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of gigantic evils。 The idolatry which； supported by Ahab and the heathen Jezebel； had seduced the nation； had been given a decided check。 Baal's prophets had been slain。 The whole people of Israel had been deeply stirred； and many were returning to the worship of God。 As Elijah's successor； Elisha； by careful； patient instruction； must endeavor to guide Israel in safe paths。 His association with Elijah； the greatest prophet since the days of Moses； prepared him for the work that he was soon to take up alone。
During these years of united ministry； Elijah from time to time was called upon to meet flagrant evils with stern rebuke。 When wicked Ahab seized Naboth's vineyard； it was the voice of Elijah that prophesied his doom and the doom of all his house。 And when Ahaziah； after the death of his father Ahab； turned from the living God to Baal…zebub； the god of Ekron； it was Elijah's voice that was heard once more in earnest protest。
The schools of the prophets； established by Samuel； had fallen into decay during the years of Israel's apostasy。 Elijah re…established these schools； making provision for young men to gain an education that would lead them to magnify the law and make it honorable。 Three of these schools； one at Gilgal； one at Bethel； and one at Jericho； are mentioned
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in the record。 Just before Elijah was taken to heaven； he and Elisha visited these centers of training。 The lessons that the prophet of God had given them on former visits； he now repeated。 Especially did he instruct them concerning their high privilege of loyally maintaining their allegiance to the God of heaven。 He also impressed upon their minds the importance of letting simplicity mark every feature of their education。 Only in this way could they receive the mold of heaven and go forth to work in the ways of the Lord。
The heart of Elijah was cheered as he saw what was being accomplished by means of these schools。 The work of reformation was not complete； but he could see throughout the kingdom a verification of the word of the Lord； 〃Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel； all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal。〃 1 Kings 19：18。
As Elisha accompanied the prophet on his round of service from school to school； his faith and resolution were once more tested。 At Gilgal； and again at Bethel and Jericho； he was invited by the prophet to turn back。 〃Tarry here； I pray thee；〃 Elijah said； 〃for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel。〃 But in his early labor of guiding the plow； Elisha had learned not to fail or to become discouraged； and now that he had set his hand to the plow in another line of duty he would not be diverted from his purpose。 He would not be parted from his master； so long as opportunity remained for gaining a further fitting up for service。 Unknown to Elijah； the revelation that he was to be translated had been made known to his disciples in the schools of the prophets； and in particular to Elisha。 And now the tried servant of the man of God kept close beside him。 As
226 often as the invitation to turn back was given； his answer was； 〃As the Lord liveth； and as thy soul liveth； I will not leave thee。〃
〃And they two went on。 。 。 。 And they two stood by Jordan。 And Elijah took his mantle； and wrapped it together； and smote the waters； and they were divided hither and thither； so that they two went over on dry ground。 And it came to pass； when they were gone over； that Elijah said unto Elisha； Ask what I shall do for thee； before I be taken away from thee。〃
Elisha asked not for worldly honor； or for a high place among the great men of earth。 That which he craved was a large measure of the Spirit that God had bestowed so freely upon the one about to be honored with translation。
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He knew that nothing but the Spirit which had rested upon Elijah could fit him to fill the place in Israel to which God had called him； and so he asked； 〃I pray thee； let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me。〃
In response to this request； Elijah said； 〃Thou hast asked a hard thing： nevertheless； if thou see me when I am taken from thee； it shall be so unto thee； but if not； it shall not be so。 And it came to pass； as they still went on； and talked； that； behold； there appeared a chariot of fire； and horses of fire； and parted them both asunder； and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven。〃 See 2 Kings 2：1…11。
Elijah was a type of the saints who will be living on the earth at the time of the second advent of Christ and who will be 〃changed； in a moment； in the twinkling of an eye； at the last trump；〃 without tasting of death。 1 Corinthians 15：51； 52。 It was as a representative of those who shall be thus translated that Elijah； near the close of Christ's earthly ministry； was permitted to stand with Moses by the side of the Saviour on the mount of transfiguration。 In these glorified ones； the disciples saw in miniature a representation of the kingdom of the redeemed。 They beheld Jesus clothed with the light of heaven； they heard the 〃voice out of the cloud〃 （Luke 9：35）； acknowledging Him as the Son of God； they saw Moses； representing those who will be raised from the dead at the time of the second advent； and there also stood Elijah； representing those who at the close of earth's history will be changed from mortal to immortal and be translated to heaven without seeing death。
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In the desert； in loneliness and discouragement； Elijah had said that he had had enough of life and had prayed that he might die。 But the Lord in His mercy had not taken him at his word。 There was yet a great work for Elijah to do； and when his work was done； he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude。 Not for him the descent into the tomb； but the ascent with God's angels to the presence of His glory。
〃And Elisha saw it； and he cried； My father； my father； the chariot of Israel； and the horsemen thereof。 And he saw him no more： and he took hold of his own clothes； and rent them in two pieces。 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him； and went back； and stood by the bank of Jordan； and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him； and smote the waters； and said； Where is the Lord God of Elijah？ and when he also had smitten the waters； they parted hither and thither： and Elisha went over。 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him； they said； The Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha。 And they came to meet him； and bowed themselves to the ground before him。〃 2 Kings 2：12…15。
When the Lord in His providence sees fit to remove from His work those to whom He has given wisdom； He helps and strengthens their successors； if they will look to Him for aid and will walk in His ways。 They may be even wiser than their predecessors； for they may profit by their experience and learn wisdom from their mistakes。
Henceforth Elisha stood in Elijah's place。 He who had been faithful in that which was least was to prove himself faithful also in much。
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Chapter 18
The Healing of the Waters
In Patriarchal times the Jordan Valley was 〃well watered everywhere； 。 。 。 even as the garden of the Lord。〃 It was in this fair valley that Lot chose to make his home when he 〃pitched his tent toward Sodom。〃 Genesis 13：10； 12。 At the time that the cities of the plain were destroyed； the region round about became a desolate waste； and it has since formed a part of the wilderness of Judea。
A portion of the beautiful valley remained； with its life…giving springs and streams； to gladden the heart of man。 In this valley； rich with fields of grain and forests of date palms and other fruit…bearing trees； the hosts of Israel had encamped after crossing the Jordan and had first partaken of the fruits of the Promised Land。 Before them had stood the walls of Jericho； a heathen stronghold； the center of the worship of Ashtoreth； vilest and most degrading of all Canaanitish forms of idolatry。 Soon its walls were thrown
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down and its inhabitants slain； and at the time of its fall the solemn declaration was made； in the presence of all Israel： 〃Cursed be the man before the Lord； that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho： he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first…born； and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it。〃 Joshua 6：26。
Five centuries passed。 The spot lay desolate； accursed of God。 Even the springs that had made residence in this portion of the valley so desirable suffered the blighting effects of the curse。 But in the days of Ahab's apostasy； when through Jezebel's influence the worship of Ashtoreth was revived； Jericho； the ancient seat of this worship； was rebuilt； though at a fearful cost to the builder。 Hiel the Bethelite 〃laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first…born； and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub； according to the world of the Lord。〃 1 Kings 16：34。
Not far from Jericho； in the midst of fruitf