Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Elisha the Lord.

That's what the men of Jericho call him (according to the Septuagint): "ο κυριος" (2 Kgs. 2:19).

The widow at Zarephath refers to herself and her dead husband before Elisha as δουλος σου (your servant), as does the commander of the armies of Aram (5:15), as do the whole host of Yahwistic prophets (6:3). The King of Israel calls him πατερ or father, and so on and so forth.

Even if all of these phrases are mere formalities, we must bear in mind that formalities are significations, and as significations they refer to a reality, in this case a political one. The monarch of Israel and all of the holy ones who wander his environs are effaced before the power of Elisha and must pay him heed. Fascinating and intriguing!!

These theological data are already bursting with Christological import. It is the prophet of YAHWEH who properly leads Israel.

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