The Lord said, “Return to the wilderness…”
May we avoid that path, Lord! That makes me think of Deuteronomy 2:1.
“…near Damascus, then enter the city and anoint Hazael as king of Syria; anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”
A changing of the guard (although not in Judah). It’s easy to forget that the prophets were sent to the nations (Jeremiah 47-51), not just to their own people.
“Anyone who escapes being put to death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and anyone who escapes Jehu will be killed by Elisha.”
“Yet I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel—all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol.”
Out of how many originally (Numbers 2:32)? A total purge. The northern tribes might have well thought they were being liberated back in 1 Kings 12:16, but the reality was anything but.
Elijah left and found Elisha plowing with a team of oxen; there were eleven teams ahead of him, and he was plowing with the last one. Elijah took off his cloak and put it on Elisha.
Too late for me, I’m afraid.
Elisha then left his oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you.”
Elijah answered, “All right, go back. I’m not stopping you!”
Then Elisha went to his team of oxen, killed them, and cooked the meat, using the yoke as fuel for the fire. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate it. Then he went and followed Elijah as his helper.