Biblical Question

Who was Elisha?

Retrieved texts include 2 Kings 3:11, 2 Samuel 5:16, 2 Kings 2:14, 1 Kings 19:16.

The texts do not directly address broader modern formulations; NO DIRECT REFERENCE IN SOURCE TEXTS and INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE apply beyond retrieved passages.

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Expanded Query
Elisha | prophet Israel | successor Elijah | miracle-worker | son Shaphat | Eliseus | thaumaturgist | wonder-working | Shunem | multiplied loaves | healed naaman | raised dead | Greek: | Hebrew: | prophetic office | Old Testament Israelite history
Answer

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

1. QUESTION

Who was Elisha, according to the biblical texts provided?

2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

1 Kings 19:16 (KJV):

"And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room."

2 Kings 3:11 (KJV):

"But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah."

2 Kings 2:14 (KJV):

"And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over."

2 Kings 4:38 (KJV):

"And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him..."

2 Kings 8:7 (KJV):

"And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither."

Luke 4:27 (KJV):

"And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian."

3. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA

  • Patronymic: "Son of Shaphat" (1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 3:11)
  • Geographic origin: "Of Abelmeholah" (1 Kings 19:16)
  • Greek form: "Eliseus" appears in Luke 4:27, the Hellenized rendering of the Hebrew "Elisha"
  • Title: Called "prophet of the LORD" (2 Kings 3:11), "the man of God" (2 Kings 8:7), and "prophet" (Luke 4:27)

4. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS

The texts present a unified portrait: Elisha was divinely appointed as Elijah's prophetic successor (1 Kings 19:16), served Elijah personally ("poured water on the hands of Elijah" — 2 Kings 3:11), inherited Elijah's prophetic mantle (2 Kings 2:14), led a prophetic community ("sons of the prophets" — 2 Kings 4:38), and exercised prophetic ministry extending to foreign nations (Luke 4:27; 2 Kings 8:7).

5. SOURCES

  1. 1 Kings 19:16 (KJV)
  2. 2 Kings 2:14 (KJV)
  3. 2 Kings 3:11 (KJV)
  4. 2 Kings 4:38 (KJV)
  5. 2 Kings 8:7 (KJV)
  6. Luke 4:27 (KJV)

6. CONSENSUS INDICATOR

CLEAR. The retrieved texts consistently identify Elisha as the son of Shaphat from Abelmeholah, the divinely appointed successor to Elijah, and a recognized prophet of the LORD in Israel. No conflicting data appears in the sources provided.

Sources
2 Kings 3:11 (KJV) — score 0.573
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
2 Samuel 5:16 (KJV) — score 0.573
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
2 Kings 2:14 (KJV) — score 0.571
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
1 Kings 19:16 (KJV) — score 0.566
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
Luke 4:27 (KJV) — score 0.566
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
1 Chronicles 14:7 (KJV) — score 0.558
And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
1 Chronicles 3:8 (KJV) — score 0.557
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.
1 Chronicles 3:6 (KJV) — score 0.545
Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
2 Samuel 23:34 (KJV) — score 0.543
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Mark 6:15 (KJV) — score 0.529
Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
2 Kings 4:38 (KJV) — score 0.529
¶ And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
2 Kings 8:7 (KJV) — score 0.528
¶ And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.
1 Chronicles 4:36 (KJV) — score 0.525
And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
1 Chronicles 26:3 (KJV) — score 0.520
Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
Ezra 7:5 (KJV) — score 0.520
The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
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