1 Kings 19:19-21

C. ELIJAH'S CALL OF A SUCCESSOR 19:19-21

TRANSLATION

(19) And he went from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat while he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth; and Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle over him. (20) And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother that I may go after you. And he said to him, Go, return, for what have I done to you. (21) And he turned from after him and took a yoke of oxen and slew them and with the instruments of the oxen he boiled their flesh and gave it to the people and they did eat. And he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

COMMENTS

Upon returning from Horeb, Elijah set about to carry out the most important duty which God had laid upon him, viz., the appointing of a successor. He came upon Elisha, not in his study, but in the field; not with a book in his hand, but the plow. It would appear that Elisha was a man of substance, for twelve yoke of oxen were working his field. Elijah passed by Elisha who was toiling with the twelfth yoke and cast his mantle upon the young man (1 Kings 19:19). This rough hairy garment had become the trademark of Elijah and the symbol of the prophetic office. To cast the cloak to or upon Elisha was therefore an appropriate and significant way of designating him to the prophetic office.

After casting his mantle upon Elisha, Elijah strode on, leaving it for the young man to take or reject it as he saw fit. It is clear that Elisha both understood the act and made up his mind at once. No doubt he long had sighed and prayed over the demoralization of the land and the dishonor done to his God. As soon as he realized his call, he left the oxen and eagerly ran after his new master. His request to be allowed to give his mother and father a parting embrace is altogether fitting and indeed touching. Had he asked permission to stay and bury his parents as one would-be disciple of Jesus, he would have merited rebuke (cf. Luke 9:59-61). Consequently Elijah granted the reasonable request. Elijah's response to Elisha's request can be paraphrased as follows: Go back and kiss them; why should you not? For what have I done to You? I have summoned you to follow me. But I have not required you to repudiate your own flesh and blood.

Elisha bade farewell to his parents and friends at a hastily prepared meal. He slew a yoke of oxen and boiled the meat thereof over a fire he had built with the wood of his plow. Perhaps he burned the instruments of the oxen because of a scarcity of wood in that region. It is also possible that he meant this to be a symbolic act expressive of his entire renunciation of his secular calling. The farewell feast completed, Elisha arose and went after Elijah. The young man became Elijah's attendant as Joshua had been to Moses (Exodus 24:13; Joshua 1:1) and as Gehazi subsequently became to him.