“Elisha picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.” (2 Kings 2:13–14, HCSB)

When one says that they pass the mantle to the next person, they mean that they have passed the leadership of a group to the next person. While it literally means that the jacket is given to the next person, it has come to mean leadership. Elijah gave the mantle of Elijah in 2 Kings after Elijah was taken up to heaven.

Elisha asked Elijah for one request. He wanted to inherit two shares (or a double portion) of His spirit. What does that mean? Only the first-born son is given two shares of the family inheritance.

“He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him two shares of his estate, for he is the firstfruits of his virility; he has the rights of the firstborn.” (Deuteronomy 21:17, HCSB)

In this way, Elisha was asking for the leadership of Elijah and his prophet school.

“After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.” So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”” (2 Kings 2:9, HCSB)

One of the lessons we get from Elijah and Elisha is the fact that leadership needs to be transferred for ministry to continue.

Photo by Jad Limcaco on Unsplash