The Lord Speaks to Elijah

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, (A)the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very (B)jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, (C)thrown down your altars, and (D)killed your prophets with the sword, (E)and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and (F)stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and (G)a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind (H)an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, (I)he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, (J)there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, (K)“I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, (L)thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 (M)And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and (N)Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from (O)the sword of Hazael (P)shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu (Q)shall Elisha put to death. 18 (R)Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not (S)kissed him.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:12 Or a sound, a thin silence

There he went into a cave(A) and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

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

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

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

Then a great and powerful wind(I) tore the mountains apart and shattered(J) 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,(K) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.(L) 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face(M) 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,(N) 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(O) king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint(P) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha(Q) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah(R) to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,(S) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.(T) 18 Yet I reserve(U) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed(V) him.”

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