📖 Biblical Definition
The narrative cycle in 2 Kings 2-13 covering Elisha's ministry, picking up Elijah's mantle and asking for a double portion. Major episodes: parting of the Jordan, healing of the bitter waters at Jericho, multiplication of the widow's oil, raising the Shunammite's son, healing Naaman's leprosy, blinding of the Syrian army, floating axehead, prophecy of Israel's deliverance from siege, anointing of Jehu, dying-bed prophecy of Joash's victories.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
2 Kings 2-13 narrative cycle of Elisha's ministry; double-portion miracles.
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The narrative cycle in 2 Kings 2-13 covering Elisha's ministry. Asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit and received it; recorded miracles run roughly twice Elijah's count. Major episodes: parting the Jordan with Elijah's mantle, healing the bitter waters of Jericho, the prophecy against the mocking children, multiplication of the widow's oil, raising the Shunammite's son, healing of Naaman's leprosy, blinding of the Syrian army, floating axehead, foretelling Samaria's deliverance from siege, anointing Jehu as king, dying-bed prophecy of Joash's victories over Syria, the dead man revived by touching Elisha's bones.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Kings 2:9 — "And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me."
2 Kings 5:14 — "Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."
2 Kings 13:21 — "And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood upon his feet."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Elisha's miracles often read as random show; their pattern of mercy-to-foreigners and care-for-the-poor sets up the gospel's later reach.
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Elisha's miracles cluster around mercy: the widow's oil, the Shunammite's son, the Syrian Naaman, the floating axehead for the broke prophet's son, the bitter water made sweet for Jericho. Christ in Luke 4:27 cites Naaman pointedly — the Syrian healed when many Israelite lepers were not. Elisha's ministry pre-figures the gospel's reach to Gentiles.
Recover the mercy-pattern: Elisha's miracles are not show; they are pastoral. Most fall on small-people problems: oil, son, axehead, water, bread. The kingdom comes in small mercies before great triumphs.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Elisha — my God is salvation.
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['Hebrew', 'H477', 'Elisha', 'my God is salvation']
Usage
"Double portion of Elijah's spirit."
"Mercy to foreigners; care for poor."
"Small-people miracles before great-people ones."