Pastor and 1st Lady Mims

Mims Chapel Church

Week 8, July 26, 2026

LESSON 8

The School of the Prophets

Lesson Text:

1 Samuel 19:18-24; 2 Kings 2:1-15

Memory Verse
"And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah cloth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him."
2 Kings 2:15

Key Terms
habitation • a place to live; a house or home.
satellite • a small branch of a company or agency in a different location from the main office.
tutelage • protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship.

Suggested Emphasis

Early in the history of the nation of Israel, we see evidence that individuals with prophetic gifting would find one another and congregate together. Such a gathering is often described in the KJV Bible as a "company of prophets." However, in Bible com-mentary, a company of prophets that appear to be under the tutelage of a prophetic leader—like Samuel, Elijah or Elisha—is re-ferred to as a "school." These various schools of prophets seem to have been founded at times of apostacy and faithless-ness on the part of the leaders of Israel. For example, the corruption of the priesthood in Israel (1 Sam. 2:12-17), may have inspired Samuel to nurture a faithful remnant of prophets, scribes and teachers. When dis-obedience and madness came to charac-terize the reign of King Saul, Samuel hosted disciples at his own residence in Ramah (1 Sam. 7:17; 19:18-24). In this lesson we will closely examine the curious institution we call "the school of the prophets."

Emphasis 1:

The School at Ramah

The first description of the school of the prophets appears in the story of David's flight from the murderous plotting of King Saul. David was warned by his wife Michal that their home was being watched by assassins sent by her father, the king. "So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped" (1 Sam. 19:12). David went to Ramah to find Samuel and seek help from an ally. The scripture says when he explained his predicament to the prophet, "he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth" (1 Sam. 19:18). This may not exactly be the name of a place. The Hebrew word naioth means "habitations," so some commentators speculate that this was a compound of huts or tents where Samuel's disciples resided. "When the report reached Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men, and they also began to prophesy" (1 Sam. 19:19,20, NLT). Two other military parties that Saul sent to arrest David were also stymied by the Holy Spirit. Then, when Saul came down personally to find David, he too was overwhelmed by the Spirit, stripped off his royal attire, and began to prophesy (1 Sam. 19:24). The implication here is that there is so much accumulated power in the gathering of the prophets, that the overflow could affect unbelievers who wandered into their midst.

Emphasis 2:

The Satellite Schools of Elijah

The narrative of Elijah's final days of earthly ministry provides another vivid picture of the school of the prophets. We see in this instance that the prophet seemed to be over several satellite encampments of prophets—at Bethel, at Jericho, and beside the Jordan river. Elijah visits each encampment in succession, in scenes that remind us of the visits the apostle Paul made along the route of his final missionary journey (Acts 20 and 21). This really seems like Elijah's goodbye tour of the various schools of the prophets he had founded. We remember how a deflated Elijah had despaired that he alone was fighting against the idolatry promoted by Ahab and Jezebel (1 Ki. 19:10). This may have been the impetus for him to accrue to himself prophetic disciples. He would undoubtedly have trained them to be guardians of the covenant truths—a remedy for the apostacy and error that was found among the kings of Israel.

Emphasis 3:

Elisha Assumes the Care

of the Prophets

Immediately after Elijah's ascension into heaven in a chariot of fire and a whirlwind (2 Ki. 2:11), the mantle of leadership fell to Elisha, his servant. Elisha used his newfound power to separate the waters of Jordan and walk back over to the western side of the river; the company of prophets by the riverside saw this, and "came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him" (1 Ki. 2:15). They were accepting that Elisha would be Elijah's successor; so now the maintenance of the schools of the prophets would be his responsibility. There are many successive stories of Elisha showing providential care over the prophets. He performs a financial miracle on behalf of the widow of a prophet (2 Ki. 4:1-7); he feeds the prophets during a season of famine and even resolves an accidental poisoning in the pottage (2 Ki. 4:38-41); he helps one prophet retrieve a borrowed axe head that falls into the river (2 Ki. 6:1-7). The picture throughout is that the master prophet saw to the welfare of his "sons." In community, the prophets found discipleship, sustenance, and protection.

Missions Application Questions

Why do you think the school of prophets at Ramah were so powerful as to stop Saul and his soldiers?
What appears to have been the reason Elijah formed schools of prophets throughout Israel?
Why do you think the scripture record examples of Elisha caring for the prophets?

World Missions Prayer Points

Let us pray for the power of the Holy Ghost to fall over and convict our enemies.
Let us pray for prophets to unite and nurture one another in ministry.
Let us pray that prophets feel encouraged and supported in their mission.