1And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done , and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword . 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah , saying , So let the gods do to me , and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time . 3And when he saw that , he arose , and went for his life , and came to Beer-sheba , which belongeth to Judah , and left his servant there. 4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness , and came and sat down under a juniper tree : and he requested for himself that he might die ; and said , It is enough ; now, O LORD , take away my life ; for I am not better than my fathers . 5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree , behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat . 6And he looked , and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals , and a cruse of water at his head . And he did eat and drink , and laid him down again . 7And the angel of the LORD came again the second time , and touched him, and said , Arise and eat ; because the journey is too great for thee. 8And he arose , and did eat and drink , and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God .
God's Revelation to Elijah
9And he came thither unto a cave , and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah ? 10And he said , I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts : for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant , thrown down thine altars , and slain thy prophets with the sword ; and I, even I only, am left ; and they seek my life , to take it away . 11And he said , Go forth , and stand upon the mount before the LORD . And, behold, the LORD passed by , and a great and strong wind rent the mountains , and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD ; but the LORD was not in the wind : and after the wind an earthquake ; but the LORD was not in the earthquake : 12And after the earthquake a fire ; but the LORD was not in the fire : and after the fire a still small voice . 13And it was so , when Elijah heard it , that he wrapped his face in his mantle , and went out , and stood in the entering in of the cave . And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said , What doest thou here, Elijah ? 14And he said , I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts : because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant , thrown down thine altars , and slain thy prophets with the sword ; and I, even I only, am left ; and they seek my life , to take it away . 15And the LORD said unto him, Go , return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus : and when thou comest , anoint Hazael to be king over Syria : 16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel : and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay : and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay . 18Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel , all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal , and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
The Call of Elisha
19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat , who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth : and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20And he left the oxen , and ran after Elijah , and said , Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother , and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again : for what have I done to thee? 21And he returned back from him , and took a yoke of oxen , and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen , and gave unto the people , and they did eat . Then he arose , and went after Elijah , and ministered unto him.