or voice draws Elijah out of his cave after wrapping himself up, either as protection against the divine presence or as a sign of guilt (Esth. 7:8). It is important to the plot, but not theologically loaded. The key to understanding these verses is the recognition that they fail to make any difference in Elijah’s situation. Elijah is in exactly the same place after the theophany as before, complaining in exactly the same words (vv. 10, 14). Seen in this way, the impressive wind, earthquake, and fire