Elijah Flees from Jezebel

1  וַיַּגֵּ֤ד (And declared) אַחְאָב֙ (Ahab) לְאִיזֶ֔בֶל (to Jezebel) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (had done), אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ (Elijah) וְאֵ֨ת (and also) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הָרַ֛ג (he had killed) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים (the prophets) בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ (with the sword). 2  וַתִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) אִיזֶ֙בֶל֙ (Jezebel) מַלְאָ֔ךְ (a messenger) אֶל־ (to) אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ (Elijah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) יַעֲשׂ֤וּן (may do) אֱלֹהִים֙ (the gods) וְכֹ֣ה (and thus) יוֹסִפ֔וּן (may they add), כִּֽי־ (if) כָעֵ֤ת (by this time) מָחָר֙ (tomorrow) אָשִׂ֣ים (I do make) אֶֽת־ (not) נַפְשְׁךָ֔ (your life) כְּנֶ֖פֶשׁ (as the life) אַחַ֥ד (of one) מֵהֶֽם׃ (of them).

3  וַיַּ֗רְא (And he feared) וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (and he arose) וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (and ran) אֶל־ (for) נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (his life), וַיָּבֹ֕א (and he came) בְּאֵ֥ר (to Beer-) שֶׁ֖בַע (sheba) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which is) לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה (unto Judah), וַיַּנַּ֥ח (and he left) אֶֽת־ (-) נַעֲר֖וֹ (his servant) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 4  וְהֽוּא־ (And he) הָלַ֤ךְ (went) בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ (into the wilderness) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (a journey) י֔וֹם (of a day) וַיָּבֹ֕א (and he came) וַיֵּ֕שֶׁב (and sat down) תַּ֖חַת (under) רֹ֣תֶם (broom tree) אֶחָת (a certain), וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל (and he prayed) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשׁוֹ֙ (for himself) לָמ֔וּת (that he might die), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and he said), רַ֗ב (Enough) עַתָּ֤ה (now), יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), קַ֣ח (take) נַפְשִׁ֔י (my life); כִּֽי־ (for) לֹא־ (no) ט֥וֹב (better) אָנֹכִ֖י (I am) מֵאֲבֹתָֽי׃ (than my fathers).

5  וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ (And he lay down) וַיִּישַׁ֔ן (and slept) תַּ֖חַת (under) רֹ֣תֶם (broom tree) אֶחָ֑ד (a certain).

וְהִנֵּֽה־ (And behold), זֶ֤ה (this) מַלְאָךְ֙ (an angel) נֹגֵ֣עַ (touched) בּ֔וֹ (him) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (and said) ל֖וֹ (to him), ק֥וּם (Arise) אֱכֽוֹל׃ (and eat).

6  וַיַּבֵּ֕ט (And he looked), וְהִנֵּ֧ה (and behold) מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו (by his head) עֻגַ֥ת (was a cake) רְצָפִ֖ים (of glowing coals) וְצַפַּ֣חַת (and a jar) מָ֑יִם (of water). וַיֹּ֣אכַל (And he ate) וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ (and drank) וַיָּ֖שָׁב (and returned) וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ (and lay down).

7  וַיָּשָׁב֩ (And came back) מַלְאַ֨ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (of YHWH) שֵׁנִית֙ (the second time), וַיִּגַּע־ (and he touched) בּ֔וֹ (him) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), ק֣וּם (Arise) אֱכֹ֑ל (and eat), כִּ֛י (because) רַ֥ב (too great) מִמְּךָ֖ (for you) הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃ (the journey is).

8  וַיָּ֖קָם (And he arose) וַיֹּ֣אכַל (and ate) וַיִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה (and drank), וַיֵּ֜לֶךְ (and he went) בְּכֹ֣חַ׀ (in the strength) הָאֲכִילָ֣ה (of the food) הַהִ֗יא (that) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) יוֹם֙ (days) וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים (and forty) לַ֔יְלָה (nights), עַ֛ד (as far as) הַ֥ר (the mountain) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God)— חֹרֵֽב׃ (Horeb).

