The detail conveys more than local color; Elisha's prosaic background points up the diving quality of his selection. There were twelve teams ahead of him. The large number of teams is generally taken as a sign of wealth; it was this that Elisha would have to give up if he were to follow Elijah.
The entire Elisha cycle is a set of legendary stories with strong echoes in folklore all-over. So you should expect to see details that are part of the art of storytelling. Some might even go so far as to say, 'tall tales.
The immediate implication of all that beef is that it's a big deal for Elisha to throw all this over in favor of following Eliyahu. He is not some poor person with little to lose. Though he is also not rich enough to get someone else to do his plowing for him. It also suggests that he is a skillful, powerful, man. Controlling that much ambulatory hamburger is not an easy job. You might also note two other bits of comparison to relatively nearby texts.
First, note that the oxen end up as a sacrificial meal. This supports the idea that they belonged to him, not to the whole village or even perhaps the clan. Second, note the 'sons of the prophets. There are the named prophets, who we might think of as ranging from Jonah to Jeremiah along some axis of seriousness. Then there are the nameless sons of the prophets.
They travel around, they seem to engage in glossolalia and related practices. They are marginal characters in society. Presenting Elisha as this story presents him very firmly makes him a person of substance, not at all like one of them. Arab farmers worked together for social and security reasons, and a single plow was not very effective.
However, the fact that the author mentions twelve pairs rather than simply many is a call to the ancient reader to understand the liturgical significance. Numbers are always significant in the Bible because an "accounting" communicates legal accountability. Hence, Jesus was "numbered with the transgressors" Isaiah This is also the reason the Jewish saints are numbered in Revelation 7 but the Gentile saints are not.
The Jews were under the Law and therefore "numbered," so the passage replicates the repetitive nature of the book of Numbers. Note that the Levites, not "connected" to the Land, were not to be numbered: Numbers What is the "liturgical significance. Elijah built a twelve stone altar on Carmel as a sacrificial substitute for Israel. What Elijah did in miniature a "mountain" covered in blood and washed in water , God did at full size, slaying the priests of Baal and disposing of the bodies in the brook.
The twelve stones were a "liturgical model" of Carmel. The heavenly fire upon the sacrifice became the fire of the Spirit in the hearts of God's armed servants.
Elisha's oxen also become a liturgical model of Israel. Since oxen are "servants" they picture priesthood, men who humble themselves before God and serve in His household.
As a side note, the four faces of the cherubim correspond to the four compass points of the Tabernacle, with the face of the ox corresponding to the Bronze Altar, and the house of Moses and Aaron.
Solomon's bronze sea was carried by twelve oxen, the twelve priestly tribes under the crystal sea replicating the architecture of Israel under the "sapphire pavement" of Exodus The picture is of Israel bearing the burden of the Law for the nations. Indeed, 70 bulls were sacrificed at the Feast of Booths for the 70 nations listed in Genesis Elisha's twenty-four oxen are no doubt priestly, so what is the significance of yoking?
Yoking has to do with binding in Covenant, as Israel bound herself to false gods in Numbers, replicating the sin of the golden ox. We see the phrase in both the Old and New Testaments:. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. Numbers Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? In Numbers, the passage follows the order of the Ten Words, with this "yoking" corresponding to taking the Lord's name in vain.
Taking the Lord's name refers to taking the Covenant oath, the "amen" which makes one accountable to God. So it seems the twelve yoke of oxen are not the tribes in this case but the priests bound by Covenant, most likely a reference to the twenty-four courses of Aaronic priests set up by David 1 Chron. The flesh is boiled with the yokes and eaten by the people, a reversal of the sacrifices for the people being eaten by the priests and by God.
The old priesthood would be utterly consumed and its authority temporarily transfered to God's legal witnesses, the prophets. So, Elijah calls Elisha from service under the Davidic Covenant to the prophetic ministry given to him on Horeb earlier in the chapter.
Elijah was now a new Moses commissioned to deal with Israel's idolatry. He comes down the mountain and "the golden calf" is consumed. Download RTF editable. Send via email. Share on Facebook. Share on Twitter. Principles which test the soul as to reality before the eye of God are set forth in the story we find in the last few verses of 1 Kings 19 and in Luke ,62 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
It is interesting to observe that in some portions of the Word of God the Spirit of God condenses much truth, while in others He gives more general histories. In the passages before us, we are brought into the very heart of God's ways in preparing the soul for the new and final order of the kingdom of God.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" Luke ,62 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 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? 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 unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him" 1 Kings 19 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.
Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. There is a special connection between these two portions of Scripture, the subject of both being "fitness" for the kingdom of God.
It has been said that one who undertakes to go forth and preach the gospel, but turns back, is not fit for the kingdom of God. This may be a cursory deduction, but it does not rise to the full meaning of the passage.
Service is not the issue here, though it surely is involved. Acts The terms to man are simple, but how dear was the debt our Savior paid in order that we might have life. Life has the property of manifesting itself after its kind. This will be seen in the verses we are considering. There is something very special and rare in contacting an empty vessel, a man or woman who has been in the presence of God as to his sins, one who has been plowing, digging deep, securing a good foundation upon which to build for eternity.
This, beloved, is what is meant by fitness for the kingdom of God. Is not the kingdom of God in its full, final condition a vast order of which the Holy Son of God, who is the Son of man, is the Head?
This eternal kingdom has a moral character described as "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" Rom. Romans Only those who are born from above can enter it John 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John Christ is Son over this, God's own house the universe of God, where He is the Light and the Sun, the central Object who fills the entire scene with blessing. The souls who have been fitted participate in this kingdom Col. Is my profession of this kingdom real?
Is there faith in Christ? Do I dare live an unreal life when the consequences are eternal? Do I dare deceive myself into a false security, hiding under traditions? Do my habits and deportment betray that at heart I am part and parcel of this world, even while breaking bread with saints gathered to the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ? As Elijah passed through the country, he found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him and Elisha with the twelfth.
Plowing figures repentance. Luke John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by preaching repentance. He was the "Elias, which was for to come" Matt. Asked by: Brandt Auer. What is the purpose of a mantle? Who will pick up the mantle?
What do you know about mantle? Where did Elijah get his mantle? Elijah picked up the mantle of his departed master. Is Elisha older than Elijah? Elisha was older than Elijah yet he served him deligently.
Who is the first prophet in the Bible? The first prophet mentioned in the Bible is Enoch , who was seventh in line from Adam. Where is Yahweh? Who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him? How much can two oxen pull together? What happens when oxen are unequally yoked? Is the mantle the thickest layer? What are 3 characteristics of the mantle? The characteristics of the mantle are :. It is the middle most layer of the inner part of the earth. What are 3 interesting facts about the mantle?
Why did Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha? What is a good mantel depth? How far should a mantle stick out? Why do we need a mantle for the fireplace?
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