18 (A)Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not (B)kissed him.”

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat while he was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah came over to him and threw (C)his cloak on him. 20 Then he left the oxen behind and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please (D)let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back, for [a]what have I done to you?”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:20 I.e., so as to influence Elisha’s decision

18 Yet I reserve(A) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed(B) him.”

The Call of Elisha

19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak(C) around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,”(D) he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

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