¶ And Ahab¹ told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain² all the prophets with the sword.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let³ the gods do to me, and more also, if I⁴ make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow⁵ about this time.

And when he saw that, he arose⁶, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba⁷, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down⁸ under a juniper tree: and he requested⁹ for himself¹⁰ that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

And as he lay¹¹ and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel¹² touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake¹³ baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head¹⁴. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

And the angel¹⁵ of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey¹⁶ is too great for thee.

And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength¹⁷ of that meat forty days¹⁸ and forty nights unto Horeb¹⁹ the mount of God.

¶ And he came thither unto a cave²⁰, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou²¹ here, Elijah?

¶ And he said, I have been very jealous²² for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down²³ thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only,²⁴ am left; and they seek my life²⁵, to take it away.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount²⁶ before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed²⁷ by, and a great²⁸ and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind²⁹: and after the wind an earthquake³⁰; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire³¹; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still³² small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face³³ 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 doest³⁴ thou here, Elijah?

And he said, I have been³⁵ very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken³⁶ 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.

And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus³⁷: and when thou comest, anoint³⁸ Hazael³⁹ to be king over Syria:

And Jehu⁴⁰ the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha⁴¹ the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth⁴³ the sword of Hazael⁴⁴ shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu⁴⁵ shall Elisha slay⁴⁶.

Yet I have left⁴⁷ me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees⁴⁸ which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth⁴⁹ which hath not kissed him.

¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha⁵⁰ the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with⁵¹ the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle⁵² upon him.

¶ And he left⁵³ the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray⁵⁴ thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again⁵⁵: for what have I done to thee?

And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh⁵⁶ with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto⁵⁷ the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered⁵⁸ unto him.