1 Kings 19

Elijah’s Journey to Horeb

19Ahab told Jezebel ^eeverything that Elijah had done ^fand how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ^g2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely ^hif I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

³Then Elijah became afraid ^ijand immediately ran for his life. ^kWhen he came to Beer-sheba ^lthat belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, ^m4but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree ⁿand prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, ^ofor I’m no better than my fathers.” ⁵Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him. ^pThe angel told him, “Get up and eat.” ⁶Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. ^qSo he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷Then the angel of the Lord ^rreturned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” ⁸So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nights ^sto Horeb, the mountain of God. ^t9He entered a cave ^uthere and spent the night.

Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord

Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ^v

¹⁰He replied, “I have been very zealous ^wfor the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, ^xtorn down Your altars, ^yand killed Your prophets ^zwith the sword. I alone am left, ^aand they are looking for me to take my life.” ^b

¹¹Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” ^c

At that moment, the Lord passed by. ^dA great and mighty wind ^ewas tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, ^fbut the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake there was a fire, ^gbut the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. ^h13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle ⁱand went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.” ^j

¹⁵Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael ^kas king over Aram. ¹⁶You are to anoint Jehu ^lson of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha ^mson of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁷Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, ⁿand Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. ^o18But I will leave 7,000 in Israel ^p—every knee that has not bowed to Baal ^qand every mouth that has not kissed him.” ^r

Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor

¹⁹Elijah left there and found Elisha ^sson of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him. ^t20Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” ^u

“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”

²¹So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, ^vhe cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him. ^w