When Elijah heard the voice of God as he sat in a cave on Mount Horeb, “he wrapped his face in his mantle,” and went out to talk with God (1 Kings 19:13). Shortly after, he threw that same mantle on Elisha as he worked in his field (1 Kings 19:19-21). Elisha understood this action to be a call to discipleship. Like Jesus’s apostles, he left his oxen and followed Elijah.
A mantle is a large outer cloak. The Hebrew word (addereth: אַדֶּרֶת) is related to words which mean majestic, lordly, or powerful. So in that language, the symbolism is implied by the term. Elijah’s mantle represented his prophetic calling.
During Elijah’s last day on earth, he traveled to three places: the cities of Beth-El and Jericho, and the river Jordan. Before each of these journeys, he asked Elisha to stay behind, and Elisha refused. In both of the cities, “sons of the prophets” advised Elisha that Elijah would be taken from him that day. Both times, he responded, “Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace” (2 Kings 2:1-5). They knew it, and he knew it. The text doesn’t explain how.
At the river, Elijah removed his mantle and struck the water. The river divided, and the two walked through on dry ground, just as the children of Israel had followed Moses through the Red Sea and Joshua through this same river. On the other side of Jordan, but within sight of fifty of their friends, Elijah ascended into heaven in a chariot of fire, leaving behind his mantle. Elisha picked up that mantle and smote the river again, walking back to the other men on dry ground. They marveled, “The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” (2 Kings 2:8-15).
The story is full of recognition but light on explanation. How did so many people, including Elisha, know that it was Elijah’s final day? How did they know that the mantle represented Elijah’s authority, and why did they accept that transfer of authority so easily?
The Book of Mormon contains a discussion of prophetic authority that adds depth to this story. After Alma is converted to God by the preaching of Abinadi, he preaches in the wilderness to a growing group of followers. Eventually, he organizes them into a church, baptizing them and ordaining priests to teach them (Mosiah 18:7-18). Shortly after, they travel eight days in the wilderness and begin to establish their own city. They try to crown Alma as their king, but he refuses, telling them that they should have no king. Then, he teaches them that they must exercise judgment as they determine whom to follow:
Trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.
Mosiah 23:14
Elisha’s fellow believers (the “sons of the prophets”) modeled this principle, even though it isn’t spelled out in 2 Kings. They sensed that a succession was coming. They confided in Elisha as he and Elijah passed through their cities, indicating that they trusted him. When some of them saw him replicate a miracle using Elijah’s mantle, they sensed that the mantle represented something bigger, that Elijah’s authority now rested on Elisha’s shoulders.
Today I will exercise my agency to learn whom God wants me to follow and whom He wants me to trust. I will strive to be attuned to His Spirit, so that I can recognize people whom He has called to lead me and so that I will be prepared to follow their guidance.
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