The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Kings 19
1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had
done, and how he had killed all the
prophets with the sword.
2 ThenJezebel sent amessenger toElijah,
saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more
also, if I don’t make your life as the life of
one ofthem by tomorrow about this time!”
3 When he saw that, he arose and ran
for his life, and came to Beersheba, which
belongs to Judah, andlefthis servantthere.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey
into the wilderness, and came and sat
down under a juniper tree. Then 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 drank, and lay down
again.
7 Yahweh’s angel 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 drank, and went
in the strength of that food forty days and
forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain.
9 He came to a cave there, and camped
there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came
to him, and he said to him, “What are you
doing here, Elijah?”
10 He said, “I have been very jealous
for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the
children of Israel have forsaken your
covenant, thrown down your altars, and
killed your prophets with the sword. I,
even I only, am left; and they seek my life,
to take it away.”
11 He said, “Go out 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. After
the wind there was an earthquake; but
Yahweh was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake a fire passed; but
Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire,
there was a still small voice.
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his
face in his mantle, went out, and stood
in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you
doing here, Elijah?”
14 He said, “I have been very jealous
for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the
children of Israel have forsaken your
covenant, thrown down your altars, and
killed your prophets with the sword. 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.
When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king
over Syria.
16 Anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be
king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son
of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet
in your place.
17 He who escapes from the sword of
Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes
from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
18 Yet I reserved seven thousand in Israel, allthe knees of which have not bowed
to Baal, and every mouth which has not
kissed him.”
19 So he departed from there and found
Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him,
and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over
to him and put his mantle on him.
20 Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please 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, killed them, and
boiled their meat with the oxen’s equipment, and gave to the people; and they ate.
Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and
served him.