1 Kings 19
19
Elijah Flees to Sinai
1When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
3Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
5Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
8So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai,#19:8 Hebrew to Horeb, another name for Sinai. the mountain of God. 9There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
11“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
15Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi#19:16 Hebrew descendant of Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14. to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
The Call of Elisha
19So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”
Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”
21So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
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1 Kings 19: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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3 Kings 19
19
1And Achab told Jezabel all that Elias had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2And Jezabel sent a messenger to Elias, saying: Such and such things may the gods do to me, and add still more, if by this hour to-morrow I make not thy life as the life of one of them.
3Then Elias was afraid, and rising up he went whithersoever he had a mind. And he came to Bersabee of Juda, and left his servant there.
4And he went forward, one day's journey into the desert. And when he was there, and sat under a juniper-tree, he requested for his soul that he might die, and said: It is enough for me. Lord, take away my soul; for I am no better than my fathers.
5And he cast himself down, and slept in the shadow of the juniper-tree. And, behold an angel of the Lord touched him, and said to him: Arise and eat.
6He looked, and, behold there was at his head a hearth-cake, and a vessel of water. And he ate and drank, and he fell asleep again.
7And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said to him: Arise, eat; for thou hast yet a great way to go.
8And he arose, and ate, and drank, and walked in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, unto the mount of God, Horeb.
9And when he was come thither, he abode in a cave. And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, and he said to him: What dost thou here, Elias?
10And he answered: With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant. They have thrown down thy altars, they have slain thy prophets with the sword, and I alone am left: and they seek my life to take it away.
11And he said to him: Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passeth. And a great and strong wind before the Lord over throwing the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces: the Lord is not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake: the Lord is not in the earthquake.
12And after the earthquake a fire: the Lord is not in the fire. And after the fire a whistling of a gentle air.
13And when Elias heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and coming forth stood in the entering-in of the cave, And, behold, a voice unto him, saying: What dost thou here, Elias? And he answered:
14With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant. They have destroyed thy altars; they have slain thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left: and they seek my life to take it away.
15And the Lord said to him: Go, and return on thy way through the desert to Damascus. And when thou art come thither, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
16And thou shalt anoint Jehu the son of Namsi to be king over Israel. And Eliseus the son of Saphat, of Abelmeula, thou shalt anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall escape the sword of Hazael shall be slain by Jehu: and whosoever shall escape the sword of Jehu shall be slain by Eliseus.
18And I will leave me seven thousand men in Israel, whose knees have not been bowed before Baal, and every mouth that hath not worshipped him kissing the hands.
19And Elias departing from thence found Eliseus the son of Saphat, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. And he was one of them that were ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. And when Elias came up to him, he cast his mantle upon him.
20And he forthwith left the oxen and ran after Elias, and said: Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said to him: Go, and return back; for that which was my part, I have done to thee.
21And returning back from him, he took a yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled the flesh with the plough of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. And rising up he went away, and followed Elias, and ministered to him.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.