Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Kings 19:19-21
The Call Of Elisha (1 Kings 19:19).
In obedience to YHWH's command Elijah then went to seek out Elisha as his successor. Arriving at the field where Elisha was ploughing he threw his robe over him. Elisha would know immediately what that signified. He was being called into his service by Elijah, to be under his command. Accordingly he asked permission to say goodbye to his parents, and held a feast at which relatives and neighbours all partook of his slain oxen. By this he made clear that he was finished as a ploughman, and was leaving his former manner of life. Then he followed Elijah and ministered to him (served him in accordance with his wishes).
Analysis.
a So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth, and Elijah passed over to him, and threw his robe on him (1 Kings 19:19).
b And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you” (1 Kings 19:20 a).
c And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” (1 Kings 19:20 b).
b And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate (1 Kings 19:21 a).
a Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him (1 Kings 19:21 b).
Note that in ‘a' Elijah called Elisha, and in the parallel Elisha ministered to Elijah. In ‘b' Elisha asked permission to say goodbye to his family, and in the parallel he said goodbye to his family. Centrally in ‘c' Elijah gives him the option as to what he will do.
‘ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth, and Elijah passed over to him, and threw his robe on him.'
Leaving Horeb Elijah followed YHWH's instructions and found Elisha, the son of Shaphat (probably short for Shaphat-yahu meaning ‘YHWH rules'), who was ploughing with twelve oxen. This was symbolic of the fact that from now on he would ‘plough' with the twelve tribes of Israel, i.e. all Israel. The yoked oxen would stretch out before him, each yoked with another, pulling the plough, with assistants beside them to control them, and he would come at the rear with the twelfth ox. The fact that he had twelve oxen (which he was later able to slaughter) indicated that he was a comparatively wealthy man.
Having found Elisha Elijah then approached him and threw his prophetic robe, possibly made of goatskin, over him, before moving on. This was a symbolic gesture indicating his desire to have him under his authority, and calling on him, if he was willing, to come under his aegis.
The name Elisha has been found on a seventh century BC Ammonite seal (although not of course referring to this Elisha).
‘ And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”
Elisha responded by running after Elijah. He declared himself willing to follow him, but asked first for permission to say a proper farewell to his family. Elijah's reply was that he was free to do as he wished, for as yet he was not under his authority, (thus confirming that it was a symbolic gesture of appeal, not an act of magic).
‘ And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.'
So Elisha returned to his family and no doubt explained the situation. Then he demonstrated once for all the completeness of his dedication by slaughtering his working animals, using the yokes as fuel in order to boil their flesh, and providing a feast, for his neighbours and relatives. After that there was no turning back. Then he arose and went after Elijah as his servant and disciple.