Yahweh Speaks to Elijah at Horeb

9  וַיָּבֹא־ (And he went) שָׁ֥ם (there) אֶל־ (into) הַמְּעָרָ֖ה (a cave) וַיָּ֣לֶן (and spent the night) שָׁ֑ם (in that place). וְהִנֵּ֤ה (And behold), דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֵלָ֔יו (is to him), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and He said) ל֔וֹ (to him), מַה־ (What) לְּךָ֥ (are you doing) פֹ֖ה (here), אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ (Elijah)?

10  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And he said), קַנֹּ֨א (Being zealous) קִנֵּ֜אתִי (I have been zealous) לַיהוָ֣ה׀ (for YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) צְבָא֗וֹת (of Hosts). כִּֽי־ (For) עָזְב֤וּ (have forsaken) בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ (Your covenant)— בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) מִזְבְּחֹתֶ֣יךָ (Your altars) הָרָ֔סוּ (have torn down) וְאֶת־ (and) נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ (Your prophets) הָרְג֣וּ (have killed) בֶחָ֑רֶב (with the sword), וָֽאִוָּתֵ֤ר (and am left) אֲנִי֙ (I) לְבַדִּ֔י (alone), וַיְבַקְשׁ֥וּ (and they are seeking) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my life) לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃ (to take it).

11  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And He said), צֵ֣א (Go out) וְעָמַדְתָּ֣ (and stand) בָהָר֮ (on the mountain) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH), וְהִנֵּ֧ה (and behold), יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) עֹבֵ֗ר (is about to pass by).

וְר֣וּחַ (And a wind) גְּדוֹלָ֡ה (great) וְחָזָ֞ק (and mighty) מְפָרֵק֩ (tore into) הָרִ֨ים (the mountains), וּמְשַׁבֵּ֤ר (and broke in pieces) סְלָעִים֙ (the cliffs) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)— לֹ֥א (not) בָר֖וּחַ (in the wind) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH was).

וְאַחַ֤ר (And after) הָר֨וּחַ (the wind) רַ֔עַשׁ (an earthquake)— לֹ֥א (not) בָרַ֖עַשׁ (in the earthquake) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH was).

12  וְאַחַ֤ר (And after) הָרַ֙עַשׁ֙ (the earthquake) אֵ֔שׁ (a fire)— לֹ֥א (not) בָאֵ֖שׁ (in the fire) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH was).

וְאַחַ֣ר (And after) הָאֵ֔שׁ (the fire) ק֖וֹל (a voice) דְּמָמָ֥ה (still) דַקָּֽה׃ (small). 13  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ (when heard it) אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ (Elijah), וַיָּ֤לֶט (that he wrapped) פָּנָיו֙ (his face) בְּאַדַּרְתּ֔וֹ (in his cloak) וַיֵּצֵ֕א (and went out) וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד (and stood) פֶּ֣תַח (in the entrance) הַמְּעָרָ֑ה (of the cave). וְהִנֵּ֤ה (And behold), אֵלָיו֙ (to him) ק֔וֹל (is a voice), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and it said), מַה־ (What) לְּךָ֥ (are you doing) פֹ֖ה (here), אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ (Elijah)?

14  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And he said), קַנֹּ֨א (Being zealous) קִנֵּ֜אתִי (I have been zealous) לַיהוָ֣ה׀ (for YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) צְבָא֗וֹת (of Hosts), כִּֽי־ (for) עָזְב֤וּ (have forsaken) בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ (Your covenant) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-). מִזְבְּחֹתֶ֣יךָ (Your altars) הָרָ֔סוּ (they have torn down) וְאֶת־ (and) נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ (Your prophets) הָרְג֣וּ (have killed) בֶחָ֑רֶב (with the sword). וָאִוָּתֵ֤ר (And am left) אֲנִי֙ (I) לְבַדִּ֔י (alone), וַיְבַקְשׁ֥וּ (and they are seeking) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my life) לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃ס (to take it).

