1Ki 19:19-20 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 19. Twelve yoke of oxen ] Elisha must have had a considerable estate, when he kept twelve yoke of oxen to till the ground. If, therefore, he obeyed the prophetic call, he did it to considerable secular loss. He with the twelfth ] Every owner of an inheritance among the Hebrews, and indeed among the ancients in general, was a principal agent in its cultivation. Cast his mantle upon him ] Either this was a ceremony used in a call to the prophetic office, or it indicated that he was called to be the servant of the prophet. The mantle , or pallium , was the peculiar garb of the prophet, as we may learn from ; and this was probably made of skin dressed with the hair on . See also . It is likely, therefore, that Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha to signify to him that he was called to the prophetic office. See more on this subject below.

‏ 1 Kings 19:19-20

Verse 19. Twelve yoke of oxen] Elisha must have had a considerable estate, when he kept twelve yoke of oxen to till the ground. If, therefore, he obeyed the prophetic call, he did it to considerable secular loss.

He with the twelfth] Every owner of an inheritance among the Hebrews, and indeed among the ancients in general, was a principal agent in its cultivation.

Cast his mantle upon him] Either this was a ceremony used in a call to the prophetic office, or it indicated that he was called to be the servant of the prophet. The mantle, or pallium, was the peculiar garb of the prophet, as we may learn from Zec 13:4; and this was probably made of skin dressed with the hair on. See also 2Ki 1:8. It is likely, therefore, that Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha to signify to him that he was called to the prophetic office. See more on this subject below.

Verse 20. Let me-kiss my father and my mother] Elisha fully understood that he was called by this ceremony to the prophetic office: and it is evident that he conferred not with flesh and blood, but resolved, immediately resolved, to obey; only he wished to bid farewell to his relatives. See below.

What have I done to thee?] Thy call is not from me, but from God: to him, not to me, art thou accountable for thy use or abuse of it.