ELISHA’S BONES RESTORE LIFE TO THE DEAD Here, the author moves from the chronicles of the kings of Judah to those of the kings of Israel.. In the present chapter we perceive the meaning of the saying of the Lord Christ: “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5: 17). God in His love never ceases working to our account; but He does not commit us to accept His work in, or to our account. The hand of God works, particularly in the time of affliction (1-13); by the few as by the plenty (11-210; according to His faithfulness in His promises 922 – 25). 1- Jehoahaz persists on the sins of his predecessors 1 - 9 2- Joash persists on the sins of his predecessors 10 - 13 3- The prophet Elisha’s illness and death 14 - 20 4- Elisha’s bones restore life to the dead 21 5- Elisha’s prophecy to Joash, realized 22 - 25 1- JEHOAHAZ PERSISTS ON THE SINS OF HIS PREDECESSORS: By walking in evil, Jehoahaz brought on Israel the bondage to foreign kings (3); yet in the time of affliction, when he supplicated to the face of the Lord, He listened to him, and saved them from the hand of the Aramites, according to the words of the psalmist: “He has not dealt with us according to our sins; nor has punished us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103: 10). “ In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years” (1) Jehoash king of Judah reigned in the seventh year of Jehu (12: 1). Jehu reigned 28 years. The enthronement of his son Jehoahaz was 21 years after that of Joash king of Judah. if we count a part of the year for the former, and a part of the year for the later, it would add up to 21 years. “Jehoahaz’, means (The Lord holds). After two centuries a king with the same name reigned over Judah after the death of his good father Josiah (2 kings 23: 31). Ahaz king of Israel persisted on the policy of his predecessors concerning the worship of the two golden calves. And the apostasy from the worship of the living God increased more than it has been in the days of his father Jehu. That is why the chastisement dwelt upon the kingdom more firmly. The tool of the chastisement was Hazael the Aramite, and his son Ben-Hadad, While the Israeli army persistently weakened in number and might. “ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them” (2) The sins of Jeroboam was worshipping the two golden calves in Bethel and Dan; appointing priests not of the sons of Aaron; and altering the time of the feasts (1 Kings 12: 28-32). Although Jehoahaz did not commit any new sins, yet he persisted on the sins of his predecessors that he should have forsaken. “Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all their days” (3) Ben-Hadad the third the son of Hazael, was the leader of the Aramite army in the days of his father; and had fame in the last days of his father (2 kings 13: 24).. Saying: “all their days”, does not mean all the days of the two Aramite kings: Hazael and Ben-Hadad; for Ben-Hadad lost the cities that Aram possessed from Jehoahaz (2 kings 13: 25), but means all the days of Jehoahaz (2 kings 13: 22), or all the days of Hazael. “So Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them” (4) In spite of the fact that Jehoahaz did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam (6), yet, when he fell into an intense affliction, and supplicated to the face of the Lord, He listened to him, and gave Israel a deliverer, for the sake of the longsuffering of God (1 kings 21: 25-29; 2 Peter 3:9). But although the Lord listened to him, yet He did not give him a deliverer in his days, but in the days of his son Joash (25), and his grandson Jeroboam (14: 25-27). The people returned to God, but for a limited time, for their hearts were not upright, have not departed from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, nor taken away statue of Ashtoreth in Samaria… Our repentance has to be true; we should receive God the care-Giver, and strongly take away all traces of sin. “Then the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before” (5) Here, he did not give the name of the deliverer of Israel; The Lord probably used the Assyrian king ‘Adad-Nerari the third, to save them; the way He did with the Persian king, in whose heart God put to allow the Jews to return from captivity to Jerusalem, and called him ‘His anointed’ (Isaiah 45: 1; 44: 28). Aram on the North frontier of Israel has been in perpetual war with Israel; For it felt that Israel was shutting its way of trade toward the South; While Israel in its turn felt that Aram was shutting its way of trade toward the North. They were both preoccupied with fighting one other, in an attempt to bring prosperity to its economy; but it so happened that they destroyed one another; while disregarding the growing might of Assyria, until they were trampled over by it (16: 9; 17: 6). “Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the wooden image also remained in Samaria” (6) Ahab set up pillars in Samaria (1 kings 16: 32-33), with all the defiled abominations tied to them. The pillar was a holy tree or a wooden pillar, a sign used