מלכים א, פרק י״ט, פסוק כ״א

The transition from a life of comfortable wealth to the demanding path of a prophet requires a profound and absolute departure from the past. Elisha’s decision to leave his familiar world is marked by a definitive farewell ceremony, severing his ties to agriculture to dedicate himself entirely to his new calling. Initially, he turns back from following Elijah [מצודת ציון]. This return was to kiss his parents goodbye, an act that prompted the people of his city to escort him as he embarked on his new journey [רד״ק]. Taking the specific pair of oxen he had been using to plow, one of the twelve pairs he owned, he slaughters them [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Driven by a fierce urgency to depart immediately with Elijah, he does not even pause to gather regular firewood. Instead, he shatters his wooden plowing equipment and uses it to fuel the fire [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה]. The burning of his own work tools serves as a powerful symbol, marking the absolute end of his life as a farmer [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Elisha then prepares a great feast out of immense joy [רש״י]. The primary approach among commentators is that he boiled the meat specifically to feed the gathered crowd [רד״ק, רלב״ג, מצודת ציון], though another perspective suggests the focus is simply that he boiled the meat of those two specific oxen [רש״י]. He distributes this meal to the people, which included the workers who had been plowing the fields alongside him, and possibly the local townspeople who had come to see him off [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Finally, Elisha rises, follows Elijah, and becomes his attendant, stepping into the role previously held by Elijah's former servant. The choice to become a personal servant, rather than merely a traditional student, is deeply intentional. It grants him access to a much higher level of wisdom, as a servant remains constantly in the presence of his master, observing his daily habits and listening to his teachings at all times [רלב״ג]. This partnership brings to life the mission God gave to Elijah, successfully appointing the successor who will eventually carry out the remainder of His divine tasks [ביאור שטיינזלץ].