1And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and that he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life just like the life of one of my prophets by this time tomorrow”.
3And when he heard that, Elijah arose, and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah, and he left his servant there.
4But he himself went a day's journey further into the wilderness, and sat down under a juniper tree. And he asked for himself that he might die; and said, “It is enough! Now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers”.
5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, an Angel touched him, and said to him, “Get up and eat”.
6And he looked, and there was a cake baked on the coals, and a jug of water at his head. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.
7And the Angel of the LORD came a second time, and touched him, and said, “Get up and eat; because the journey ahead is too great for you (without nourishment)”.
8And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
9And he came there to a cave, and lodged there; and the Word of the LORD came to him, and He said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10And he said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts. For the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword; and I, I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away”.
11And He said, “Go out, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.” And the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke 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 then, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14And he repeated, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword; and I, I only, am left; and they seek to take my life away”.
15And the LORD said to him, “Go, return to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
16And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi, as king over Israel. And then you shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, of Abel-meholah, to be prophet in your place.
17And whoever escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall slay.
18And I have yet seven thousand in Israel, whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and whose mouth has not kissed him.”
19So Elijah left there, and found Elisha, son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth pair; and Elijah came near him, and threw his mantle upon him.
20And Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you”. And Elijah said, “Go back; for what have I done to stop you?”
21And Elisha went back, and killed a yoke (pair) of oxen, and boiled their flesh using the wood from the plowing equipment for fuel, and gave it to the townspeople to eat. Then he followed Elijah, and served him. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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