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There 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?”

10 Elijah 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. 12 And 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. 13 When 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?”

14 He 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.”

15 Then 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. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi[a] to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

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Footnotes

  1. 19:16 Hebrew descendant of Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14.

He entered a cave(A) 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?” (B)

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous(C) for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant,(D) torn down your altars,(E) and killed your prophets(F) with the sword. I alone am left,(G) and they are looking for me to take my life.”(H)

11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”(I)

At that moment, the Lord passed by.(J) A great and mighty wind(K) 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,(L) but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire,(M) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.(N) 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle(O) 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.”(P)

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(Q) as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu(R) son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha(S) son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,(T) and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.(U) 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israel(V)—every knee that has not bowed to Baal(W) and every mouth that has not kissed him.”(X)

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