19When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.H256H5046H348H452H6213H2026H5030H27192So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them."H348H7971H4397H452H559H430H6213H3254H7760H5315H5315H259H4279H62563Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.H7200H6965H3212H5315H935H884H3063H3240H52884Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary 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 ancestors who have already died."H1980H3117H1870H4057H935H3427H259H7574H7592H5315H4191H559H7227H3068H3947H5315H2896H15Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!"H7901H3462H259H7574H4397H5060H559H6965H3986He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.H5027H5692H7529H6835H4325H4763H398H8354H7901H77257Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you."H4397H3068H7725H8145H5060H559H6965H398H1870H72278So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.H6965H398H8354H3212H3581H396H705H3117H705H3915H2722H2022H430
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
9There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"H935H4631H3885H1697H3068H559H45210Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."H559H7065H7065H3068H430H6635H1121H3478H5800H1285H2040H4196H2026H5030H2719H3498H1245H5315H394711"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.H559H3318H5975H2022H6440H3068H3068H5674H1419H2389H7307H6561H2022H7665H5553H6440H3068H3068H7307H310H7307H7494H3068H749412And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.H310H7494H784H3068H784H310H784H1827H1851H696313When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"H452H8085H3874H6440H155H3318H5975H6607H4631H6963H559H45214He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."H559H7065H7065H3068H430H6635H1121H3478H5800H1285H2040H4196H2026H5030H2719H3498H1245H5315H394715Then the LORD told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.H3068H559H3212H7725H1870H4057H1834H935H4886H2371H4428H75816Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.H3058H1121H5250H4886H4428H3478H477H1121H8202H65H4886H503017Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!H4422H2719H2371H3058H4191H4422H2719H3058H477H419118Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"H7604H7651H505H3478H1290H3766H1168H6310H5401
The Call of Elisha
19So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away.H3212H4672H477H1121H8202H2790H8147H6240H6776H6440H8147H6240H452H5674H7993H15520Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!" Elijah replied, "Go on back, but think about what I have done to you."H5800H1241H7323H310H452H559H5401H1H517H3212H310H559H3212H7725H621321So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.H7725H310H3947H6776H1241H2076H1310H1320H3627H1241H5414H5971H398H6965H3212H310H452H8334
Ashburn, VA
, the mountain of God.H6965
