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The Call of Elisha

19 Elijah found Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing behind 12 pairs of oxen. He was using the twelfth pair. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha. 20 So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you.”

“Go back,” Elijah answered him. “I’m not stopping you.”

21 Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen’s yoke[a] for firewood. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:21 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

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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