1 Kings 19 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~867 BC, in the days immediately after the contest on Mount Carmel
Location
Jezreel, then south through Beersheba at the desert edge of Judah, then a 40 day journey to Horeb, the mountain also called Sinai, in the far south
Audience
Judeans in and after the exile, many of whom felt they were the last of the faithful
Situation
Jezebel threatens Elijah's life and he flees south into the desert, asks to die, is fed by an angel, and travels to Horeb. There God passes by not in wind, earthquake or fire but in a low whisper, and sends Elijah back with three commissions, including the call of Elisha.
Key Background
Horeb was where Moses received the law, so Elijah's retreat there is a deliberate return to the founding site of the nation's covenant, and his cave, his 40 days and his complaint all echo Moses' story. Elijah's despair is a political reading as much as a personal one, since Jezebel still held the court despite what happened on Carmel. Throwing a cloak over Elisha as he ploughed was a recognised gesture of claim and adoption, which is why Elisha immediately treats it as a change of life and slaughters his oxen to end his old trade.
Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done — how he had killed every one of the of with the sword.
Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah: "May the me and if I don't make your life like one of theirs by this time tomorrow."
Elijah was terrified. He got up and ran for his life. He went to in Judah and left his servant there.
Then he went a day's journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a and asked to die. "I've had enough, Yahweh," he said. my — I'm no better than my ancestors."
He lay down and fell asleep under the broom bush. Then suddenly a touched him and said, "Get up and eat."
He looked around, and there by his head was a loaf of on and a jar of water. He ate and drank, then lay down again.
Yahweh's messenger came back a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat — the journey ahead is too much for you."
So he got up, ate, and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled and until he reached the mountain of God.
He went into a there and spent the night. Then the of came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He answered, "I've been with for Yahweh, the of The Israelites have abandoned your torn down your altars, and murdered your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me too."
Yahweh said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in Yahweh's presence." And then — Yahweh by. A massive, violent tore through the mountains and shattered rocks in front of Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the After the came an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire — a of
When Elijah heard it, he in went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He answered, "I've been burning with devotion for Yahweh, the God of armies. The Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and murdered your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me too."
Yahweh told him, "Go back the way you came, through the wilderness to When you get there, Hazael as king over Aram.
Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-Meholah as to
Anyone who escapes Hazael's will be killed by Jehu, and anyone who escapes Jehu's will be killed by Elisha."
"But I will preserve in Israel — every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not
So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with of in front of and he was driving the twelfth team. Elijah went to and
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I'll follow you." Elijah said, "Go on — but what just to you."
So Elisha turned back from following He the of and them. the as he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he got up, followed Elijah, and