Elisha Succeeds Elijah

The prophets from Jericho recognize Elisha’s new standing and bow before him, but still ask to search for Elijah. Elisha permits it under pressure, and their fruitless return proves his judgment was right.

W¹⁵hen the sons of the prophets who were watching him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. ¹⁶“Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” ¹⁷But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” ¹⁸When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”