in the worship of the god Ashtoreth or Venus It had a sexual role, considered as the god of fertility in Canaan. The erection of such a pillar in the capital of the kingdom has been a perpetual testimony of the treason of Israel. God, on His side, used every possible way, compassion as well as firmness; in the hope that the believer or the people would eventually return to Him, and enjoy fellowship with Him; but, together with the feeling of the need of returning to God, yet, as our heart remains attached to a certain sin or sins; we falter between two ways: the way of the holy life in the Lord; and that of being bound to a certain vain pleasure. God, in His great love for us, and His faithfulness to His promises, allows for affliction for a certain time, until we seek His grace, and return to Him with our whole hearts. Presenting to us his experience, the psalmist says: “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94: 19). Those comforts come from Him, not only to appease the affliction, but for the sake of some greater goal; namely to turn the affliction into a source of edification of the soul, and an experience of life wit God. “For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing” (7). The Holy Book often likens the people fallen under chastisement, to sheaves of heads of wheat on the threshing floor, trampled over by the feet of beasts, and those of the man guiding them, and going around on them with the threshing implement.. Indeed the heads of wheat include a large amount of straw, and less of wheat; Even though, during chastisement, we are trampled upon by the feet of beasts and men, yet that will result in cutting the heads of wheat and the straw to little pieces, which makes it easy to separate the wheat from the straw. By chastisement, evil in us will be cut off, and the Spirit of God will work to make us carry the fruit of the Spirit. Thus, in the days of Jehoahaz, God allowed for firm chastisement; the kingdom became as though with no army to protect it; and as though has been destroyed and been made like dust at threshing. “ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (8) If they fell under chastisement in such a painful way, the cause of their fall was not the weakness and helplessness of the king, but rather his corruption. Saying about Jehoahaz: “All that he did, and his might” (8), confirms that he was not without courage, but lacked the righteous of God to support him. “ So Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son reigned in his place” (9) There were probably tombs for the kings of Israel in Samaria, as there were of those of Judah in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 28: 27). Burying a king in those tombs was a significant sign of honor. 2- JOASH PERSISTS ON THE SINS OF HIS PREDECESSORS: “In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years” (10) Each of the two kingdoms had a king called ‘Joash’ (Jehoash). Joash king of Judah started his reign as a good king; whereas Joash king of Israel was evil. Joash the son of Jehoahaz partook of reigning two years before the death of his father; and a little while before the death of the prophet Elisha. He reigned in Samaria 16 years, added to them the two years he was a partner with his father. Calling the grandson of Jehu by the name ‘Joash’, has been a kind of giving honor to the seed of David, when the infant Joash was enthroned over Judah. At that time there was a kind of peace between the two kingdoms. “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but walked in them” (11) “ Now the rest of the acts of Joash, all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (12) At the beginning he mentioned the sixteen years of the reign of Johash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jahu over Israel, without any details (10-13); except for three things that happened in his days: the death of the prophet Elisha (14-22), the military campaigns and a conquest over Aram (24-25); and his war against Amaziah king of Judah (12; 14: 8-14). In Jehu’s life there were good moments, and the kings of Israel enjoyed rewards from the Lord; but neither in Jehu, nor in any of his descendants who reigned over Israel for as long as four generations, there was one single king who served the Lord with his whole heart; for none of them ever departed from the sins of Jeroboam who made Israel sin (10: 13). By the might of Joash king of Samariah, he probably means his conquest over Amaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 14” 12-15; 2 Chronicles 25: 20-27). “So Joash rested with his fathers. Then Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel” (13). 