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1 Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and that he had killed all the prophets of Baal with the sword. 2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods do as much to me and more if by tomorrow I haven't made your life like the lives of those you killed!”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he arrived in Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there 4 and traveled another day's journey into the desert. He sat down under a broom tree and asked to die. “I've had enough now, Lord,” he said. “Take my life! I'm no better than my forefathers.”
5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree. All of a sudden an angel touched him and said, “Get up, and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there beside his head was some bread baking over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord returned a second time and touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank, and with the strength the food gave him he was able to walk forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb,*Another name for Mount Sinai. the mountain of God. 9 There he entered a cave and spent the night.
The Lord spoke to Elijah, and asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 “I have worked passionately for the Lord God Almighty,” he replied. “But the Israelites have abandoned your agreement, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one who's left, and they are trying to kill me as well.”
11 Then the Lord told him, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” Right then the Lord passed by. A tremendously powerful wind ripped into the mountains and smashed rocks before the Lord, but the Lord wasn't in the wind. After the wind there came an earthquake, but the Lord wasn't in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there came a fire, but the Lord wasn't in the fire. And after the fire came a voice speaking in a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his cloak around his face and went out and stood at the cave entrance. Immediately a voice spoke to him and asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 “I have worked passionately for the Lord God Almighty,” he replied. “But the Israelites have abandoned your agreement, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one who's left, and they are trying to kill me as well.”
15 The Lord told him, “Go back the way you came to the desert of Damascus. When you get there, go and anoint Hazael king of Aram. 16 Also anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, king of Israel and Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel-meholah, to take over from you as prophet.
17 Jehu will execute anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will execute anyone who escapes the sword of Jehu. 18 I still have seven thousand left in Israel, all those who have not bowed their knees to worship Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
19 So Elijah left, and went and found Elisha, son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen, and he was with the twelfth pair. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on home,” Elijah replied. “I've never done anything for you.”†Meaning that there was no material advantage in following Elijah.
21 Elisha left him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the wood of the oxen's yoke as fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate it.‡By taking these actions Elisha indicated to everyone he would not be using the oxen and plow ever again. Then he left to follow and serve Elijah.

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*19:8 Another name for Mount Sinai.

†19:20 Meaning that there was no material advantage in following Elijah.

‡19:21 By taking these actions Elisha indicated to everyone he would not be using the oxen and plow ever again.

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher