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1 Kings 19:15-21
New American Standard Bible
1 Kings 19:15-21
New American Standard Bible
15 The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you have arrived, (A)you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 You shall also anoint (B)Jehu the son of Nimshi king over Israel; and you shall anoint (C)Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 And it shall come about that the (D)one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu (E)shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. 18 (F)Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not (G)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 (H)his cloak on him. 20 Then he left the oxen behind and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please (I)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?” 21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them, and (J)cooked their meat with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and served him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 19:20 I.e., so as to influence Elisha’s decision
1 Kings 19:15-21
New International Version
1 Kings 19:15-21
New International Version
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael(A) king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint(B) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha(C) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah(D) to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,(E) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.(F) 18 Yet I reserve(G) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed(H) 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(I) around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,”(J) he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen(K) and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.(L)
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