3- THE PROPHET ELISHA’S ILLNESS AND DEATH: In the midst of that corruption on the level of the king, his leaders, and the people, there was one godly man – the prophet Elisha – even though he had his own weaknesses; but for the sake of his faithfulness, faith, and walking in the Lord, he presented to the king a power greater than that of an army. “ Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!” (14) Elisha became sick in the tenth year of the reign of Joash; by which the prophet’s ministry as a prophet covered 65 years. Joash wept over the elder Elisha, and uttered the same words uttered by Elisha when the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven (2-12). It is as though Elisha was attached to his mentor Elijah from the beginning of his ministry to the last moments of his life. Joash, king of Israel feared the death of the prophet Elisha, for, in spite of the fact that about 43 years passed since the last time Elisha was mentioned, yet the king always felt the blessing of his presence and prayers.. Coming down to the sick 80 years old prophet, the king proved how he honored him, and the Lord whom Elisha served.. “He wept over his face” , namely his tears poured on Elisha’s face while lying in bed; by which the king expressed his faith that the greatest power for Israel was the help of the Lord through the prayers of the prophet Elisha; hence he called him “his father”… . Despite what he showed of evil, Joash king of Israel revealed a good side and faith that God keeps his people, and listen to the prayers of His prophet for their sake. If the Holy Book testified to that Joash “did evil in the sight of the Lord”, yet It mentions his good side. God will never forget a cold drink offered in His name (See Mathew 10: 42). ““Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows” (15). Although Joash obeyed the dying Elisha, yet only partially. Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands, a sign of his longing that the Lord would bless him; which was actually realized when he conquered the Aramite army three times; even though he did not enjoy the ultimate victory. + The king called the prophet: “The chariot of Israel and their horsemen”; because the peace of the kingdom and its conquests, depended on his prayers and ordinance. The prophet rewarded the king’s tears, by saying to him; “Take a bow and some arrows”; then put his hand on the king’s hands, told him to open the window toward the east, and to aim the arrows. When he shot one arrow, Elisha said: “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Aram”. As the window actually faced Aram; the prophet added: “For you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them” (17). This phrase bears two spiritual meanings: a- The first spiritual meaning is that, binding the conquest of Israel to a sign is not a new thing; but was there for long centuries … When God sent plagues on Egypt, and liberated the people, he used the staff of the prophet Moses (Exodus 4: 17);… The perdition of Amalek depended on raising Moses’ hands with prayer (Exodus 17: 9-13); … And the destruction of the city of Ai, depended upon stretching out the spear in Joshua’s hand toward Ai (Joshua 8: 18- 19). It was convenient for the situation to be as such, so that the people would positively realize that the help of God has been given to them at the moment they got that grace, whose memory will last in their hearts forever…. In the case of Elisha and Joash, the prophet alone knew the secret, but the king did not; or else he would not stop striking the ground after three times , but would have struck it ten times. Having hesitated and stopped, he was blamed by Elisha, not that he did something wrong, but because, by so doing, he denied his people the ultimate conquest over the Aramites, and the destruction of their kingdom; something for which the prophet Elisha strongly hoped. But the true reason that hindered the grace meant by that sign, was the apostasy of the king, and the people, and their rebellious will to worship the idols. (St. (Mar Ephraim the Syrian) “Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands” (16) Elisha put his hands on those of the king, to let him know that what he is going to do, is by the support of God’s hand, and not by his own power. What is the hands of Elisha that conveyed power to those of the king, but the church of Christ that provides the believer, being a king, with the power of God for salvation; to strike with the cross “the arrow of the Lord’s deliverance’, from the devil; and would not stop striking him, up to the ultimate conquest over the kingdom of darkness. The hands of the king touched that of Elisha, the symbol of Christ; the same way the Canaanite woman touched the hem of the garment of Christ, namely His church; and a power came out from Him to heal her. + It is true that by putting Elisha’s hands on those of the king, the weak hands of the king are strengthened by the power in the hands of the prophet, who symbolizes his Lord, to enable; to destroy Aram completely, after Aram so destroyed Israel. It is obvious that Israel in the days of Joram were extremely weakened; In the royal city, according to the Scripture, there were only five horses; and in the days of his son, there were only ten chariots in the whole country, fifty horsemen, and ten thousand foot soldiers; because the king of Aram destroyed them, and made them like dust at threshing (2 kings 13: 7); after they were in the days of king