[markomalley]

I think if he was only going through the motions and not really worshipping he would not be asking for forgiveness. Any hypocrisy in the pagan worship would soon be found out in the rituals.

All well and good. But it still didn't involve an offering (Elisha was, as far as I recall, not a Levite).

[Mr Rogers]

Unlike the Old Testament, the New had a ‘once for all’ sacrifice of blood. Thus we have One Priest, although we also have a universal priesthood offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving and good deeds, and Paul speaks of his ministry as an offering to God.

That is part of how the New improves over the Old - ONE SACRIFICE, offered ONCE FOR ALL. That Jesus does not continue to offer his blood, and that no other offering atones for sin, are both clearly taught. “Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world.”

Contrast with the Old, not imitation of it.

[blue-duncan]

“(Elisha was, as far as I recall, not a Levite).”

I believe Elijah was from either the tribe of Gad or Manassah since he was from the area of Gilead. He was not a Levite and yet offered sacrifices and Elisha received double his “spirit”.