The Lives of the Prophets

Concerning the life and death of the prophets, written by Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, regarding the prophets, how they died and where they lie. Nathan the prophet came to be in the days of David from the tribe of Ephraim. He was from Gabath, and he is the one who taught David the law of the Lord. Nathan knew that King David had passed by Bathsheba. While he was rushing to come from Gabath to Jerusalem to prevent David from this lawlessness, Belial prevented him, because on the road he found a dead man lying naked; he persisted in burying him there so that he would not be consumed by beasts. On that night he knew that David had committed the sin, and he returned to Gabath in mourning. As David killed Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, God sent Nathan and rebuked David concerning his sin. David feared the Lord because what he had done was rebuked; David knew that the Holy Spirit of God was upon Nathan the prophet, and he honored him as a holy man of God. Having become very old, he himself died, and he was buried in Gabath in his own land.

Then there was Ahijah the Shilonite; he was from Shiloh of the tribe of Judah, where the tent of the ark was of old, from the town of Ramathaim-Zophim, the son of Eli the priest. This prophet spoke concerning Solomon, the son of David, saying that he would stumble against God; he also rebuked Jeroboam, saying that if he were to reign, he would follow the Lord with deceit; for he had seen a vision of a pair of oxen lowing, trampling the people and charging against the priests. He also said to Solomon that women would cause him to stray from the Lord. To Jeroboam he said that through your two she-calves you will stumble against the Lord, and your race shall be for slavery. Ahijah died and was buried near the oak that is in Shiloh.

Joam the prophet was born in Samaria; he is the one whom the lion struck in the road and died, because he rebuked Jeroboam concerning the golden she-calves.

Regarding his actions, which he performed when he offered the sacrifice at the altar, and when he stretched out his hand to harm him, the hand of Jeroboam withered. After these things, he was deceived by the false prophet and was compelled to eat bread and drink water. When he went out, a lion struck him, yet it did not harm his donkey. He was buried in Bethel near the false prophet. Later, as the false prophet was dying, he swore to the priests, saying, 'Bury me after Joash the prophet,' because he said, 'I deceived him, and in the resurrection we shall receive vengeance.' Thus, both lie in a single tomb.

D. Azariah the prophet; he was from Symbath. He is the one who, through prayers, turned back the captivity of Judah to Israel. Having prophesied many things concerning the coming of Christ, he fell asleep in his own country.

E. Elijah the prophet. He was from Tishbe, from the land of the Arabs, of the tribe of Aaron, dwelling in Gilead; for Tishbe was a house given to the priests. When his mother gave birth, his father Sheba saw a vision, for bright-faced men were announcing to him; and when they were roasting him in fire, they gave him a flame of fire to eat. Having come to Jerusalem, he announced this to the priests. The oracle said to him, 'Do not be afraid, for the house of your son shall be a light, and his word shall be a decree, and he shall judge Israel with a sword and with fire.' This is Elijah, who brought down fire a third time from heaven, who brought up the rain by his own tongue, who raised the dead, and who was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind of fire.

F. Elisha the prophet. He was from Abel-meholah, from the land of Reuben. A great thing occurred because of this. When the golden heifer was born in Galgal, the one in Shiloh cried out so sharply that it was heard in Jerusalem. The priest said, through the signs, 'A prophet was born today, who breaks the stones and crushes the...'