1 Kings 19:20

Contextual Overview

¹⁹ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he [was] with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over to him, and cast his mantle on him. 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. ¹⁹ So he departed thence, and found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him. ¹⁹ So Elijah left that place and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field with a team of oxen. He owned twelve teams of oxen and was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah came up to Elisha, took off his coat, and put it on Elisha. 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. ¹⁹ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. ¹⁹ So he departed there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over to him, and cast his mantle on him. ¹⁹So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his mantle (coat) on him. ¹⁹ So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. ¹⁹ Therfor Elie yede forth fro thennus, and foond Elise, sone of Saphat, erynge in twelue yockis of oxis; and he was oon in the twelue yockis of oxys, erynge. And whanne Elie hadde come to hym, Elie castide his mentil on hym.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he left: Matthew 4:20, Matthew 4:22, Matthew 9:9, Matthew 19:27

I pray: Matthew 8:21, Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:61, Luke 9:62, Acts 20:37

Go back again: Heb. Go, return

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:28 - kiss Genesis 48:10 - kissed Ruth 1:14 - Orpah 2 Samuel 19:39 - kissed Barzillai Psalms 78:70 - and took Mark 1:20 - they left Luke 9:59 - suffer

Cross-References

Genesis 12:13
Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake."

Genesis 12:13
Say, I pray you, you are my sister; that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.

Genesis 12:13
Tell them you are my sister so that things will go well with me and I may be allowed to live because of you."

Genesis 12:13
So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you."

Genesis 12:13
Say, I pray thee, thou [art] my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 12:13
Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you."

Genesis 12:13
"Please tell them that you are my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you."

Genesis 12:13
Therfor, Y biseche thee, seie thou, that thou art my sistir, that it be wel to me for thee, and that my lijf lyue for loue of thee.

Genesis 12:13
say, I pray thee, thou [art] my sister, so that it is well with me because of thee, and my soul hath lived for thy sake.'

Genesis 12:13
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah,.... His heart being touched by the Lord at the same time, and his mind enlightened to understand what was meant by that action:

and said, let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother; take his leave of them in this way, which was what was used by friends at parting, see Ruth 1:9

and then I will follow thee; which he understood was meant by his casting his mantle over him:

and he said unto him, go back again; to his plough:

for what have I done to thee? he had only cast the skirts of his mantle over him, and had said nothing to him; this he said to try him, and get out of him what was in his heart, and how it had been touched by the Spirit of God; and if so, then he suggests it was not what he had done, but what the Lord had impressed upon him, that would oblige him to return, and follow him, after he had taken his leave of his parents.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father ... - Not an unnatural request before following his new spiritual father. Elijah sees in his address a divided heart, and will not give the permission or accept the service thus tendered. Hence, his cold reply. See Luke 9:61-62.

Go back again ... - i. e., “Go, return to thy plowing ... why shouldest thou quit it? Why take leave of thy friends and come with me? What have I done to thee to require such a sacrifice? for as a sacrifice thou evidently regardest it. Truly I have done nothing to thee. Thou canst remain as thou art.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 19:20. Let me - kiss my father and my mother — Elisha fully understood that he was called by this ceremony to the prophetic office: and it is evident that he conferred not with flesh and blood, but resolved, immediately resolved, to obey; only he wished to bid farewell to his relatives. See below.

What have I done to thee? — Thy call is not from me, but from God: to him, not to me, art thou accountable for thy use or abuse of it.