Saint Elisha

Elisha was a prophet in Israel between the ninth and eighth centuries before Christ, and he was the son of Shaphat, of Abel-meholah. His calling is one of the most down-to-earth scenes in the Bible. Elijah finds him plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, passes by and throws his cloak over him. Elisha understands, and does something that closes off any way back: he takes the oxen, slaughters them, lights a fire with the wood of the yoke and feeds his people. Then he follows him. He was Elijah’s disciple until the day his master was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Before disappearing, Elijah asked him what he wanted; Elisha asked for two thirds of his spirit — the share that in Israel went to the firstborn son. He picked up the fallen cloak and struck the waters of the Jordan with it. The stories that follow are among the most popular in the Bible: the flour that heals the poisoned pot, the widow’s oil that never runs out, the Shunammite woman’s son brought back to life, and above all Naaman the Syrian, a general and a leper, who expected a solemn gesture and was told to go and wash seven times in the Jordan — and who almost left in a huff, because it was too simple. Islam venerates him as a wise and righteous man, under the name al-Yasa. If your name is Elisha, today is your name day.