Elisha’s Double Portion

September 11th, 2010 by David E

What is the secret of the “Double Portion Anointing?” Good question. I think this study can shed some light on the subject. There are many different interpretations on the matter in both the pursuit of scriptural insight and its application in our lives.

Most instances include the seeker asking someone they deem anointed praying for them to receive a double portion of the anointing that they in turn will walk in. It is like asking someone for their mantle, or Superman for his cape. This comes from the encounter in 2 Kings 2:9-11:

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

¹⁰He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if yousee me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

¹¹As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeareda chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

I have heard people say that when someone asks them for a double portion that they feel sorry for them because of all that they had gone through to attain to the “level” of revelation and anointing that they are walking in. In one sense I feel that the term “double portion” is overused and abused. Many go from place to place and from minister to minister asking them all for double of what the minister is walking in. I do applaud them for their hunger but I think that further understanding of what they are asking would come from a study of the text they are so eagerly quoting. I admit that I used to do the same thing. The attitude, however, is not entirely wrong, that desire to “share” in the same Spirit another has with the Lord. As the Body of Christ, this kind of fellowship is vital to our growing together and become one body in one Spirit (Eph 4:4).

In his book From Holy Laughter to Holy Fire, Michael Brown points out that Elijah wanted the inheritance of the firstborn.

According to Deuteronomy 21:15-17, if a man had two sons, instead of splitting the inheritance fifty-fifty, he had to divide it into three parts, giving two thirds to the firstborn (the “double portion”) and one third to the second born son. Most people have mistakenly believed that the double portion meant “twice as much”; it simply means “double share.”

So what’s the big deal? It’s a matter of spiritual realism. We can’t give something we don’t have naturally or spiritually. We can’t impart double anointings.1

The main emphasis that I perceive Brown points out here is that this passage does not refer to someone laying hands on you, and you instantly receiving twice as much anointing as the person praying for you. It is a share of inheritance. Instead of one share, he wanted double–the right of a firstborn.

So what does this “share” consist of? What was Elisha to receive as an inheritance, besides an old coat? Walter Brueggemann in his 1 & 2 Kings commentary illustrates:

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