A new prophet
2 Kings Chapters 1-2
Both King Ahaziah and Elijah come to their end in today’s reading, but their stories could not be much more different.
Ahaziah has been injured and, as a follower of Baal, seeks word from one of his prophets as to whether he will recover. It is God, though, who answers through Elijah. While the injury may have been the immediate cause of death, it is clear that his unfaithfulness to God is the ultimate reason.
Whether Elijah actually died at all is a matter of some debate. While statements elsewhere in scripture suggest that all men die, the reported end of Elijah’s life on earth has him being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
In either case, a three-day search makes it clear that he is gone. Elisha succeeds him as a prophet as had been predicted.
As affirmation of Elisha’s new power he promptly performs two miraculous actions. One is the cleaning of a bad water source and the other is punishment of boys who make fun of his bald head.