A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

Because God intended a constant succession of prophets from Samuel's time, therefore in his time was begun a school of the prophets; that is, a school of young men, that were trained up under some great prophet, who was their master and teacher in the study of divine things, and the practice of holiness, to fit them for this office as God should call them to it. Those young men that belonged to these schools, were called the sons of the prophets; and oftentimes they are called prophets. These at first were under the tuition of Samuel. Thus we read of Samuel's being appointed over them, 1 Sam. xix.20. "And when they saw the company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them." The company of prophets that we read of 1 Sam. x.5. were the same▪ Afterwards we read of their being under Elijah. Elisha was one of his sons; but he desired to have a double portion of his spirit, as his successor, as his first-born, as the eldest son was wont to have a double portion of the estate of his father; and therefore the sons of the prophets, when they perceived that the spirit of Elijah re•ted on Elisha, submitted themselves to him, and owned him for their master, as they had done Elijah before him; as you may see, 2 Kings ii.15. "And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho, saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah •oth rest on Elisha. And they bowed themselves to the ground before him."

After this Elisha was their master or teacher; he had the care and instruction of them; as you may see, 2 Kings iv.38. "And Elisha came again to Gilgal, and there was a dearth in the land, and the sons of the prophets were •i•ting before him: and he sai unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets." In Elijah's and Elisha's time, there were several places where there resided companies of these sons of the prophets; as there was one at Bethel, and another at Jericho, and another at Gilgal, unless that at Gilgal and Jericho were the same: and possibly that which is called the college, where the prophetess Huldah resided, was another at Jerusalem; see