Elijah Flees from Jezebel

1Now Ahab (father's brother) told Jezebel (Baal exalts) everything that Elijah (my God is YHWH) had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel (Baal exalts) sent a messenger to Elijah (my God is YHWH), saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!”

3And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba (well of seven) in Judah (praised), he left his servant there, 4while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD {YHWH},” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

6And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7A second time the angel of the LORD {YHWH} returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

8So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb (Mount Sinai),a the mountain of God {Elohim}.

The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horeb

9There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah (my God is YHWH)?”

10“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites (God prevails) have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well <Rom 11:3>.”b

11Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD {YHWH}. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.”

And a great and mighty wind {ruach} tore into the mountains and shattered 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.

12After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD {YHWH} was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still, small voice. 13When Elijah (my God is YHWH) heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth 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, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites (God prevails) have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

15Then the LORD {YHWH} said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus (well-watered land). When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael (one who sees God) as king over Aram (exalted). 16You are also to anoint Jehu (YHWH is He) son (grandson)c of Nimshi (rescued) as king over Israel (he wrestles with God) and Elisha (God is salvation) son of Shaphat (He has judged) from Abel-meholah (meadow of dancing) to succeed you as prophet.

17Then Jehu (YHWH is He) will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael (one who sees God), and Elisha (God is salvation) will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

18Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel (he wrestles with God)—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal <Rom 11:4>d and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

The Call of Elisha

19So Elijah departed and found Elisha (God is salvation) son of Shaphat (He has judged). He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah (my God is YHWH) passed by him and threw his cloak around him.

20So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah (my God is YHWH), and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.”

“Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?”

21So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah (my God is YHWH).