Solomon: 52, 000 horses in the king’s stables, and 800,000 mighty men of valor from the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. b- The second spiritual meaning is that the sign refers to two symbols, each has its own meaning. (St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian) “And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” (17) He said to him to open the east window, because the enemies of Israel, namely the Aramites were in the East. That action was followed and repeated as a declaration of war, to give a chance for negotiations; and in case there is no response within a certain time, the actual attack takes place. + “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance “, obviously refers to the Lord Christ, being hanged on the cross, grants His spirit, by which He descends to the pit and saves the righteous there; and after His resurrection, He submits the whole world by His saintly apostles, and grants a new life to those who believe in His name. On another aspect, the arrow that was shot from the east window refers to the consummation of our deliverance, realized by the ascension of our Lord, up to what is far above the heavens . By His ascension He lifted up the eternal gates, and made us, captives, ascend to heaven (Ephesians 4: 8) Again, the arrow shot toward the ground, then was taken back, refers to the burial of our Lord and His resurrection, after He descended to the pit in the land of the dead. Notice that the land of Israel is struck with three arrows; whereas the kingdom of Aram is defeated in three battles; like the revered body of our Lord, afflicted by the thorns on the head, the nails in the hands and feet, and the spear in the side; who destroyed the dominion of the devil concerning death, three times: He crushed the devil, and took away the sin and death. Again, by shooting the arrow three times toward the ground, He gave the saints the hope of resurrection. (St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian) “ Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped” (18) The children of God will never cease nor become slothful in their battle against the devil, until they, by Christ, crush the head of the serpent, and the Lord of glory proclaims the conquest in their depths. “And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.” (19) He was angry with him, on account of that the king, because of his weak faith, sought the few, while the Lord was ready to give in abundance. It was befitting of the king to keep shooting the arrows toward the ground, and not to cease until the Prophet tells him to do; realizing the active plan of God to grant him victory. So we should, not trust our carnal thoughts (the ground), but persistently strike by the arrows of the Holy Spirit, until our inner ground is sanctified, and turn into a heaven; to have the plan of God realized in us,, and to proclaim our obedience to Him; to become truly stewards of heaven and living icons of Christ. “Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year” (20 Elisha died and buried in a tomb; and was not taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire. But, to reveal the holiness of his corpse, that strived together with his soul for so long, God allowed for raising a dead man to life once his corpse touchéd the bones of Elisha. He mentioned the invasion of raiding bands from Moab as a common thing that happened all the time, reaching the center of the land, an evidence of the persistent weakness of Israel. + Elisha was buried by his disciples, the sons of the prophets, most probably accompanied by king Joash, who visited him while ill in bed, showed deep love toward him, wept over his face, and wrote lamentations about his death. It so seems that the prophet Hosea took Elisha’s place, as the head of the sons of the prophets; for Hosea, at the beginning of his book, said that he prophesied in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 4- ELISHA’S BONES RESTORE LIFE TO THE DEAD: Elisha died, was buried in a tomb, his body deteriorated, leaving only dry bones. But those bones testified to the spirit of power lived by the prophet, which death could not destroy. “ So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet” (21) While burying a dead man, and suddenly saw a band of raiders, the Israelites hastened to cast the corpse of the dead man in the nearest tomb, which happened to be that of Elisha. By that God intended to proclaim the holiness of His servants and faithful believers, He sanctifies even their bones after their death; for once the corpse of the dead man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet (2 kings 13: 21). His memorial bore a power revealed from his bones. In a like way the Lord Christ said about the woman who poured a bottle of fragrant oil over His head: “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the Whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Mark 14: 9); And St. Mary, the mother of God said: “Henceforth, all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1: 48). As the memorial