And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
And Elijah said to him, 'Please stay here, because the LORD has sent me to the Jordan River.' But Elisha replied, 'As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, I will not leave you.' So the two of them went on together.
Elijah tries one last time to leave Elisha behind before reaching the Jordan River, but Elisha refuses to abandon his mentor and stays loyal to the very end.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Elijah was a prophet in Israel during the 9th century BC, a time of national division and widespread idolatry under kings like Ahab. As Elijah approached his miraculous ascension to heaven, he repeatedly urged his disciple Elisha to stay behind, testing his loyalty during their journey. This verse highlights Elisha's steadfast commitment to accompany Elijah, illustrating the transfer of prophetic authority and the importance of faithful discipleship.
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