1 Kings 19

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

1Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and
Lit all about how
,
bhow he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, cSo may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your
Lit soul
life as the
Lit soul
life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”
3And he
Reading of many mss; Heb text may read saw
was afraid and arose and ran for his
Lit soul
life and came to hBeersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a
Or broom-tree
juniper tree; and jhe requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my
Lit soul
life, for I am not better than my fathers.”
5He lay down and slept under a
Or broom-tree
juniper tree; and behold, there was man angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.”
6Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food nforty days and forty nights to oHoreb, the mountain of God.

Elijah at Horeb

9Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, pthe word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10He said, qI have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, rtorn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And sI alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

11So He said, tGo forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And ua great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire va sound of a gentle blowing. 13When Elijah heard it, whe wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, xa voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14Then he said, yI have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

15The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, zyou shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; 16and aaJehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and abElisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17It shall come about, the acone who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu adshall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. 18 aeYet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not afkissed him.”

19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw aghis mantle on him. 20He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please ahlet me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and aiboiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.
Copyright information for NASB1995