LIFE AND TIMES OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA

The many parallels between the lives of Elijah and Elisha have been cited often and are summarized below. One can see that these events even occur in roughly the same order in each section. These similarities demonstrate that it is one and the same Spirit that is active in both. The lives of these two spiritual giants provide a major source of hope in the book.

Elijah-Elisha Parallels

Elijah (I Kings)                                                      Elisha (II Kings)

no rain but God provides (17:1-7)                         no water until God provides (3:9-20)

stays with widow (17:8-16)                                   stays with woman (4:8-17)

son healed (17:17-24)                                            son healed (4:18-37)

oil helps solve a financial crisis (17:17-24)          oil helps solve a financial crisis (4:1-7)

ger as people displaced by famine (17:20)           ger as people displaced by famine (8:1)

prophets saved (18:3-4)                                         prophets saved (4:38-44)

miracle at Mt. Carmel (18:17-43)                          healing of Naaman (5:1-19)

Jezebel's evil deeds (18:4)                                     Jezebel dies (9:30-37)

runs before chariot (18:44-46)                               goes in spirit with man from chariot (5:20-27)

comforting vision from God (19:18)                      comforting vision of God's army (6:16-17)

Benhadad's siege (20:1-34)                                    Benhadad's siege (6:24-7:20)

prophet's eyes bandaged (20:35-43)                       prophet blinds soldiers (6:18-23)

prophecy of Ahab and Jezebel's deaths                  Jezebel and sons of Ahab are killed (9:30-10:11)

(21:17-29)

“him who pisses against the wall” (21:21)           “him who pisses against the wall” (9:8)

joint war against Syria (ch. 22)                              joint war against Syria (8:25-29)

About 25 years ago, I put together this study outline covering I Kings 17-II Kings 10. To add more interest, I coupled the characters and events in this Old Testament history with those in the New Testament who shared some similarities. You may find it useful for your own individual or group studies.

Elijah and the Widow (I Kings 17)                              Jesus and Martha (John 11:1-44)

Obadiah: Closet Believer (I Kings 18)                         Nicodemus and Joseph

                                                                                     (John 3:19; 19:38-42)

Elijah: Depressed Prophet (I Kings 18-19)                  John the Baptist (Matt. 11:1-6)

King Ahab: Saved Sinner (I Kings 20-21)                  The Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36-50)

Jehosaphat: Mediocre Worldly Believer (I Kings 22)  Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19)

Ahaziah: Enquirer After Baalzebub (II Kings 1)         Simon the Magician (Acts 8)

Elisha Inherits Elijah's Mantle (II Kings 2)                 Jesus and John the Baptist (John 14)

Kings' Alliance Blessed (II Kings 3)                           Examples of Common Grace Today

Shumenite's Son Revived (II Kings 4)                         Jesus' Healings (Luke 7:1-17)

Naaman's Healing: The Role of Intermediaries           Andrew and Phillip as Intermediaries

(II Kings 5)                                                                  (John 1:35-51)

Joran: Non-belief in the Face of a Miracle                  Pharisees and the Blind Man (John 9)

(II Kings 6-7)

Hazael: Evil Man Accomplishing God's Work           Judas and Caiphas (John 11)

(II Kings 8)

King Jehu: Religion and the World (II Kings 9-10)   Christianity and Politics