1 Kings 17:1-13 ▼

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command! ”

2 Then the word of the LORD came to him:

3 “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan.

4 You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”

5 So he proceeded to do what the LORD commanded. Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan.

6 The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the wadi.

7 After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him:

9 “Get up, go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.”

10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.”

11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”

12 But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”

13 Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son,