead of the original posted total of 14. However, I came up with a total of '17' total miracles by Elisha, since I also count 2 Kings 13:15-19 as another miracle by Elisha; where he first assures Israel's victory after Joash, King of Israel, shoots an arrow out of the window, and then he tells Joash just how severe the victory will be after Joash pounds the ground only three times. So I would include "17. Limits Israel's margin of victory - 2 Kings 13:15-19", which brings us to a total of 17 miracles that were worked through Elisha. Also, the number '17' is a "prime number." A prime number is a number that is not divisible by two numbers (cannot be the result of two numbers being multiplied together) except the number '1' and itself. We cannot use two numbers to come to the product of '17', and therefore "17" is an example of what mathematicians call a "prime number." However, you have stated that the Bible states that Elisha received a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit, and not a "double portion" plus one. :-) You are correct: the Bible does say that Elisha (2 Kings 2:9) asked for a "double portion" (as if he were Elijah's firstborn), or inheritance, of Elijah's prophetic office. However, you are incorrect when you automatically assume that this means that Elisha will be able to perform twice as many miracles or be twice as powerful as Elijah. You see, just because Elisha asked for a "double portion" does not necessarily mean that the Lord will use him to make twice as many miracles (then Elijah) happen, and I strongly contend that Elisha did not have this in mind either when he asked for a "double portion." Elisha was simply asking to succeed Elijah in the fullness of all of his prophetic duties and everything that came with the prophetic office of Elijah, as a firstborn son would continue the office of his father. Now, how many miracles that Elijah himself performed is indeed another question! You said that you came up with 8? I ask you your total, because I come up with 9! :-) Here are the 9 miracles of Elijah that I come up with: "The Miracles of Elijah ***************************** 1. Declares a long drought - 1 Kings 17:1 2. Multiplies widow's flour and oil - 1 Kings 17:7-16 3. Resurrects widow's son - 1 Kings 17:17-24 4. Calls down fire from heaven - 1 Kings 18:1-40 5. Sends a rainstorm - 1 Kings 18:41-45 6. Outruns a chariot - 1 Kings 18:46 7. Predicts Ahaziah's death - 2 Kings 1:1-2 8. Ahaziah's men killed by fire from heaven - 2 Kings 1:9-17 9. Parts the Jordan River - 2 Kings 2:1-8" (1) So that is my conclusion of the miracles of Elijah and Elisha. Blessings to you, Makarios (1) Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition, 1995, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Th.D., Ph.D. |