So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
Elisha the son of Shaphat (of Abel meholah, the meadow of dancing) - a village of Isaachar, near Scythepolis, situated in a watered district. Most probably he belonged to a family distinguished for piety, and for their opposition to the prevailng calf-worship.
Plowing with twelve yoke of oxen - indicating that he was a man of substance. The eastern plow is a very simple, primitive implement. Usually a man plows with a one-handled plow and two heifers, holding the handle with his right hand and the cord with the left. It is just a part of a tree, very slightly altered, and fitful with an iron shoe or point. Elisha's twelve yoke of oxen can mean only that twelve plows were at work in other parts of the field, or perhaps more probably, as land was anciently measured by 'yokes of oxen,' an extent of soil had been plowed equal to twelve yokes, and he was drawing his labour to a close.
Elijah ... cast his mantle upon him. This was an investiture with the prophetic office. It is in this way that the Brahmins, the Persian Sooffees, and other priestly or sacred characters in the East are appointed-a mantle being, by some eminent priest thrown across their shoulders. The action of Elijah was probably accompanied by a benediction or utterance of some words, intimating to Elisha his call to the prophetic office. Elisha had probably been educated in the schools of the prophets. The anointing spoken of in the case of this prophet (1 Kings 19:16) must be considered a merely figurative term, denoting the impartation to him of the gifts of the Spirit.
Elijah passed by him - or passed on (apparently) without a moment's delay. [The Septuagint has: kai apeelthen ep' auton, and he departed from upon him - i:e., after having performed his commanded duty.]