to thee for ever.” And Giezi went out a leper, as white as snow[1]. Eliseus wrought other great miracles[2].
One great miracle the prophet wrought even after his death [3]. It happened in this manner: On one occasion a number of men were carrying a corpse to the cemetery for burial. As they were making the grave, behold, robbers from Moab rushed in upon them. They in their fright cast the corpse into the sepulchre of Eliseus[4]. No sooner had the dead man touched the bones of the prophet than he was instantly restored to life and came forth from the tomb.
COMMENTARY.
The Goodness of God towards His holy and zealous servant Elias was very great. He revived and strengthened him with a miraculous food, appeared to him most lovingly so as to comfort him, and finally took him from earth in a glorious manner, without letting him taste of the bitterness and humiliation of death.
The Omnipotence of God was shown by the supernatural power of the bread, in the strength of which Elias fasted forty days; and also by the twice-repeated division of the waters of the Jordan. It was God’s omnipotence which purified the well at Jericho by a means which, in the natural order of things, would have made the briny water more unpalatable than it was before. He cured the leprosy of Naaman and raised the dead man to life by contact with the bones of Eliseus.
Sadness which is pleasing to God. The sadness of Elias was not sinful, but on the contrary praiseworthy, for it sprang from love of God and zeal for His glory; and his heart, all aglow with divine love, was sad even unto death, when he contemplated the idolatry and impiety of the Israelites. We too ought to grieve when we see how much God is forgotten and offended, and how unbelief and hatred of the Church of God and her laws are ever increasing. It is to such sorrow as this that our Lord’s words apply: “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
A holy desire for death. We may not wish for our own death or for that of others, from reasons of impatience or despair. Elias’ desire for death arose not from a spirit of fretfulness, but from love of God,
- ↑ As white as snow. He was afflicted, as it were, with leprosy upon leprosy, so that there was no part of his body which was not covered with it.
- ↑ Other great miracles. So for instance he raised to life the dead son of a woman of Sunam.
- ↑ His death. He died at an advanced age, having filled the prophetical office for over fifty years.
- ↑ Of Eliseus. Into the grave which had been dug for Eliseus, from which they quickly rolled the stone, and cast the corpse into it.
