Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/319

 he cast  himself  down  and  slept  in  the  shadow  of  a juniper-tree; and behold,  an  angel  of  the  Lord  touched  him  and  said: “Arise, eat; for  thou  hast  yet  a great  way  to  go.”  Elias  looked  and saw at  his  head  a hearth-cake  and  a vessel  of  water. He arose, ate and  drank,  and  walked  in  the  strength  of  that  food  forty days and  forty  nights,  until  he  came  to  the  mount  of  God ,  Horeb.

Then the  Lord  appeared  to  him  amidst  the  breezes  of  a gentle  wind,  consoled  him  and  said:  “Return  and  anoint  Eliseus to be  prophet  in  thy  room,  and  I will  leave  Me seven  thousand men whose  knees  have  not  bowed  before  Baal.”  Elias  departed and found  Eliseus  ploughing  with  oxen. He cast  his  mantle upon him,  and  Eliseus  forthwith  left  the  oxen  and  the  plough, followed Elias  and  ministered  to  him.

But the  time  came  when  the  Lord  wished  to  take  Elias  from the earth. The Spirit  of  God  led  him  to  the  Jordan,  and  Eliseus accompanied him. Elias took  his  mantle,  folded  it  together  and struck the  waters;  the  waters  divided,  and  both  passed  over  on dry  ground. As they  walked  on,  there  appeared  a fiery  chariot with horses. Elias was  taken  up  alive  to  heaven. Eliseus saw  him