of the saints will remain bearing the sweet fragrance of Christ, and give blessings along the generations, we see St. Gregory the Nezianzen, in his eulogy of his brother St. Caesarius, demands that the human feelings should be expressed in moderation; saying: [Even in my tears and my admiration, I am committed to respect the law that govern these things, for it is according to our philosophy. Having in mind the words: “The memory of the righteous is blessed” (Proverbs 10: 7),Let our tears flow, and let us lament, for that will keep us from both being without feeling and from exaggeration thereof] + “Remembering the righteous is commended” .This doe not mean that the departed soul would care for our commendation; but because those who commend the departed would have a greater benefit by remembering them. I wish, therefore, that we do not despise the words of the wise man, but we should rather give them much care. + It is not only the bodies of the saints, but even their tombs, are full of spiritual grace. For as in the case of Elisha, when a corpse happened to touch the tomb, the chains of death were loosened, and he returned to life. Now, therefore, as the grace became more abundant, and the energy of the spirit became greater, by touching the tomb with faith, we can have a great strength. Hence God allowed us to care for the remains of the saints, longing for us to imitate them, to give us a kind of refuge, and a secure haven from the evil all around us. + Those who cast the corpse of the dead man down, did it, not for the sake of faith, but out of cowardice, for fear of a band of raiders they saw. As to the person himself, who was cast as a dead corpse, he was revived and stood on his feet because of the holiness of Elisha’s bones. + In the example of Elisha, the corpse of the dead man came in touch with Elisha’s bones; But in case of the crucified Lord Christ, by His voice, He raised the dead, while His body was still on the cross; beside the rocks splitting, the earth trembled; to let His crucifers know that He could strike them with blindness, and tear them apart … Yet, He chose to pour His wrath on the elements; but intended to save them with His mercy (St. John Chrysostom) + None of the prophets, after their death, raised a dead man; hence we can see that Elisha has got a double portion of Elija’s spirit. … Actually, the power the Lord gave to Elisha’s bones, is a symbol and seed of resurrection; and the honor they got, reveals the glory by which the bodies of the saints will be clothed on the day of resurrection of the dead. (St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian) + Those who live with God, even their remains are not without honor. For Elisha, after his death raised a dead man; which would never happen unless Elisha’s body was holy. (The apostolic laws) + If a dead man was raised by touching the bones of Elisha, Would it not be easier for the Creator of humanity to be raised by the power of God the Father?!... Well,the Lord Christ was risen indeed, and after His resurrection, He was seen by His disciples…. Yet, there are still doubts concerning His resurrection! (St. Cyril the Great) + Let me talk about the prophet Elijah and the son of the widow he raised from the dead; and about the prophet Elisha who raised a dead twice: once while he was still alive, and a second time after he died. In his life, Elisha raised the dead by his soul (2 kings 4: 34). But, in order not to honor just the souls of the godly men, but to believe that there is even power in their dead bodies, the corpse cast in Elisha’s tomb revived once it touched Elisha’s bones(2 kings 13: 21). … The body of the prophet did what was done by his soul…. He who died and was buried, revived a dead corpse; even though he who gave it life remained among the dead. Why? … Lest, if Elisha himself came back to life, the work could be referred to his soul alone. But so as to reveal that, even in the absence of the soul, there is virtue in the bodies of the saints, because of the godly soul that for so long dwelt in it. Let us then, through ignorance, not deal with those things as though they never happened; for, if the handkerchiefs and aprons that are outside the body of the men of God could heal the sick who touch them, how about the possibility of the prophet’s body itself to raise the dead?! + Elisha raised the dead twice: once while alive (2 kings 2: 1), and another while dead (2 kings 13: 21). … Can you believe that Elisha while dead could raise a dead body cast on his bones; and do not believe that Christ Himself is risen from the dead? In Elisha’s case the dead body that touched his bones revived and stood on his feet; while Elisha himself remained dead … But here, the dead about whom we talk (the Lord Christ), is risen, and, together with Him, He raised many of the dead saints, even without touching Him; for it is written: “The graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves they went into the holy city, and appeared to many” (Matthew 27: 52, 53). Elisha, even though he raised a dead, yet he did not