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God Chooses Elisha

The story of Elisha starts as God calls the geat prophet Elijah away from a time of depression and puts him to back to work. Here is the beginning as found in 1 Kings 19:9-21.

And he came there to a cave and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What do you here, Elijah?”

And he said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away.”

And he said, “Go forth and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entering in of the cave.

And, behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What do you here, Elijah?”

And he said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away.”

And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shall you anoint to be prophet in your room. And it shall come to pass that him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay, and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal and every mouth which has not kissed him.”

So he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him.

And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me, I pray you, 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?”

And he returned back from him and took a yoke of oxen and slew them and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave to the people and they did eat. Then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered to him.

(1 Kings 19:9-21)

Words that May Be New
altar: place where sacrifices were offered.
anoint: to rub with oil. Here it is a symbol that God is giving someone authority.
covenant: an agreement between people, nations, etc.
depart: to leave.
escape: to get away from danger, prison, trouble, etc.
forsake: to leave.
instrument: a tool or piece of equipment.
lodge: to stay, to spend the night.
minister: to serve, to work for.
mantle: a cape or cloak, a piece of clothing used like a jacket.
ox (oxen): a bull used to pull a wagon, plow, etc.
plow: to break up soil for planting.
prophet: one through whom God speaks.
rend (rent): to tear.
seek: to look for.
slay (slain): to kill.
thence: there (from there).
sword: a long knife used for fighting.
wilderness: a place where no one lives.
yoke: a device for connecting to animals together.

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