And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah, saying, 'Please let me go kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.' Elijah replied, 'Go back then - what have I done to you?'
Elisha wants to follow Elijah but asks to say goodbye to his parents first, and Elijah responds by telling him to go back and think about what this calling really means.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs when the prophet Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha while he was plowing, symbolically calling him to become his successor. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, kissing parents goodbye was an important ritual before leaving home permanently. Elijah's response seems to be testing Elisha's commitment - essentially asking if he truly understands the weight of being called as a prophet.
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