overcome the world;. Elijah, even though he raised a dead; yet the unclean spirits do not come out in Elijah’s name; We say nothing evil about the prophets, but we exalt their Lord much more; Although we do not disregard their miracles, yet we gain more confidence by remembering what happened to them. + if it was the corpse of a patriarch, or even that of Abraham himself, would it be counted as defilement to touch his dead bones?! What if it touched the bones of Elisha that raised a dead man? … Would it be counted as defilement to touch the bones of prophets?... Notice how unbefitting are the Jewish interpretations!. … Let us see what kind of touch makes man defiled; and what kind of touch makes him pure…. The Lord Christ says in the gospel: “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5: 28); for his heart touched the iniquity of evil desire, and his soul, therefore became defiled. If man, therefore touches something with lust, whether for a woman or for riches, he would touch what is defiled, and comes to be defiled. (The scholar Origen) + Why would we marvel that the souls is healed by the Word of God, and the body return to its bones; if we remember how a dead man came back to life through touching the body of the saint (2 Kings 4: 34; 13: 21)? how Elijah prayed and the little child was raised from the dead (1 kings 17: 22); how Peter, in the name of Christ commanded Tabetha to be raised and to move (Acts 9: 40)…. How would we then, not believe to purchase our resurrection by the passion of Christ? (St. Ambrose) + If Elisha’s dead body raised a dead; how much more would God do, when He raises the bodies of the dead, and bring them forth to judgment?! (St. Erinaos) In his magnificent poem on Elisha’s bones, St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi portrays the possibilities of the divine grace that grants the bones of the righteous, buried in tombs, strength, and honor. What St. Jacob El-Serougi sees, except what we experience through the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in us? 1- Evil desires, haven’t crawled into Elisha’s bones, they came to be a treasure full of love and compassion. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit to us, He who sanctifies us, to enjoy love instead of evil desires; and get filled with compassion toward whoever gets in touch with us, if he is dead with sins. 2- There was an exalted power in Elisha’s tomb; as the Lord Christ said to His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until they receive power from high above (Acts 1: 4-8). 3- Their bodies as well as their bones flow with spiritual healings; which are the gift of the cross (the tree of life). 4- Mar Jacob likens the bodies of the righteous to a river or a fountain in the garden of Eden, through which the believer bears the joyful fruits of the Spirit. 5- He says that Elisha died to the world while exultant, by the gift of joy that did not ever depart from him; according to the commandment of the Lord Christ, saying: “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting” Matthew 6: 17, 18) to have a smiling and fresh face, like that of the three young men, whose faces looked better than those who ate the pleasurable food 6- Elisha’s bones made death a laughingstock, to be ridiculed. + The ashes of the righteous that was scattered in the pit, was chosen gold, and a fountain of all goods…. The pure body, not defiled with lusts, is the treasure of compassion to whoever approaches it. In the remains of the servants of the Lord, dwells power; and spiritually, a sweet fragrance emerges from their bones, better than that from precious spices. From their bodies runs the River ‘Gihon’ (see Genesis 2: 13), to heal every ailment in the vicinity of the tree of life. Although all humans die, yet the death of the righteous is unique for whoever tastes it.; When the iniquity-doer died, he was received by a pit full of horror; Whereas when the righteous died he jumped above the snares of the evil one. From the corpse of the dead sinner, abhorrent smell comes forth; whereas the righteous is like chosen censor of divinity. Once death takes him away from this world to the great world, he enters and set forth to help his comorades. The body of the righteous bears every day help to whoever approaches him; like a blessed fountain in Eden; By death the godly man comes close to God; and like a steward he distributes riches on the needy. He strived with sweat, and got the crown of conquest in the battle against righteousness. He has falleb asleep in God, but behold, life is still awake in him every day. Dead for the world, he became alive for his Lord by the gladness of face. + Elisha who brought the child of the believing Shunemite woman, back to life; After his death, his bones brought life back as well. The prophet was not dead by his death, but was alive, and gave life to others. The same power that was in him before he dies, remained with him after his death. In his death he was alive, doing good. The corpse of the man of God was put in the grave, and in him the life