Elisha, << ih LY shuh, >> was the follower, servant, and successor of the Hebrew prophet Elijah. Elisha was active from about 850 to 800 B.C., carrying on his master’s policies against the pagan religion favored by King Jehoram of Israel. With this purpose, he encouraged Jehu to rebel and seize the throne. There are many stories about Elisha in 2 Kings, chapters 2-9, in the Bible. One story describes Elisha parting the Jordan River with Elijah’s mantle. Others tell how he healed the commander of the Syrian army, revived a Shunammite woman’s dead son, and fed 100 men with only 20 loaves of barley and some ears of corn.
See also Elijah.
