וַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע ׀ שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי יְרִיח֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
Lalu Elia berkata kepadanya, “Elisa, tinggallah di sini, kumohon, sebab Yang Mahakekal telah mengutus aku ke Yerikho.” Tetapi Elisa menjawab, “Demi Yang Mahakekal yang hidup dan demi hidupmu, aku tidak akan meninggalkan engkau.” Maka sampailah mereka ke Yerikho.
From David to Destruction
In our situation, Eliyahu HaNavi seeks to elicit three times from Elisha an expression of a deep commitment: “Chai Hashem, VeChei Nafeshecha Im E’ezeveka,” “as Hashem lives and by your life that I shall not leave you” (Melachim II 2:2, 2:4, 2:7). Eliyahu HaNavi hopes that Elisha’s expressions of commitment at this intense parting moment will endure for the rest of Elisha’s lifetime.