[1] Ahab gave Jezebel news of all Elijah had done, and how he had put all
the prophets to death with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a servant to
Elijah, saying, May the gods' punishment be on me if I do not make your
life like the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. [3] And he
got up, fearing for his life, and went in flight, and came to Beer-sheba in
Judah, parting there from his servant; [4] While he himself went a day's
journey into the waste land, and took a seat under a broom-plant, desiring
for himself only death; for he said, It is enough: now, O Lord, take away
my life, for I am no better than my fathers. [5] And stretching himself on
the earth, he went to sleep under the broom-plant; but an angel, touching
him, said to him, Get up and have some food. [6] And looking up, he saw by
his head a cake cooked on the stones and a bottle of water. So he took food
and drink and went to sleep again. [7] And the angel of the Lord came again
a second time, and touching him said, Get up and have some food, or the
journey will be overmuch for your strength. [8] So he got up and took food
and drink, and in the strength of that food he went on for forty days and
nights, to Horeb, the mountain of God. [9] And there he went into a hole in
the rock for the night; then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, What
are you doing here, Elijah? [10] And he said, I have been burning for the
honour of the Lord, the God of armies; for the children of Israel have not
kept your agreement; they have made destruction of your altars, and have
put your prophets to death with the sword: till I, even I, am the only one
living; and now they are attempting to take away my life. [11] Then he
said, Go out and take your place on the mountain before the Lord. Then the
Lord went by, and mountains were parted by the force of a great wind, and
rocks were broken before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And
after the wind there was an earth-shock, but the Lord was not in the
earth-shock. [12] And after the earth-shock a fire, but the Lord was not in
the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a soft breath. [13] And Elijah,
hearing it, went out, covering his face with his robe, and took his place
in the opening of the hole. And there a voice came to him saying, What are
you doing here, Elijah? [14] And he said, I have been burning for the
honour of the Lord, the God of armies; for the children of Israel have not
kept your agreement; they have had your altars broken down, and have put
your prophets to death with the sword: till I, even I, am the only one
living; and now they are attempting to take away my life. [15] And the Lord
said to him, Go back on your way through the waste land to Damascus; and
when you come there, put the holy oil on Hazael to make him king over Aram;
[16] And on Jehu, son of Nimshi, making him king over Israel; and on
Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, to be prophet in your place.
[17] And it will come about that the man who gets away safe from the sword
of Hazael, Jehu will put to death; and whoever gets away safe from the
sword of Jehu, Elisha will put to death. [18] But I will keep safe seven
thousand in Israel, all those whose knees have not been bent to Baal, and
whose mouths have given him no kisses. [19] So he went away from there and
came across Elisha, the son of Shaphat, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen,
he himself walking with the twelfth; and Elijah went up to him and put his
robe on him. [20] And letting the oxen be where they were, he came running
after Elijah, and said, Only let me give a kiss to my father and mother,
and then I will come after you. But he said to him, Go back again; for what
have I done to you? [21] And he went back, and took the oxen and put them
to death, and cooking their flesh with the yokes of the oxen, he gave the
people a feast. Then he got up and went after Elijah and became his
servant.
