1 Kings 19:19-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 19:19-21

Elisha was named last in the orders God gave to Elijah, but he was first called, for by him the other two were to be called. He must come in Elijah's room; yet Elijah is forward to raise him, and is far from being jealous of his successor, but rejoices to think that he shall leave the work of God in such good hands. Concerning the call of Elisha observe, 1. That it was an unexpected surprising call. Elijah found him by divine direction, or perhaps he was before acquainted with him and knew... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:19

So he departed thence ,.... From Mount Horeb, and came to Abelmeholah, which Bunting computes F26 Travels, &c.; p. 204. at one hundred and fifty six miles: and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth ; which may be understood either of twelve couple of oxen drawing one plough; which was a large number, but will not seem strange when it is observed, that Abelmeholah, where Elisha was ploughing, lay in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:20

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 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: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 19:21

And he returned back from him ,.... To his father's house, and took his leave, and then came back into the field, perhaps with others accompanying him: and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen : their yokes, and the plough, with an addition of other things sufficient to boil them: and gave unto the people, and they did eat ; the ploughmen and others that came together on this occasion; he made a feast for them, to express his joy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:19

Twelve yoke of oxen - Elisha must have had a considerable estate, when he kept twelve yoke of oxen to till the ground. If, therefore, he obeyed the prophetic call, he did it to considerable secular loss. He with the twelfth - Every owner of an inheritance among the Hebrews, and indeed among the ancients in general, was a principal agent in its cultivation. Cast his mantle upon him - Either this was a ceremony used in a call to the prophetic office, or it indicated... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 19:21

He returned back - He went home to his house; probably he yet lived with his parents, for it appears he was a single man: and he slew a yoke of the oxen - he made a feast for his household, having boiled the flesh of the oxen with his agricultural implements, probably in token that he had abandoned secular life: then, having bidden them an affectionate farewell, he arose, went after Elijah, who probably still awaited his coming in the field or its vicinity, and ministered unto him. On... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:19

So he departed thence, and found [Nothing can be concluded from this word as to previous acquaintance] Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing [It was in the winter, consequently. "Elisha is found not in his study, but in the field: not with a book in his hand, but the plough" (Hall). with twelve yoke of oxen [Heb. ploughing twelve yoke , from which Ewald gathers that he was ploughing twelve yoke of land— צֶמֶד like jugum, is used as a measure of land in 1 Samuel 14:14 , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:19

" Found Elisha … ploughing ." God never calls an idle man. "If ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" ( Luke 16:11 .) The man who will not plough by reason of the cold ( Proverbs 20:4 ), if he put his hand to the gospel plough, will presently look back ( Luke 9:62 ), and go not to the work ( Acts 15:38 ). The apostles were called from their ships, their nets, the receipt of custom, etc; none from the market place or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 19:19-21

The Call of Elisha. After the visions of Horeb, and in pursuance of the commission there received, Elijah returned from the wilderness and re-entered the land of Israel. Whether he went round by Damascus, and in his course anointed Hazael to be king over Syria, as Samuel had anointed David long before he ascended the throne of Israel, we are not informed. It is not necessary for the fulfilment of his instructions ( 1 Kings 19:15 ) to suppose that he did so; for prophets are said to do... read more

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