19:19 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. 19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah 6 said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 7 went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. 8 He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
1 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
2 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
3 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
4 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
5 tn Heb “I have kept in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and all the mouths that have not kissed him.”
6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”