1 Kings 19:3-18

Christian Standard Bible

³ Then Elijah became afraid^[a](A) and immediately ran for his life.^(B) When he came to Beer-sheba^(C) that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,^{(D) 4} but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree^(E) and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life,^(F) for I’m no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him.^(G) The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.^(H) So he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷ Then the angel of the Lord^(I) returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights^(J) to Horeb, the mountain of God.^{(K) 9} He entered a cave^(L) there and spent the night.

Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord

Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ^(M)

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous^(N) for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant,^(O) torn down your altars,^(P) and killed your prophets^(Q) with the sword. I alone am left,^(R) and they are looking for me to take my life.”^(S)

¹¹ Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”^(T)

At that moment, the Lord passed by.^(U) A great and mighty wind^(V) was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,^(W) but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake there was a fire,^(X) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.^{(Y) 13} When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle^(Z) and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”^(AA)

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael^(AB) as king over Aram. ¹⁶ You are to anoint Jehu^(AC) son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha^(AD) son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁷ Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,^(AE) and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.^{(AF) 18} But I will leave seven thousand in Israel^(AG)—every knee that has not bowed to Baal^(AH) and every mouth that has not kissed him.”^(AI)