1 Kings 19

Elijah Flees From Jezebel

1 Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including how he had executed all the prophets.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. She said, “May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don’t take your life the way you took the lives of Baal’s prophets.”
3 Frightened, Elijah fled to save his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there.4 Then he traveled through the wilderness for a day. He sat down under a broom plant and wanted to die. “I’ve had enough now, Lord,” he said. “Take my life! I’m no better than my ancestors.”

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom plant.
An angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

6 When he looked, he saw near his head some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate, drank, and went to sleep again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back and woke him up again. The angel said, “Get up and eat, or your journey will be too much for you.”8 He got up, ate, and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled for 40 days and nights until he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah. He asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He answered, “Lord God of Armies, I have eagerly served you. The Israelites have abandoned your promises,t torn down your altars, and executed your prophets. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”11 God said, “Go out and stand in front of the Lord on the mountain.”As the Lord was passing by, a fierce wind tore mountains and shattered rocks ahead of the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake there was a fire. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. And after the fire there was a quiet, whispering voice.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Then the voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”14 He answered, “Lord God of Armies, I have eagerly served you. The Israelites have abandoned your promises, torn down your altars, and executed your prophets. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”15 The Lord told him, “Go back to the wilderness near Damascus, the same way you came. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king of Aram.16 Anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel. And anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel Meholah as prophet to take your place.17 If anyone escapes from Hazael’s sword, Jehu will kill him. And if anyone escapes from Jehu’s sword, Elisha will kill him.

18 But I still have 7,000 people in Israel whose knees have not knelt to worship Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

The Call of Elisha

19 Elijah found Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing behind 12 pairs of oxen. He was using the twelfth pair. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha.

20 So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you.”
“Go back,” Elijah answered him. “I’m not stopping you.”21 Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen’s yoket for firewood. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.

1 Kings 19

Elijah Runs for His Life

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword.

2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning,t “May the gods judge me severelyt if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!”t
3 Elijah was afraid,s so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there,4 while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrubt and asked the Lord to take his life:t “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.”t5 He stretched outt and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messengert touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”6 He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more.t7 The Lord’s angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.”t

8 So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?”10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyalt to the Lord, the sovereign God,t even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you,t torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”t

11 The Lordt said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides,t but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.t13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a suddent a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?”14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyalt to the Lord, the sovereign God,t even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you,t torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”t15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria.16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet.17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword.

18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”t
19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him.20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijaht said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?”

21 Elishat went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke.t He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.