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)