Elijah was probably the most significantprophet who didn't write his own book. Heproclaimed God's word in the northern kingdom ofIsrael at the time of the evil king Ahab. It was hewho ensured a widow was always supplied with oiland flour (1 king 17:8-16), who had a showdownwith the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 kings18:17-40), and who was strengthened by God'sstill voice in his fatigue and depression. At the endof his life, a chariot of fire took him to heaven, andhis mantle fell to Elisha as his successor.2 kings 2:1-151 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijahinto heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha fromGilgal. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; Thomas Asiedu- Peprah33 ______________________________________________________________for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said untohim, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will notleave thee. So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons ofthe prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, andsaid unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thymaster from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it;hold ye your peace. 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarryhere, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho.And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I willnot leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons ofthe prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and saidunto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thymaster from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I knowit; hold ye your peace. 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, Ipray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. Andhe said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will notleave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of thesons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: andthey two stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, andwrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they weredivided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dryground.9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijahsaid unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I betaken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let adouble portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see mewhen I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but ifnot, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still The Prophet Offering_____________________________________________________ 34went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariotof fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder;and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elishasaw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot ofIsrael, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in twopieces.13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, andwent back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14 And he tookthe mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he alsohad smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: andElisha went over. 15 And when the sons of the prophetswhich were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spiritof Elijah doth rest on Elisha.Elisha was Elijah's successor and the second-mostimportant prophet without a book. He spent sevenor eight years as Elijah's apprentice before Elijahwas taken to heaven. He then helped to wipe outorganized Baal worship (2 King 10:28), brought awidow's son back to life (2 kings 4:18-37), andcured Naaman's leprosy (2 Kings 5). His powerand authority through God was so great that, whena dead man was thrown into Elisha's grave, theman sprang back to li