[1] Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain
all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel send a messenger to
Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don`t make
your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. [3] When
he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which
belongs 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 Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my
fathers. [5] He lay down and slept under a juniper-tree; and, behold, an
angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat. [6] He looked, and,
behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of
water. He ate and drink, and laid him down again. [7] The angel of Yahweh
came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat,
because the journey is too great for you. [8] He arose, and ate and drink,
and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb
the Mount of God. [9] He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and,
behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What do you
here, Elijah? [10] He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of
hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down
your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am
left; and they seek my life, to take it away. [11] He said, Go forth, and
stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great
and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before
Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but Yahweh was not in the earthquake: [12] and after the earthquake a fire;
but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
[13] It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there
came a voice to him, and said, What do you here, Elijah? [14] He said, I
have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the children of
Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your
prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my
life, to take it away. [15] Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to
the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to
be king over Syria; [16] and Jehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be
king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shall you
anoint to be prophet in your room. [17] It shall happen, that he who
escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from
the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill. [18] Yet will I leave [me] seven
thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every
mouth which has not kissed him. [19] So he departed there, 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 over to him, and cast his mantle
on him. [20] He left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I
pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. He said
to him, Go back again; for what have I done to you? [21] He returned from
following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their
flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they
ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.
