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Response
The Old Testament makes reference to a school of prophets in 1 Samuel 19:18–24 and in 2 Kings 2 and 4:38–44 (some translations mention a “company of prophets” or “sons of the prophets”). Additionally, the prophet Amos possibly alludes to a prophetic school when explaining his credentials (or lack thereof) to Amaziah the priest: “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet” «Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: », (Amos 7:14).
In 1 Samuel 19, there is an incident where King Saul sends messengers to apprehend David. When these men come across a group of prophets led by Samuel, they also start prophesying. This occurs thrice. Subsequently, Saul himself joins in and prophesies, prompting people to question, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” «And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?», (1 Samuel 19:24), which became a popular saying at that time.
The “group of prophets” in 1 Samuel 19 evidently consisted of disciples of the prophet Samuel. These disciples were likely Levites who held roles connected to the tabernacle and ceremonial worship. The nature of their “prophecies” is not explicitly detailed. Their messages could have encompassed general teachings from God’s laws in the Books of Moses, or they might have included additional revelations.
In 2 Kings 2, Elijah is journeying with Elisha, and a group of prophets from Bethel informs Elisha that Elijah would be taken from him that day (verse 3). Another group of prophets at Jericho reiterates the prophecy (verse 5), and a third group of prophets…Ets near the Jordan River also conveys the same message (verse 7). This third group of 50 men may have been a subset of the group of prophets at Jericho. After Elijah was taken up into heaven, Elisha reluctantly sends 50 of these prophets to search for Elijah for three days (verses 15–18).
In 2 Kings 4:38–41, Elisha is in Gilgal during a time of famine. Elisha miraculously transforms an inedible stew into an edible dish for the group of prophets there. Chapter 4 concludes with Elisha turning 20 loaves of bread into more than enough food for 100 people. Nothing else is mentioned about this school of prophets, although it is evident they lived together in some form of community and were recognized as sons of the prophets who worshipped the Lord.
These groups of men were likely leaders among those 7,000 Israelites who had not bowed down to Baal, as God had informed Elijah, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18). There were at least three schools or communities of these prophets and possibly more, comprising men who were dedicated to God and served Him. They adhered to the teachings of Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha during the time of the prophets and were recognized as their “students.”
