1 Kings 19

New King James Version

Elijah Escapes from Jezebel

19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had^(A)executed all the prophets with the sword.² Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,^(B)“So let the gods doto me,and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”³ And when he sawthat,he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, whichbelongsto Judah, and left his servant there.

⁴ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a^[a]broom tree. And he^(C)prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now,Lord, take my life, for Iamno better than my fathers!”

⁵ Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an^[b]angel touched him, and said to him, “Ariseandeat.”⁶ Then he looked, and there by his headwasa cake baked on^[c]coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.⁷ And the^[d]angel of theLordcame back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Ariseandeat, because the journeyistoo great for you.”⁸ So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and^(D)forty nights as far as^(E)Horeb, the mountain of God.

⁹ And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of theLordcameto him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ So he said,^(F)“I have been very^(G)zealous for theLordGod of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and^(H)killed Your prophets with the sword.^(I)I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

God’s Revelation to Elijah

¹¹ Then He said, “Go out, and stand^(J)on the mountain before theLord.” And behold, theLord^(K)passed by, and^(L)a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before theLord,buttheLordwasnot in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake,buttheLordwasnot in the earthquake;¹² and after the earthquake a fire,buttheLordwasnot in the fire; and after the fire^[e]a still small voice.

¹³ So it was, when Elijah heardit,that^(M)he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.^(N)Suddenly a voicecameto him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

^14 (O)And he said, “I have been very zealous for theLordGod of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

¹⁵ Then theLordsaid to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus;^(P)and when you arrive, anoint Hazaelasking over Syria.¹⁶ Also you shall anoint^(Q)Jehu the son of Nimshiasking over Israel. And^(R)Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anointasprophet in your place.^17 (S)It shall bethatwhoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will^(T)kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu,^(U)Elisha will kill.^18 (V)Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal,^(W)and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elisha Follows Elijah

¹⁹ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, whowasplowingwithtwelve yokeof oxenbefore him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his^(X)mantle on him.²⁰ And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said,^(Y)“Please let me kiss my father and my mother, andthenI will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

²¹ SoElishaturned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and^(Z)boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.