The Call of Elisha
1 Kings 19:19-21
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1 K.19.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משם: PREP
- וימצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אלישע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שפט: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- חרש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עשר: NUM,card,m,sg,cons
- צמדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- בשנים: PREP+NUM,m,pl
- העשר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- וישלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אדרתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 19:16 (structural): Immediate narrative precursor: God commands Elijah to anoint Elisha as prophet, preparing the very encounter recorded in 19:19.
- 2 Kgs 2:13-14 (verbal): Elisha later picks up Elijah’s mantle and uses it to part the Jordan; the mantle/cloak functions as the defining verbal image of prophetic succession begun in 19:19.
- 1 Sam 10:1 (thematic): Samuel anoints Saul and gives him prophetic signs — a pattern of prophetic commissioning by an existing prophet and anointing that parallels Elijah’s calling/marking of Elisha.
- Matt 4:18-22 (thematic): Jesus calls fishermen who immediately leave their livelihood to follow him (cf. Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11); parallels the motif of an urgent vocational call to follow a prophetic/charismatic leader and abandon one’s work.
- Isa 6:1-8 (thematic): Isaiah’s call-vision and divine commissioning (‘Here am I; send me’) echoes the broader theme of prophetic calling and divine appointment manifested in Elijah’s commissioning of Elisha.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve yokes of oxen before him, and he himself was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him.
- He went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat; he was plowing with twelve yokes of oxen before him, and he himself was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him.
1 K.19.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעזב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הבקר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וירץ: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אחרי: PREP
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אשקה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,_,sg
- נא: PART
- לאבי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- ולאמי: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON:1s
- ואלכה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- אחריך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- שוב: ADV
- כי: CONJ
- מה: PRON,int
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Luke 9:61-62 (thematic): A would-be follower asks to delay discipleship for a family duty (burying his father); Jesus rejects postponement, paralleling Elijah’s refusal to allow Elisha to go home first.
- Matthew 8:21-22 (thematic): A similar episode where a disciple asks to first bury his father before following Jesus; the demand to prioritize mission over family echoes 1 Kgs 19:20.
- Matthew 4:20-22 (thematic): Simon and Andrew (and James and John) immediately leave their nets and follow Jesus—paralleling Elisha’s immediate running after Elijah and the motif of abandoning daily work to follow a prophetic teacher.
- 2 Kings 2:1-14 (structural): The narrative climax of Elisha’s unbroken commitment and succession of Elijah (Elisha follows Elijah to the end and receives his mantle) completes the commissioning motif begun in 1 Kgs 19:19-21.
- Luke 14:26-27 (thematic): Jesus’ strong demand that disciples prioritize allegiance to him over family (even 'hating' father and mother) parallels the radical requirement in 1 Kgs 19:20 that Elisha not return home before following Elijah.
Alternative generated candidates
- He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will go after you.” And he said to him, “Go back; for what have I done to you?”
- He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you.” Elijah said to him, “Go back; for what have I done to you?”
1 K.19.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מאחריו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- צמד: NOUN,m,sg,const
- הבקר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויזבחהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ובכלי: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הבקר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בשלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הבשר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לעם: PREP
- ויאכלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אחרי: PREP
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישרתהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Matt.4.18-22 (thematic): Jesus calls fishermen who immediately leave their nets and follow him — parallels Elisha’s decisive break with his former livelihood (killing the oxen) and immediate commitment to follow and serve the prophet Elijah.
- John 1.43 (thematic): Jesus summons Philip with the command 'Follow me,' prompting an immediate response — similar theme of a prophetic/teacher’s call and the disciple’s instant departure to accompany and serve.
- Exod.24.5-11 (structural): Moses and the leaders offer sacrifices and share a meal in a covenantal/ritual setting; Elisha’s slaughtering of the oxen and feeding of the people echoes sacrificial/communal meals that mark covenantal or initiating moments.
- Gen.31.54 (structural): Jacob and Laban offer sacrifices and eat together to ratify their agreement; like Elisha’s killing of the oxen and communal meal, the act frames a solemn transition and communal recognition of a new relationship.
- 2Kgs.2.13-15 (structural): After Elijah’s ascension Elisha takes up Elijah’s role and the 'sons of the prophets' recognize the spirit resting on him — this continues the pattern begun in 1 Kgs 19:21 where Elisha abandons his former life and enters into service, leading to formal succession.
Alternative generated candidates
- So he turned back from him, took the pair of oxen, slaughtered them, and with the oxen’s flesh he boiled the meat in the cooking-pots; he gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he rose up and followed Elijah and served him.
- He turned back from following him, took the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them, and boiled their flesh with the oxen’s equipment; he gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he rose and went after Elijah and served him.
He went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he himself was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him.
He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Elijah said to him, "Go back; what have I done to you?" So he turned back from him, took the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them, boiled their flesh with the yokes' wood, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, followed Elijah, and ministered to him.