of the dead was gloriously shown. The prophet was laid among the dead, but in him remained his power that was his during his life; Elisha was buried, and in him life was buried, to give it to someone else who came in touch with him; As the Lord lives ,the saints live with him as well; and when they die in Him, they are buried alive for Him; Let us marvel at someone who, while dead, brought life to the dead who came in touch with him As he was mighty while alive, he remained mighty when dead; his power for doing wonders has not been weakened after death; When he was alive he brought back to life the child of the notable woman; and brought another dead back to life when dead; Raising the dead is extremely great to him who meditates in it; but raising a dead man while he himself dead is amazing; Death could not take away his power; which remained as strong as it was during his life; When he was in the world, he was by God as a lamp; hence death could not bring darkness on him while in the grave; That amazing flame ignited in him, and after his death it showed that it is still awake in him; It is amazing to say that from the dead confined in his grave in silence; a power that brought life to a dead man came forth. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) 5- ELISHA’S PROPHECY TO JOASH REALIZED: “Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.” (22) “ But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence” (23). “Now Hazael king of Syria died. Then Ben-Hadad his son reigned in his place” (802-780 BC) (24) 25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz recaptured from the hand of Ben-Hadad, the son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times Joash defeated him and recaptured the cities of Israel” (25) The cities that Jehoash recaptured, probably East of the Jordan, were previously taken from Jehoahaz by Ben-Hadad when he was the leader of the army during his father Hazael’s days.. The way Elisha prophesied, Joash defeated Aram three times, and recaptured the cities of Israel; but the complete conquest over Aram was realized in the days of his son Jeroboam the second. --------------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 2 KINGS 13 SANCTIFY ME, O LORD, AND SUPPORT ME BY YOUR GRACE + Behold, I am in Your hands, confessing my sins and weaknesses; Who will sanctify me but You, O Holy One? Let Your Holy Spirit would work in me; To make sin bitter in my mouth; To leave no place for it in me; Let me acquire You, O Holy One; To drive evil away from my depths; Whether in Your compassion on me, or in Your chastisement, do not forsake me forever; Let Your eyes be on me, to lift me up from the dust. + The evil one is standing by to tread on me with his feet; To make me like dust under his feet; but he is unable to destroy me; You turn his strikes on me, into chances for true repentance; Let the enemy destroy the straw that filled my depths; But the wheat and the fruit of the spirit, he cannot approach. + Your prophet Elisha put his hands on those of the king while holding the bow; The king shot the arrow; and it was “the arrow of the Lord’s deliverance from Aram” What bow I carry except Your divine promises? Let the church’s hand be put on my hands; To enjoy Your exalted power; Let me, together with the Canaanite woman, touch the hem of Your garment; namely to get attached to Your holy church; To enjoy Your healing power, the giver of salvation; Grant me not to cease striving by Your grace Until You reign in my heart, and my whole being; + The bearers of the coffin, in fear of a band of raiders; Cast the corpse of the dead man in a nearby grave; Touching he bones of Elisha, the dead man instantly revived; Your life-giving power was proclaimed through the bones of Your prophet; And exhorted us to experience the power of Your resurrection in us; + Let us live with you, to live by You, and to bear the power of Your holiness; The king of Israel called him “his father’ who protects him; “O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and their horsemen” Behold, his dry bones inside the grave had compassion on a dead man, and proclaimed their love for him; And give him and his family an exalted joy; His fatherhood comes from his soul, as well as from his body and bones. + You allowed Elisha, while alive, to raise a child from the dead; And while dead, to raise a dead man through touching his bones; To proclaim that his soul is holy by You, the subject of Your pleasure; Even his bones after the departure of his soul from his body, are still holy; You honor the souls of Your saints, as well as their bodies; You honor their bones as well as the rags on their bodies; You honor even their shadows, as You did with Peter Your apostle. + Glory be to You, O resurrected from the dead; You, who raised the dead from their graves, without touching them; And brought out those who were in Hades, to Your paradise; You raised the dead; but left Elisha in his grave; And will raise all the dead on Your coming on the clouds.
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