1 Kings 19:20

20 Then Elisha left his oxen. He ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said. "Then I'll come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

1 Kings 19:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 19:20

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah
His heart being touched by the Lord at the same time, and his mind enlightened to understand what was meant by that action:

and said, let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother;
take his leave of them in this way, which was what was used by friends at parting, see ( Ruth 1:9 Ruth 1:14 )

and then I will follow thee;
which he understood was meant by his casting his mantle over him:

and he said unto him, go back again;
to his plough:

for what have I done to thee?
he had only cast the skirts of his mantle over him, and had said nothing to him; this he said to try him, and get out of him what was in his heart, and how it had been touched by the Spirit of God; and if so, then he suggests it was not what he had done, but what the Lord had impressed upon him, that would oblige him to return, and follow him, after he had taken his leave of his parents.

1 Kings 19:20 In-Context

18 "But I will keep 7,000 people in Israel for myself. They have not bowed down to Baal. And they have not kissed him."

19 Elijah left Mount Horeb. He saw Elisha, the son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing in a field. He was driving the last of 12 pairs of oxen. Elijah went up to him. He threw his coat around him.

20 Then Elisha left his oxen. He ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said. "Then I'll come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He got his two oxen and killed them. He burned the plow to cook the meat. He gave it to the people, and they ate it. Then he started to follow Elijah. He became Elijah's assistant.