1 KingsChapter 19
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1Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done. He told her how Elijah had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. She said, "By this time tomorrow I will make your life like the lives of the prophets you killed. If I don't, may the gods punish me, and punish me badly!" 3Elijah was afraid. He ran for his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there. 4Then he went on alone into the wilderness. He walked for a whole day. He sat down under a broom bush and prayed that he would die. "I've had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors." 5Then he lay down under the broom bush and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat." 6He looked around. There by his head was a loaf of bread baked on hot coals. There was also a jar of water. So he ate and drank. Then he lay down again. 7The angel of the LORD came back a second time. He touched him and said, "Get up and eat. If you don't, the trip will be too hard for you." 8So he got up and ate and drank. The food made him strong. He walked forty days and forty nights. At last he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 9There Elijah went into a cave and spent the night. Then the word of the LORD came to him. He said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10He answered, "I have been full of zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts. But the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They have killed your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left. And now they are trying to kill me too." 11The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in front of the LORD. Look, the LORD is about to pass by." Then a huge, powerful wind tore through the mountains. It broke the rocks into pieces in front of the LORD. But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake there was a fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. 13When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his cloak. He went out and stood at the opening of the cave. Suddenly a voice spoke to him. It said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14He answered, "I have been full of zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts. But the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They have killed your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left. And now they are trying to kill me too." 15The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came. Go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to take your place as prophet. 17Then Jehu will kill anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael. And Elisha will kill anyone who escapes the sword of Jehu. 18But I have kept 7,000 people in Israel. Their knees have not bowed down to Baal. Their mouths have not kissed him." 19So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen. He was with the twelfth pair. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak around him. 20Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. He said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you." Elijah answered, "Go on back. What have I done to you?" 21So Elisha went back. He took his pair of oxen and killed them. He burned the oxen's plowing gear to cook the meat. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate. Then he left to follow Elijah and serve him.