What does the burned plow have to do with Elisha?
1 Kings 19:19 - 21
ESV - 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. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?
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Asked 3 days ago
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Donna De La Cruz
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
As I read the passage in question, the burning of the plow was intended to both symbolize Elisha's complete break from his former life and activity in order to become Elijah's successor, and also to enable an act of generosity on Elisha's part, with both the plow and the oxen employed in the preparation of food that fed many.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Delightful question, Donna! At Dallas Theological Seminary I had to take a class in Hebrew, and we students had to translate all these verses in 1 Kings from the Hebrew about Elijah and Elisha into English. Fun! Elisha, the son of Shaphat, was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, showing he was a man of wealth and status (1 Ki 19:19). Elijah cast his mantle upon him, symbolically investing him with the prophetic office (1 Ki 19:19; 2 Kgs 1:8; Zech 13:4). Elisha’s willingness to leave his oxen and family behind, even asking to bid them farewell, demonstrated his total commitment to God’s call (1 Ki 19:20). By slaughtering the oxen, cooking their meat, and sharing it with others, he publicly severed ties with his former life and wealth, fully embracing his new role as Elijah’s servant (1 Ki 19:21; 2 Sa 24:22; Deut 12:15; 1 Sam 28:24). This act illustrates the principle Jesus later taught: no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
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