1Then Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and all whom he had killed, all the prophets with the sword. 2And Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3And when he saw that, he rose and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba of Judah, and left his servant there. 4Then he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, "It is enough. O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5And as he lay and slept under a broom tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise, eat." 6And he looked, and, behold, a cake was 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 to him the second time and touched him, and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you." 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 stayed there. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away."

11And He said, "Go forth and stand upon the mountain before the LORD." And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire was a still, small voice. 13Then it came to pass when Elijah heard, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out, and stood at the cave entrance. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of Hosts because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, have thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away."

15And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16And you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17And it will be whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill. And whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18Yet I have left seven thousand in Israel for Me, all who have not bowed the knees to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

19And he left there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he was plowing; twelve pairs of oxen were before him, and he was with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle upon him. 20So he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, 'Please, let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21Then he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.