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.
