On the narratives, see KINGS. In general those where "the prophet appears as on friendly terms with the king, and possessed of influence at court (e.g. 2 Kings iv. 13, vi. 9, vi. 21, compared with xiii. 14), plainly belong to the time of Jehu's dynasty, though they are related before the fall of the house of Omri. We can distinguish portions of an historical narrative which speaks of Elisha in connexion with events of public interest, without making him the central figure, and a series of anecdotes of properly biographical character.... In the latter we may distinguish one circle connected with Gilgal, Jericho and the Jordan valley to which Abel-Meholah belongs (iv. 1-7? 38-44, v.? vi. 1-7). Here Elisha appears as the head of the prophetic gilds, having his fixed residence at Gilgal.[4] Another circle, which presupposes the accession of the house of Jehu, places him at Dothan or Carmel, and represents him as a personage of almost superhuman dignity. Here there is an obvious parallelism with the history of Elijah, especially with his ascension (cf. 2 Kings vi. 17 with ii. 11; xiii. 14 with ii. 12); and it is to this group of narratives that the ascension of Elijah forms the introduction" (Robertson Smith, _Ency. Brit._, 9th ed., art. KINGS, vol. xiv. p. 186). This twofold representation finds a parallel in the narratives of Samuel, whose history and the conditions reflected therein are analogous to the life and times of Elisha. Elisha is canonized in the Orthodox Eastern Church, his festival being on the 14th of June, under which date his life is entered in the _Acta sanctorum_. See especially, W.R. Smith, _Prophets of Israel_ (Index, s.v.), and the literature to ELIJAH; KINGS, BOOKS OF; PROPHET. (W. R. S.; S. A. C.) FOOTNOTES: [1] Similarly Elijah enforces respect for the prophetic office in i. 9 sqq. Prof. Kennett points out to the present writer that the epithet "bald-head" may refer to the sign of mourning for Elisha's lost master (cf. Ez. vii. 18, Deut. xiv. 1); "Go up" is perhaps to be taken literally (in reference to Elijah's translation). [2] The method of obtaining water (_v._ 16 sq.) is that which still gives its name to the Wadi el-Ahsa ("valley of water pits") at the southern end of the Dead Sea (_Old Test. Jew. Church_, 2nd ed., 147). On the other hand, see Burney, _Heb. Text of Kings_, p. 270. [3] R. V. marg. is an alteration to remove from Elisha the suggestion of an untruth.