Elisha burned his plow and slaughtered his oxen to show he was leaving his old life behind. From then on, he would serve the Lord. His meal with family and friends might have been a thanksgiving sacrifice to God, ending with a joyful meal celebrating God's call on Elisha's life.
Elisha would first serve as the assistant of Elijah. Great leaders often start as good learners. Joshua was the assistant of Moses (Exodus 24:13) before becoming his successor (Numbers 27:18–23; Deuteronomy 34:9) and leading the forces of Israel (Joshua 1:1–9). Later, Elisha had an assistant named Gehazi (2 Kings 4:12).