The Ascent of Elijah and the Ministry of Elisha

Elijah found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and threw his mantle over him. Elisha slaughtered the oxen, burned the plow for firewood, fed the people and followed his master.

On the last day they walked together to the Jordan; Elijah rolled up his mantle, struck the water, and it parted. "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken." "Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Then a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them and Elijah went up in a whirlwind. Elisha cried, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" and picked up the fallen mantle.

What follows is a chain of miracles unlike the thunder of Carmel. He healed the bitter waters of Jericho with salt. He told a widow whose creditor was taking her children to gather empty vessels — her one small jug of oil filled them all. He promised a son to the woman of Shunem who had built him a room on her roof, and revived the boy when he died. He sent Naaman, the leprous Aramean general, to dip seven times in the Jordan, and Naaman acknowledged the God of Israel. Tradition holds that Elijah never died — and comes to every circumcision and every Passover table.