¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(A) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael^(B) king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint^(C) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha^(D) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah^(E) to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,^(F) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.^{(G) 18} Yet I reserve^(H) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed^(I) him.”

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,”^(A) the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more^(B) than those who are with them.”

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots^(C) of fire all around Elisha.