וַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע ׀ שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי יְרִיח֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
Elia gli disse: «Eliseo, rimani qui, ti prego, perché il Signore mi ha mandato a Gerico». Ma egli rispose: «Com'è vero che vive il Signore e che vive la tua anima, non ti lascerò». Così giunsero a Gerico.
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.