Elijah - episode 5

By a whirlwind of fire

Ahaziah succeeds his father Ahab, who died in the battle against the Syrians, on the throne of Israel. «Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness.” But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus says the LORD, “You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.”’”» (2Kgs 1,2-4). Elijah «was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist» (2Kgs 1,8; I underline the similarities with John the Baptist: see Matt 3,4). After receiving his message, Ahaziah sends some soldier to take Elijah. «Then the king sent a captain of fifty with his fifty to him. He went up to him; and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’” Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!” Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down quickly!’” And Elijah answered and said to him, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!” The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, “Man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight. Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight.”» (2Kgs 1,9-14). Elijah (with the Lord’s consent) grants the soldier’s prayer and goes to the king, repeating to him personally the Lord’s Word.
Ahaziah will die, as it was foretold, leaving the throne to Jehoram (Joram) his brother after reigning only two years (see 1Kgs 22,52). Evangelist Luke recalls the episode of the “fire from the sky” exactly when Jesus deals with some Samaritans: I invite you to read Luke 9,51-56 to note how his behavior is different from Elijah’s vehemence.
The ministry of this great prophet almost came to its end. «It happened, when the LORD would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?” He said, “Yes, I know it; hold your peace.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?” He answered, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.” Elijah said to him, “Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” He said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” They both went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground [do you remember Moses dividing the Sea of Suf?]. It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.” He said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.



Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan» (2Kgs 2,1-13). Elijah is assumed into Heaven (he is the only case the Bible mentions, together with Enoch: Gen 5,24) in a fire whirlwind; Elisha asked for «a double portion» of Elijah’s spirit, the part of inheritance destined to the firstborn son (see Deut 21,17): he wants to become his official successor. The fact that he took up his mantle (symbol of the person who owns it, see Elijah - episode 3) seems to be a positive answer to the request. «He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over. When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him» (2Kgs 2,14-15). The succession actually took place.
In the next post we will start to tell Elisha’s ministry.