Coming back to 2 Melakhim 3, it should be noted that Elisha, who had a double portion of the spirit of Eliyah, also stood before Yahweh-Tzvaot, even as Eliyah did!
Does standing before Yahweh mean being prophet before Yahweh and undertaking his works, the works he gives one to do?
It should also be noted that Achav, after Eliyah prophesied against his house, also humbled himself before Yahweh. Was it so considered because he undertook the works of humility that Yahweh requires men to undertake?
Naaman the Arammian Washes and is Cleansed
2 Melakhim 5: 1-27 reads, "5:1Now Na`aman, captain of the host of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Aram. He was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 5:2The Aram had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Yisra'el a little maiden; and she waited on Na`aman's wife. 5:3She said to her mistress, 'Would that my master were with the prophet who is in Shomron! Then would he recover him of his leprosy.' 5:4One went in, and told his master, saying, 'Thus and thus said the maiden who is of the land of Yisra'el.' 5:5The king of Aram said, 'Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Yisra'el.' He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 5:6He brought the letter to the king of Yisra'el, saying, 'Now when this letter is come to you, behold, I have sent Na`aman my servant to you, that you may recover him of his leprosy.' 5:7It happened, when the king of Yisra'el had read the letter, that he tore his clothes, and said, 'Am I the Mighty One, to kill and to make alive, that this man does send to me to recover a man of his leprosy? But consider, I pray you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.' 5:8It was so, when Elisha the man of the Mighty One heard that the king of Yisra'el had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Yisra'el. 5:9So Na`aman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 5:10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go and wash in the Yarden seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.' 5:11But Na`aman was angry, and went away, and said, 'Behold, I thought, "He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his Mighty One, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper." 5:12Aren't Amanah and Parpar, the rivers of Dammesek, better than all the waters of Yisra'el? May I not wash in them, and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage. 5:13His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, 'My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, "Wash, and be clean?"' 5:14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Yarden, according to the saying of the man of the Mighty One; and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 5:15He returned to the man of the Mighty One, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, 'See now, I know that there is no Mighty One in all the earth, but in Yisra'el. Now therefore, please take a present from your servant.' 5:16But he said, 'As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.' He urged him to take it; but he refused. 5:17Na`aman said, 'If not, yet, please let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth; for your servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other mighty ones, but to Yahweh. 5:18In this thing Yahweh pardon your servant. When my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.' 5:19He said to him, 'Go in shalom.' So he departed from him a little way. 5:20But Gechazi the servant of Elisha the man of the Mighty One, said, 'Behold, my master has spared this Na`aman the Arammian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.' 5:21So Gechazi followed after Na`aman. When Na`aman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said, 'Is all well?' 5:22He said, 'All is well. My master has sent me, saying, "Behold, even now there are come to me from the hill-country of Efrayim two young men of the sons of the prophets; please give them a talent of silver, and two changes of clothing."' 5:23Na`aman said, 'Be pleased to take two talents.' He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they bore them before him. 5:24When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed. 5:25But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, 'Whence come you, Gechazi?' He said, 'Your servant went no where.' 5:26He said to him, 'Didn't my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and men-servants and maid-servants? 5:27The leprosy therefore of Na`aman shall cleave to you, and to your seed forever.' He went out from his presence a leper as white as snow."
It should be noted that Naaman was healed for the purpose of showing him and others that there is no Mighty One in all the earth except Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisrael.
Was Naaman's Healing a Forerunner of Yahchanan's Baptism?
It should also be noted that Naaman was told to go to the Yarden and "Wash, and be clean." Was this the forerunner of the baptism of Yahchanan in the Yarden, whereby those who were baptised in the Yarden, even as Naaman was, were symbolically being washed of their sins, and rendered clean, that is healed of the consequences of sin?
In 2 Melakhim 5: 13 Naaman's servants addressed him by the phrase "my father". In 2 Melakhim 2: 12 Elisha, Eliyah's servant, addressed Eliyah by the phrase "my father, my father". It therefore appears that the phrase "my father" is synonymous with "my master".
