⁹ He went into a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly the Lord’s message came to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal^[a] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,^[b] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you,^[c] torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”^{[d] 11} The Lord^[e] said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”

A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides,^[f] but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.^{[g] 13} When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Suddenly^[h] a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal^[i] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,^[j] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”^{[k] 15} The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. ¹⁶ You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. ¹⁸ I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”^[l]