1 Kings 18:41-19:18

New International Version

⁴¹ And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.^(A)

⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴ The seventh time^(B) the servant reported, “A cloud^(C) as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain^(D) started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.^{(E) 46} The power^(F) of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt,^(G) he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Elijah Flees to Horeb

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel^(H) everything Elijah had done and how he had killed^(I) all the prophets with the sword. ² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,^(J) if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”^(K)

³ Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran^(L) for his life.^(M) When he came to Beersheba^(N) in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,^(O) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;^(P) I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.^(Q)

All at once an angel^(R) touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty^(S) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,^(T) the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave^(U) and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”^(V)

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous^(W) for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,^(X) torn down your altars,^(Y) and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(Z) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain^(AA) in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”^(AB)

Then a great and powerful wind^(AC) tore the mountains apart and shattered^(AD) the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire,^(AE) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.^{(AF) 13} When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face^(AG) and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

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,^(AH) 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^(AI) king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint^(AJ) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha^(AK) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah^(AL) to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,^(AM) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.^{(AN) 18} Yet I reserve^(AO) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed^(AP) him.”