Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor

19 Elijah left there and found Elisha(A) son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.(B) 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”(C)

“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”

21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered[a] them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow,(D) he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:21 Or sacrificed

19 So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha, Shaphat’s son. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him. Elisha was with the twelfth yoke. Elijah met up with him and threw his coat on him. 20 Elisha immediately left the oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and my mother,” Elisha said, “then I will follow you.”

Elijah replied, “Go! I’m not holding you back!” 21 Elisha turned back from following Elijah, took the pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Then with equipment from the oxen, Elisha boiled the meat, gave it to the people, and they ate it. Then he got up, followed Elijah, and served him.

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