- 23-
- "still ones" in the land, who had never bent the knee to Baal nor kissed in worship
the abominable image.^31
And yet further consolation was to be granted to the weary servant of the LORD. In
each case the actual judgment was to be only intimated, not executed, through Elijah
himself, or in his ifetime. But this comfort would he have, that, even in his ifetime,
and while engaged in his mission, a yoke-fellow true n sympathy, ministry, and
likeness of spirit, should attend him or make the burden seem easier to bear.
It was as had been told him. With a sense that his mission was ell-nigh completed,
and that what remained was chiefly to repare Elisha for his work, the prophet turned
again towards he land of Israel. As he proceeded on his way, nature itself ust have
seemed to reflect the gladsome revelation of stillness nd peace which had been
vouchsafed on Horeb. The abundant rain hich had descended must have softened the
long-parched fields. he country was putting on the garb of a new spring. Everywhere
he work of the husbandman was resumed; herds and flocks were rowsing in the
meadows; busy hands were rapidly putting in the eed. Upwards he traveled along the
rich Jordan valley, till, ast the borders of Judah, he reached the ancient possession of
ssachar. No more happy scene than on the fields of Abed eholah, the meadow of the
dance," of which the very name seems o suggest the joyous time of rich harvest and
the merry dances f the reapers. These fields, far as the eye could reach, were he
possession of one Shaphat, and he was of those seven housand who had not bent to
Baal, as we infer even from the ame which he had given to his son: Elisha, "the God
of alvation," or better, "my God salvation." And now twelve yoke f oxen were
ploughing up the land - eleven guided by the hands f servants, the twelfth, in good
old Hebrew simple fashion, by he son of the owner of those lands.
With characteristic sparingness of detail the sacred text does ot inform us whether
Elijah had before known his successor, nor ow he came now to recognize him.
Suffice it, that he knew and alled him, not in words, indeed, but by the unmistakable
ymbolic action of casting over him his prophet's mantle, as he assed. This was
Elisha's first test. There was no absolute need or responding, nor yet for showing that
he had understood an nspoken call, which could have offered so little to attract ven
one whose lot had been cast in circumstances much less appy than those of Elisha.
But lisha showed his inward and piritual preparedness by at once responding to
Elijah's call, ith only this one request: to be allowed to take leave of his ather and
mother.^32
It was not stern rebuke nor reproof which prompted the reply of lijah:" Go back, for
what have I done to thee?" Precisely ecause he understood the greatness of the
sacrifice which mmediate obedience implied, would he leave Elisha entirely nswayed
and free, and his service the outcome of his own eart's conviction and choice.^33 Thus
(^)