Noting that Malakhi 4: 5-6 says that Eliyah will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, does it mean that the children of Yisrael's hearts will be turned to the heart of their master, Yahweh? And the heart of their master, Yahweh, will be turned to them?
Noting what was prophesied by Gavriel of Yahchanan, who came in the spirit and power of Eliyah, in Luke 1: 16-17, this appears to be so. For Yahchanan was to turn many of the "children" of Yisrael to Yahweh, their Mighty One, and to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. Seeing that Yahweh is indeed Master over Yisrael, it appears that Yahweh is represented by "the fathers" in Malakhi 4: 5-6, and the children of Yisrael represented by "the children"!
Yahweh's Servants Do Not Receive Property for Doing Yahweh's Works
It should also be noted that Yahweh's servants do not receive property in exchange or payment for their undertaking Yahweh's works. Yahweh gives his gifts to his servants freely, and they likewise are to give of those gifts freely.
What is the significance of Elisha's words in 2 Melakhim 5: 26? For he posed the question whether it was a time to receive property.
His words implied that the time they were living in was not a time for receiving property. Why was it not a time to receive property? Is it the case that when Yahweh's work by the spirit and power of Eliyah is being undertaken, such as was being undertaken by Elisha, one, especially a servant of Yahweh, is not to receive or accumulate property?
Meaning of Standing Before Yahweh
In 2 Melakhim 5: 16 Elisha said that he stood before Yahweh. In 2 Melakhim 5: 25 it is seen that Gechazi stood before his master Elisha. It therefore appears that to stand before Yahweh simply means to be at Yahweh's service, ready to do his word at his bidding.
Yahweh's Words By Eliyah Concerning Achav's House Fulfilled
2 Melakhim 9: 1 - 10: 11 reads, "9:1Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, 'Gird up your loins, and take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramot-Gil`ad. 9:2When you come there, look out there Yahu the son of Yehoshafat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner chamber. 9:3Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, "Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Yisra'el." Then open the door, and flee, and don't wait.' 9:4So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramot-Gil`ad. 9:5When he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, 'I have an errand to you, captain.' Yahu said, 'To which of us all?' He said, 'To you, O captain.' 9:6He arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el, "I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Yisra'el. 9:7You shall strike the house of Ach'av your master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Izevel. 9:8For the whole house of Ach'av shall perish; and I will cut off from Ach'av every man-child, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Yisra'el. 9:9I will make the house of Ach'av like the house of Yarov`am the son of Nevat, and like the house of Ba`sha the son of Achiyah. 9:10The dogs shall eat Izevel in the portion of Yizre`el, and there shall be none to bury her."' He opened the door, and fled. 9:11Then Yahu came forth to the servants of his master. And one said to him, 'Is all well? Why came this mad fellow to you?' He said to them, 'You know the man and what his talk was.' 9:12They said, 'It is false; tell us now.' He said, 'Thus and thus spoke he to me, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Yisra'el."' 9:13Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the shofar, saying, 'Yahu is king.' 9:14So Yahu the son of Yehoshafat the son of Nimshi conspired against Yoram. (Now Yoram was keeping Ramot-Gil`ad, he and all Yisra'el, because of Chaza'el king of Aram; 9:15but king Yoram was returned to be healed in Yizre`el of the wounds which the Aram had given him, when he fought with Chaza'el king of Aram.) Yahu said, 'If this be your mind, then let none escape and go forth out of the city, to go to tell it in Yizre`el.' 9:16So Yahu rode in a chariot, and went to Yizre`el; for Yoram lay there. Achazyah king of Yahudah was come down to see Yoram.
