After his exalting converse with God on Mount Horeb, Elijah set out, encouraged by the assurance that he was not alone and would soon encounter Elisha, who would cooperate with and eventually succeed him.
Elisha and his parents lived at Abelmcholah in northern Israel, several miles west of the Jordan River. Since the Hebrew word abel means "meadow," it was probably an agricultural community. Indeed it is clear that Elisha was a successful young farmer when Elijah met him, for he was plowing a field large enough to justify the use of "twelve yoke of oxen" (I Kings 19: 19), which he handled at one time.
Elijah was passing by en route from Mount Horeb to distant Damascus (see verse 15) when he met Elisha. Realizing intuitively that this must be the man whom God had ordained to succeed him, he "cast his mantle upon him" (verse 19). In Bible times, and especially in this context, a prophet's mantle was considered as symbolizing his mission or authority. Apparently no word was uttered on this momentous occasion; but Elisha instantly grasped and accepted the significance of the elder prophet's action. He ran after Elijah, who had already proceeded on his way, asking but one favor, namely, that he might bid farewell to his parents before following him.
