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(A) around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,”(B) 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(C) 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.(D)

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Elisha Chosen to Replace Elijah

19 Elijah left there and located Shaphat’s son Elisha, who was plowing, along with a total of[a] twelve pairs of oxen.[b] (He was plowing with the twelfth pair.) As Elijah passed by, he tossed his cloak at Elisha.[c] 20 He abandoned the oxen, ran off to follow Elijah, and asked him, “Please, let me kiss my mother and father good-bye, and then I’ll come after you.”

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

21 So Elisha[d] turned back, took the pair of oxen, sacrificed them, boiled their flesh using the farm implements for fuel, and gave the food to the people with him.[e] Then he got up, followed Elijah, and became his servant.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:19 The Heb. lacks a total of
  2. 1 Kings 19:19 The Heb. lacks of oxen
  3. 1 Kings 19:19 Lit. him
  4. 1 Kings 19:21 Lit. he
  5. 1 Kings 19:21 The Heb. lacks with him