182. Prophets' Mantles

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible By: James M. Freeman

• 1 min. read • grade level: 12

Numbers 20:28²⁸And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. (Numbers 20:28). Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son.

This was the formal initiation of Eleazar into the sacred office. We find, also, that Elijah threw his mantle over Elisha, when, in obedience to divine command, he called him to the prophet’s work (1 Kings 19:19¹⁹So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. (1 Kings 19:19)). This mantle Elisha took up as soon as Elijah was translated (2 Kings 2:13-14¹³He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; ¹⁴And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (2 Kings 2:13‑14)). In a similar way Eliakim was appointed the successor of Shebna (Isaiah 22:15,20-21¹⁵Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, (Isaiah 22:15)
²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: ²¹And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. (Isaiah 22:20‑21)).

Among the Persians the prophet’s mantle is a symbol of spiritual power, and is transferred from a prophet to his successor. Among the Hindus when a Brahmin is inducted into the sacred office he is always covered with a yellow mantle.

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Manners and Customs of the Bible

• 180. The Staff of Inheritance

• 181. Sacrifice of the Red Heifer

• 182. Prophets' Mantles

• 183. Chemosh

• 184. Baal

• 185. Baal Peor

• 186. Camping Grounds

• 187. Stone Cities

• 188. Bedsteads

• 189. Zabaism

• 190. Portal Inscriptions

• 191. Watering With the Foot

• 192. Idolatrous Use of Blood

• 193. Abib

• 194. Idol Groves

• 195. Various Kinds of Divination

• 196. Axes

• 197. Landmarks

• 198. Dedication of Houses

• 199. The Gate a Place of Justice

• 200. Distinction in Dress

• 201. Battlements

• 202. Mingled Seed

• 203. Mixed Cloth

• 204. Debtors Protected

• 205. The Outer Garment

• 206. Olive Gathering

• 207. Threshing by Oxen

• 208. Barefoot

• 209. Weights