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Elisha's Miracles

Illustration of Elisha's Miracles
Era
Divided Kingdom
Date
c. 850 BC โ‰ˆ Approximate
Reference
2 Kings 5:1-14

After succeeding the prophet Elijah, Elisha carried out an extensive ministry in the northern kingdom of Israel during the ninth century BC, performing a series of miracles that demonstrated Godโ€™s continuing power and presence. Among the most notable were the healing of the Aramean commander Naamanโ€™s leprosy after he washed seven times in the Jordan River and the raising of the Shunammite womanโ€™s son through prophetic intercession. These accounts in 2 Kings illustrate Godโ€™s willingness to extend mercy beyond Israelโ€™s borders and to respond to faith and obedience. They also affirm the legitimacy of Elishaโ€™s prophetic role and anticipate the healing and resurrection miracles later performed by Jesus.

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1

Among the most notable were the healing of the Aramean commander Naamanโ€™s leprosy after he washed seven times in the Jordan River and the raising of the Shunammite womanโ€™s son through prophetic intercession.

2

These accounts in 2 Kings illustrate Godโ€™s willingness to extend mercy beyond Israelโ€™s borders and to respond to faith and obedience.

3

This event is dated to approximately c. 850 BC in biblical chronology.

4

This took place at or near Jordan River and Dothan.

Key Passage

Elisha's Miracles

2 Kings 5:1-14

N1ow Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naamanโ€™s wife. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. 5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. 7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. 8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 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.

Read full chapter: 2 Kings 5 โ†’

Meanwhile in the World

Assyria becomes the world's first great empire, conquering from Egypt to Persia. Greece emerges from its Dark Age - the Olympic Games begin (776 BC). Rome is founded (753 BC). Carthage is established. This is the height of Assyrian military power and the rise of Greek city-states.

When: c. 930 - 586 BC

Key Civilizations: Neo-Assyrian Empire, Archaic Greece