Elisha and the Chariots of Fire

Elisha is the prophet of God who succeeded Elijah. Elisha was a prophet for the northern kingdom of Israel during the early 9th century and late 8th century B.C. This was a time of great disobedience and idolatry by the people of Israel. This situation was made worse by the corruption of a string of evil kings. For a full background story see the information in the story of Elijah: The Prophet Who Called Down Fire From Heaven. The main point for proper context of the stories of Elisha is the war between Yahweh and the pagan god, Baal. During this time in Israel the idolatry became so severe that the faithful worship of Yahweh, the true God of Israel, was for a time forbidden by the royal court with an attempt to replace it with Baal worship. Prophets such as Elijah and Elisha were called by God to bring His wrath and judgment on those promoting these false gods. Featured here are two stories of Elisha which are interesting and have moral and theological messages.

The Chariots of Fire

In the history of ancient Israel there were several conflicts which took place between the neighboring nations and territories. At this time a war broke out between Syria and Israel. The king of Syria was Ben-Hadad who had a reputation for ruthlessness. Israel was governed by King Joram who was the son of Ahab and Jezebel. He became king after the death of his brother Ahaziah, who happened to be the king that sent three regiments of soldiers to arrest Elijah but two of the regiments were burned by fire called down on them by Elijah. Joram continued the idol worship of his parents, but to a lesser degree and he did enact some reforms. The king of Syria sent his troops into Israel to engage the Israelites, and he chose secret locations for his men to set up camps. Elisha was informed of these secret locations by the Lord, and he passed this vital information to King Joram. Because of these warnings the Israelites were saved from ambushes by the Syrians. After this occurred a few times Ben-Hadad concluded that there must be a spy among his war council that was relaying this information to the Israelites. One of his servants disclosed to the king that the prophet Elisha had the ability to hear every word spoken by him and then he passes these secrets on to the king of Israel. In response the king of Syria ordered that his troops find and capture him. It is obvious that he did not recall the fate of those troops sent by King Ahaziah to try to arrest Elijah, the prophet of God.

A large contingent of troops with many horses and chariots traveled to Dothan, which was the home of Elisha. They arrived in the city in the early morning and surrounded the entire city. Elisha’s servant went out in the early morning and saw this great army surrounding them which caused him to panic and alert his master. Elisha calmed his servant and told him not to be afraid because those that were with them were more than those that were against them. His servant may have thought that Elisha may have lost his mind because he saw no one except the enemy troops. Elisha prayed by asking for God to open his servant’s eyes,“O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see,” (2Kings 6:17). As the Lord opened his eyes, the servant was able to see the hills around them covered with horses and chariots of fire. Elisha had the ability to see into the spiritual realm that exists in and around the physical realm, and through his prayer this ability was temporarily bestowed on his servant. A deeper understanding of this event is explained in the below excerpt from a commentary of the book of 2nd Kings:

“Elisha was not at all disturbed by the present situation. He encouraged his aide to stop fearing, and assured him that they had behind them a force superior to that of the enemy. Elisha then asked the LORD to enable his servant to see this host and the Lord did so. He gave the servant the ability to see the normally unseen world of invisible spirits (angels) that are constantly ready to do God’s bidding (cf. Gen. 28:12). The hills around Dothan were filled with superior horses and chariots. These appeared as fiery agents of God suggesting to the servant their superterrestrial origin (cf. 2 Kings 2:11). The LORD had surrounded the armies of Aram and was in control.“

Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 550).

As the Syrians began advancing on Elisha, he prayed for the Lord to strike them with blindness. The Syrians were blinded by God, but still able to partially make out what was immediately in front of them, and they were also in a state of disorientation. Elisha approached them and was able to convince them that they were in the wrong town and he would lead them to the correct place where the man they were looking for was located. They believed him and followed him as he led them to Samaria and into the center of the city where they were surrounded by the army of Israel. Elisha prayed for their eyes to be opened, and they realized that they had been captured and were now prisoners of King Joram. The king asked Elisha if he should kill them all, since they were engaged in active war. Elisha denied this request and instead instructed the king to feed them and send them back to their king. King Joram did as Elisha requested and they were all fed and sent back. In response the Syrians did not again attack Israel during the reign of Ben-Hadad. It has been speculated that this gesture of kindness was repaid by the king of Syria.

Faith Brings Blessing and Greed Brings a Curse

This next story contrasts two different acts that display the condition of an individual’s heart and how God reacts to them. One person’s act reveals a great amount of faith in the one true God. The other person’s act reveals the hidden corruption that is exposed with the proper tempting opportunity. The person who produces great faith is a foreigner that is not a member of the Israelite community and not a part of the Mosaic covenant with God, which gives the story a message of hope for those who seek faith. He is a highly respected captain of the Syrian army named Naaman. In the previous story we see that Syria is at war with Israel, but this dynamic between the two nation fluctuates between conflict and peace depending on the kings and the political situations. During this time, they are at peace. Naaman had been a valiant warrior, but he was now struck with leprosy. In his household was an Israelite servant girl who had been taken captive in a prior war. The girl felt sorrow for her master, Naaman, and told her mistress that she wished that he would visit the prophet in her homeland who could surely cure him. She was referring to Elisha, who had established a great reputation. Naaman received approval and a letter of introduction to the King of Israel with a request to cure his leprosy. Elisha learned of Naaman’s request, and he advised the king to have him come to him so that he will know that there was a prophet in Israel. Naaman was directed to the home of Elisha where he arrived with a large royal escort. Elisha did not meet with Naaman himself but sent a messenger telling him to wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. Naaman was a bit offended by this action because he was a high-ranking official and the prophet did not display the proper courtesy due to a person of his status, or even show common courtesy through a personal greeting. Despite this offense, he followed the directions of the prophet and washed in the river seven times. Just as it was declared by Elisha, Naaman was cured of his leprosy. This miraculous healing convinced Naaman that there is no other God in all the earth except the God of Israel. He was so grateful that he came back to Elisha and offered him gold, silver, and luxurious clothing as a present to show his appreciation, but Elisha refused. Naaman then said that if he will not accept his gifts then he would ask for two mule loads of the soil from the ground of Israel with which he can now make burnt offerings to the God of Israel instead of the false pagan god that he had previously worshipped. He then asked Elisha if the Lord would pardon him when his duties require him to accompany the king of Syria when he worships in the temple of his pagan god. Elisha affirmed that the Lord granted his request and he sent Naaman away in peace. Naaman’s actions revealed that he had received healing by God’s grace and this action brought him to have faith in the Lord that he now accepted as the one true God. By God’s grace and mercy he was healed–And through the affirmation of his new faith he was blessed by God as a member in His kingdom.

The story continues with the contrasting exhibit of disobedience and greed of a person that was a member of God’s community and was bound to the Mosaic covenant. After Naaman departed with his treasures and his escort, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi followed him. Gehazi ran after him and caught up to him when he was no longer in Elisha’s view. He lied to Naaman and said that Elisha sent him to request some gifts for the sons of some prophets who were coming to visit. Gehazi requested two bags of silver and two sets of fine clothing which Naaman gladly gave to him believing that he was granting Elisha’s request. Gehazi went back to the house and hid the gifts. Elisha then summoned him and asked him where he had been. Gehazi again lied and told Elisha that he had not gone anywhere. Elisha reveals that his spirit was with Gehazi when he received the gifts from Naaman and he pronounced a judgment on him, “Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow,” (2Kings 5:27). God’s grace removed the leprosy from Naaman, and His wrath transferred it onto Gehazi.