1 Kings 19:1–15

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.