calling him “my father” (see note on 6:21). When God’s leadership stands united, absolutely amazing things can happen. It will be evident by now that the Elisha cycle—no less than the Elijah cycle—represents a careful editing of various stories and traditions with somewhat different emphases and points of view. In the present case we find (rather atypically) Israelite king and prophet working in delightful harmony with each other, and thus vanquishing their common enemy in an effortless and almost