Table of Contents

the company of students explained, “Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet” (2 Kings 6:2). The first mention of these prophets comes in 1 Samuel 10, in connection with King Saul. In first Samuel 19, Saul sent messengers to capture David at Naioth in Ramah, where he eventually prophesied among the people there (1 Samuel 19:24). These groups were established by Samuel to help protect the nation of Israel against corruption. The goal was to train up godly men who could lead the nation spiritually, much like today’s Bible colleges and seminaries. Key areas of study were the law of God (Leviticus 10:11), sacred history (Joel 1:3), and sacred music (1 Samuel 10:5). Interestingly, they were also taught a trade so they could become self-supporting. In time, these schools declined as Israel’s commitment to God waned. Thankfully, by divine call, Elijah came along and reestablished them as a part of his ministry. Even in the midst of the Ahab/Jezebel fury, they were built in Bethel, Gilgal, and Jericho, the location of our study for this chapter. We’ve already addressed two incidents connected with these schools. In 2 Kings 2, the students were on hand during Elijah’s fiery chariot departure. Later, in 2 Kings 4, the husband of the poor widow who died was among the company of prophets. The Spirit-fueled work of these prophets, such as the victory on Mount Carmel and numerous other miracles, was no doubt prompting more young men to join ranks, thus the need for more space. Speaking of a need for space, the church my wife and I attend in Northeast Georgia has experienced tremendous post-pandemic growth. We’ve moved to three Sunday morning services, with a $15 million 1800-seat sanctuary project in the works. What’s even more wonderful is the fact that other churches around us are undergoing similar expansion.

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