Again Baal competes with Israel’s God. Ahaziah is ill but consults an oracle from Baal. Elijah pronounces a doom oracle. On a third attempt Elijah is apprehended whereby he predicts the death of the king in person. Ahaziah is succeeded by his brother, Jehoram. Elisha is introduced as Elijah’s successor. The two prophets walk from Gilgal down to Bethel, to Jericho, to the Jordan. When they reach the Jordan, Elijan, like Moses or Joshua, parts the Jorda by striking it with his mantle. Elijah is suddenly transported skyward in a chariot with fiery horses. This probably originally had something to do with the myth of the chariots of the sun. Elisha performs his first miracle by means of salt and a divine oracle. He heals the water from the Jericho spring which had been blamed for making women barren. When the boys of Bethel rail at the prophet he utters a curse in Yahweh’s name. Immediately two she bears kill 42 lads. Jehoram solicits Jehoshaphat of Judah and Edom to help him put down the rebellious shepherd king of Moab, Mesha. When they lack a water supply Jehoshaphat seeks Elisha’s help. Again he produces a miracle and the Moabites flee. When the only fortress left, Kir-hareseth, is attacked, Mesha sacrifices his eldest son as a burnt offering to Chemosh, his god. The attackers panic and call off the attack.
Again Baal competes with Israel’s God. Ahaziah is ill but consults an oracle from Baal. Elijah pronounces a doom oracle. On a third attempt Elijah is apprehended whereby he predicts the death of the king in person. Ahaziah is succeeded by his brother, Jehoram.
ReplyDeleteElisha is introduced as Elijah’s successor. The two prophets walk from Gilgal down to Bethel, to Jericho, to the Jordan. When they reach the Jordan, Elijan, like Moses or Joshua, parts the Jorda by striking it with his mantle. Elijah is suddenly transported skyward in a chariot with fiery horses. This probably originally had something to do with the myth of the chariots of the sun. Elisha performs his first miracle by means of salt and a divine oracle. He heals the water from the Jericho spring which had been blamed for making women barren. When the boys of Bethel rail at the prophet he utters a curse in Yahweh’s name. Immediately two she bears kill 42 lads. Jehoram solicits Jehoshaphat of Judah and Edom to help him put down the rebellious shepherd king of Moab, Mesha. When they lack a water supply Jehoshaphat seeks Elisha’s help. Again he produces a miracle and the Moabites flee. When the only fortress left, Kir-hareseth, is attacked, Mesha sacrifices his eldest son as a burnt offering to Chemosh, his god. The attackers panic and call off the attack.