Dr. Collins and Dr. Baden note that the prophets tend to have different functions through the course of the Hebrew Bible. Some speak up to hold kings accountable, some perform miracles to show God’s power, some anoint new kings. What are the prophetic gifts of Elijah and Elisha? How do they compare to other prophets in the Hebrew Bible?
What similarities and/or differences do you notice between Elijah’s story in the Hebrew Bible compared to Gospel stories about Jesus?
Often the anointing by a prophet corresponds with military conquest and victory. Which do you think influences which?
Do kings overcome their enemies because they’ve been anointed, or might the kings who are strongest in battle receive anointing?
Applying the Text:
How does this recent reading of the story of Elijah and Elisha compare with what you knew about them before? What stood out to you in this reading?
What kinds of power dynamics might have impacted the ways that kings and prophets related to each other during this time? How might these power dynamics have impacted relationships between and among different prophets?