1 And
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the
prophets with the sword.
2 Then
Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the
life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And
when he saw that, he arose, and went for his
life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to
Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But
he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down
under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said,
It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And
as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him,
and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And
he looked, and, behold, there was a
cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and
drink, and laid him down again.
7 And
the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said,
Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And
he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty
days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And
he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the
LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou
here, Elijah?
10 And
he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children
of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy
prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am
left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And
he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the
LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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:
12 And
after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still
small voice.
13 And
it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped
his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.
And, behold, there came a voice unto him,
and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And
he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain
thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am
left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And
the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus:
and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over
Syria:
16 And
Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over
Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And
it shall come to pass, that him that
escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the
sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet
I have left me seven thousand in Israel,
all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not
kissed him.
19 So
he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve
yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and
Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And
he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my
father and my mother, and then I will
follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And
he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled
their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and
they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
