[36] _Bava-Metzia_, f. 37, 2, etc. His name is used for incantations in the Kabbala. _Kitsur Sh'lh_, f. 71, 1 (Hershon, _Talmudic Miscellany_, p. 340). The chair set for him is called "the throne of Elijah." For many Rabbinic legends see Hershon, _Treasures of the Talmud_, pp. 172-178. The Persians regard him as the teacher of Zoroaster. CHAPTER III _ELISHA_ 2 KINGS ii. 1-25 "He did wonders in his life, and at death even his works were marvellous. For all this the people repented not."--ECCLUS. xlviii. 14, 15. At this point we enter into the cycle of supernatural stories, which gathered round the name of Elisha in the prophetic communities. Some of them are full of charm and tenderness; but in some cases it is difficult to point out their intrinsic superiority over the ecclesiastical miracles with which monkish historians have embellished the lives of the saints. We can but narrate them as they stand, for we possess none of the means for critical or historical analysis which might enable us to discriminate between essential facts and accidental elements. We see at once that the figure of Elisha[37] is far less impressive than that of Elijah. He inspires less of awe and terror. He lives far more in cities and amid the ordinary surroundings of civilised life. The honour with which he was treated was the honour of respect and admiration for his kindliness. He plays his part in no stupendous scenes like those at Carmel and at Horeb, and nearly all his miracles were miracles of mercy. Other remarkable differences are observable in the records of Elijah and Elisha. In the case of the former his main work was the opposition to Baal-worship; but although Baal-worship still prevailed (2 Kings x. 18-27) we read of no protests raised by Elisha against it. "With him"--perhaps it should be more accurately said, in the narrative which tells us of him--"the miracles are everything, the prophetic work nothing." The conception of a prophet's mission in these stories of him differs widely from that which dominates the splendid _midrash_ of Elijah.