15  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), לֵ֛ךְ (Go), שׁ֥וּב (return) לְדַרְכְּךָ֖ (on your way) מִדְבַּ֣רָה (to the Wilderness) דַמָּ֑שֶׂק (of Damascus). וּבָ֗אתָ (When you arrive), וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֧ (and anoint) אֶת־ (-) חֲזָאֵ֛ל (Hazael) לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (as king) עַל־ (over) אֲרָֽם׃ (Aram). 16  וְאֵת֙ (And) יֵה֣וּא (Jehu) בֶן־ (son) נִמְשִׁ֔י (of Nimshi) תִּמְשַׁ֥ח (you shall anoint) לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (as king) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel). וְאֶת־ (And) אֱלִישָׁ֤ע (Elisha) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָט֙ (of Shaphat) מֵאָבֵ֣ל (from Abel-) מְחוֹלָ֔ה (meholah) תִּמְשַׁ֥ח (you shall anoint) לְנָבִ֖יא (as prophet) תַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃ (in your place).

17  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it shall come to pass) הַנִּמְלָ֛ט (that whoever escapes) מֵחֶ֥רֶב (the sword) חֲזָאֵ֖ל (of Hazael) יָמִ֣ית (will be killed) יֵה֑וּא (by Jehu), וְהַנִּמְלָ֛ט (and whoever escapes) מֵחֶ֥רֶב (the sword) יֵה֖וּא (of Jehu) יָמִ֥ית (will be killed) אֱלִישָֽׁע׃ (by Elisha).

18  וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּ֥י (And I have reserved) בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (in Israel) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) אֲלָפִ֑ים (thousand)— כָּל־ (all) הַבִּרְכַּ֗יִם (the knees) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) לֹֽא־ (have not) כָֽרְעוּ֙ (bowed) לַבַּ֔עַל (to the Baal), וְכָ֨ל־ (and every) הַפֶּ֔ה (mouth) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) נָשַׁ֖ק (has kissed) לֽוֹ׃ (him).

The Call of Elisha

19  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And he departed) מִ֠שָּׁם (from there) וַיִּמְצָ֞א (and found) אֶת־ (-) אֱלִישָׁ֤ע (Elisha) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָט֙ (of Shaphat), וְה֣וּא (and he) חֹרֵ֔שׁ (was plowing with) שְׁנֵים־ (two) עָשָׂ֤ר (and ten) צְמָדִים֙ (yoke) לְפָנָ֔יו (before his face), וְה֖וּא (and he was) בִּשְׁנֵ֣ים (with the two) הֶעָשָׂ֑ר (and tenth). וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ר (And passed) אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Elijah) אֵלָ֔יו (by him) וַיַּשְׁלֵ֥ךְ (and threw) אַדַּרְתּ֖וֹ (his cloak) אֵלָֽיו׃ (on him).

20  וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב (And he left) אֶת־ (-) הַבָּקָ֗ר (the oxen), וַיָּ֙רָץ֙ (and ran) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) אֵֽלִיָּ֔הוּ (Elijah), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), אֶשְּׁקָה־ (Let me kiss), נָּא֙ (please), לְאָבִ֣י (my father) וּלְאִמִּ֔י (and my mother), וְאֵלְכָ֖ה (and I will follow) אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ (you).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And he said) לוֹ֙ (to him) לֵ֣ךְ (Go), שׁ֔וּב (turn back), כִּ֥י (for) מֶה־ (what) עָשִׂ֖יתִי (have I done) לָֽךְ׃ (to you)?

21  וַיָּ֨שָׁב (And he turned back) מֵאַחֲרָ֜יו (from him) וַיִּקַּ֣ח (and took) אֶת־ (-) צֶ֧מֶד (the yoke) הַבָּקָ֣ר (of oxen) וַיִּזְבָּחֵ֗הוּ (and slaughtered them). וּבִכְלִ֤י (And with the instruments) הַבָּקָר֙ (of the oxen) בִּשְּׁלָ֣ם (he coked) הַבָּשָׂ֔ר (their flesh) וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (and gave it) לָעָ֖ם (to the people), וַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּ (and they ate). וַיָּ֗קָם (And he arose) וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ (and followed) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ (Elijah) וַיְשָׁרְתֵֽהוּ׃פ (and became his servant).