1 Kings 19:19-21
New English Translation
19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. 20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah[a] said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 21 Elisha[b] went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke.[c] He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 19:20 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 19:21 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 19:21 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”
1 Kings 19:19-21
New Living Translation
The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”
Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”
21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
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