Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/320

 and cried: “My  father! my father! The chariot  of  Israel  and  the driver thereof!’'  When  he  saw  Elias  no  longer,  he  rent  his  garments in grief;  then  taking  the  mantle  which  Elias  had  dropped,  he went  back  and  struck  with  it  the  waters  of  the  Jordan. They were divided,  and  Eliseus  passed  over. The other  disciples  of Elias  seeing  this  said:  “The  spirit  of  Elias  hath  rested  upon Eliseus.” And  coming  to  meet  him,  they  worshipped  him, falling to  the  ground.

After Elias  had  been  taken  up  into  heaven,  Eliseus  arose and exhorted  the  Israelites  to  remain  faithful  to  the  Lord. God also favoured  him  with  the  gift  of  miracles. When he  came  to Jericho,  the  men  of  the  city  said  to  him:  “The  situation  of  this city is  very  good,  but  the  waters  are  very  bad.”  Eliseus  answered: “Bring me  a new  vessel  and  put  salt  into  it.”  When  they  had brought it,  he  went  out  to  the  spring  (Fig.  50,  p.  280),  cast the salt  into  it,  and  the  waters  were  healed.

One day  when  Eliseus  was  going  up  to  Bethel,  where  the golden calf  was  worshipped,  some  boys  came  out  of  the  city  and mocked him,  saying:  “Go  up,  thou  bald  head.”  Eliseus,  knowing that in  dishonouring  him  they  dishonoured  God,  turned  back  and cursed them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. Immediately two  bears came out  of  the  wood  that  was  near  by,  and  killed  forty-two of the  boys.