⁹ 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)