Now Ahab told Jezebel - everything that Elijah - had done and how he had killed - - all the prophets with the sword.
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah , saying , “ May the gods deal with me , and ever so severely , if by this time tomorrow I do not make - your life like the lives of (those you killed)
And Elijah was afraid ... and ran for his life. When he came vvv to Beersheba - in Judah , he left - his servant there ,
while he himself traveled on a day’s ... journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed - that he might die. “ I have had enough ... , LORD , ” he said. “ Take my life , for I am no better than my fathers. ”
Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. ... Suddenly ... an angel touched and said “ Get up and eat. ”
And he looked around , and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals , and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
A second (time) the angel of the LORD returned and touched saying , “ Get up and eat , ... or the journey will be too much for you. ”
So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food , he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb , the mountain of God.
There ... (Elijah) entered ... ... a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him , saying “ What here , Elijah ? ”
“ I have been very zealous ... for the LORD , the God of Hosts , ” he replied , “ but the Israelites ... - have forsaken Your covenant , torn down - Your altars , and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left , and they are seeking - - my life {as well}. ”
Then (the LORD) said , “ Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold , the LORD is about to pass by. ” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD , but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake , but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was a fire , but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still , small voice.
- When Elijah heard it , he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice (came) to him and said , “ What here , Elijah ? ”
“ I have been very zealous ... for the LORD , the God of Hosts , ” he replied , “ but the Israelites ... - have forsaken Your covenant , torn down - Your altars , and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left , and they are seeking - - my life {as well}. ”
Then the LORD said to him , “ Go back by the way you came , (and go) to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive , you are to anoint - Hazael as king over Aram.
vvv You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel - and Elisha son of Shaphat vvv from Abel-meholah ... to succeed you as prophet.
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael , and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.
Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel — all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and (whose) mouths - have not kissed
So Elijah departed ... and found - Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve ... teams (of oxen) , and he was with the twelfth (team) .... Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him.
So Elisha left - the oxen , ran after Elijah , and said , “ Please let me kiss my father and mother (goodbye) , and then I will follow you. ” “ Go on back , ” (Elijah) replied “ for what have I done
So (Elisha) turned back from him , took - his pair of oxen , and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s equipment , he cooked the meat and gave it to the people , and they ate. Then he set out to follow ... and serve Elijah.