9:17
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Yizre`el, and he spied the company of Yahu as he came, and said, 'I see a company.' Yoram said, 'Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, "Is it shalom?"' 9:18So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, 'Thus says the king, "Is it shalom?"' Yahu said, 'What have you to do with shalom? Turn you behind me.' The watchman told, saying, 'The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back.' 9:19Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, 'Thus says the king, "Is it shalom?"' Yahu answered, "What have you to do with shalom? Turn you behind me.' 9:20The watchman told, saying, 'He came even to them, and isn't coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Yahu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.' 9:21Yoram said, 'Make ready.' They made ready his chariot. Yoram king of Yisra'el and Achazyah king of Yahudah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Yahu, and found him in the portion of Navot the Yizre`eli. 9:22It happened, when Yoram saw Yahu, that he said, 'Is it shalom, Yahu?' He answered, 'What shalom, so long as the prostitution of your mother Izevel and her witchcraft abound?' 9:23Yoram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Achazyah, 'There is treachery, Achazyah.' 9:24Yahu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Yoram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 9:25Then said Yahu to Bidgar his captain, 'Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Navot the Yizre`eli; for remember how that, when you and I rode together after Ach'av his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him. 9:26"Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Navot, and the blood of his sons," says Yahweh; "and I will requite you in this plot," says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him into the plot of ground, according to the word of Yahweh.' 9:27But when Achazyah the king of Yahudah saw this, he fled by the way of the Beit-Haggan. Yahu followed after him, and said, 'Smite him also in the chariot.' And they struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Yivle`am. He fled to Megiddo, and died there. 9:28His servants carried him in a chariot to Yerushalayim, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David. 9:29In the eleventh year of Yoram the son of Ach'av began Achazyah to reign over Yahudah.9:30
When Yahu was come to Yizre`el, Izevel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window. 9:31As Yahu entered in at the gate, she said, 'Is it shalom, you Zimri, your master's murderer?' 9:32He lifted up his face to the window, and said, 'Who is on my side? Who?' There looked out to him two or three eunuchs. 9:33He said, 'Throw her down.' So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. And he trod her under foot. 9:34When he was come in, he ate and drank; and he said, 'See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter.' 9:35They went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 9:36Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, 'This is the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Eliyah the Tishbi, saying, "In the portion of Yizre`el shall the dogs eat the flesh of Izevel; 9:37and the body of Izevel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Yizre`el, so that they shall not say, 'This is Izevel.'"'10:1
Now Ach'av had seventy sons in Shomron. Yahu wrote letters, and sent to Shomron, to the rulers of Yizre`el, even the Zakenim, and to those who brought up the sons of Ach'av, saying, 10:2'Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor; 10:3look you out the best and meet of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.' 10:4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, 'Behold, the two kings didn't stand before him. How then shall we stand?' 10:5He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the Zakenim also, and those who brought up the children, sent to Yahu, saying, 'We are your servants, and will do all that you shall bid us; we will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.' 10:6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, 'If you be on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take you the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Yizre`el by tomorrow this time.' Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up. 10:7It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Yizre`el. 10:8There came a messenger, and told him, saying, 'They have brought the heads of the king's sons.' He said, 'Lay you them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.' 10:9It happened in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, 'You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master, and killed him; but who struck all these?' 10:10'Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of Yahweh, which Yahweh spoke concerning the house of Ach'av. For Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Eliyah.' 10:11So Yahu struck all that remained of the house of Ach'av in Yizre`el, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his Kohanim, until he left him none remaining."Summarising Eliyah's work, the work done by the spirit and power of Eliyah, the following can be seen, as aptly encapsulated by 1 Melakhim 18: 36-37. It was to show that Yahweh was the Mighty One, the Mighty One in Yisrael. It was to show that Eliyah was Yahweh's servant. It was to show that Eliyah did all the things he did at Yahweh's word. And it was to show that Yahweh had turned the heart of the people back again, turning their hearts back again to himself, and away from the Baalim and Asherahs. This appears to me to encapsulate the work done by the spirit and power of Eliyah.
It should also be noted that by the time Eliyah became prophet in Yisrael, the people of Yahweh, the children of Yisrael, had abandoned Yahweh for the Baalim and the Asherahs. They had abandoned Yahweh's covenant that he gave to them at Chorev. Eliyah therefore sought to return the people to Yahweh, and to teach them how to observe Yahweh's covenant.
Also, from Naaman's washing and cleansing in the Yarden, at the word of Yahweh by Elisha his prophet, upon whom was the spirit and power of Eliyah, we see the forerunner of the baptism of Yahchanan the Baptizer in the Yarden. For those coming for the baptism of Yahchanan in the Yarden came to be symbolically washed and cleansed of their sins!
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