Elijah’s Journey to Horeb
1 Ahab told Jezebeleverything that Elijah had doneand how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severelyif I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow! ”
3 Then Elijah became afraidand immediately ran for his life.When he came to Beer-shebathat belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,
4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom treeand prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough!Lord, take my life,for I’m no better than my fathers.”
5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him.The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”
6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 Then the angel of theLordreturned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nightsto Horeb, the mountain of God.
9 He entered a cavethere and spent the night.
Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord
Then the word of theLordcame to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah? ”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealousfor theLordGod of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant,torn down Your altars,and killed Your prophetswith the sword. I alone am left,and they are looking for me to take my life.”
11 Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in theLord’s presence.”
At that moment, theLordpassed by.A great and mighty windwas tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before theLord, but theLordwas not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,but theLordwas not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake there was a fire,but theLordwas not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantleand 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 theLordGod of Hosts,” 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.”
15 Then theLordsaid to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazaelas king over Aram.
16 You are to anoint Jehuson of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elishason of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.
18 But I will leave 7,000 in Israel— every knee that has not bowed to Baaland every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor
19 Elijah left there and found Elishason of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.
20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”
“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you? ”
21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow,he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.
—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/19-702acf8543bdeda8ff81957d941a9e7c.mp3?version_id=72—