1 Kings 19
1 And Ahab told Jezebel, all that Elijah had done, —and withal, how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and that he had killed all the prophets of Baal with the sword.
2 Then sent Jezebel a messenger unto Elijah, saying, —So, let the gods do, and, so, let them add, if, by this time to-morrow, I make not thy life as the life of one of them.
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 And, when he saw [that], he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, —and left his servant there.
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he arrived in Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there
4 But, he himself, went into the wilderness a day’s journey, and came and sat down under a certain shrub, —and asked for his life, that he might die, and said—Enough, now, O Yahweh! take away my life, for, no better, am, I, than, my fathers.
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 And, as he lay, and slept, under a certain shrub, lo! a messenger, touching him, who said to him—Rise, eat.
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 So he looked about, and lo! at his head, a cake baked on hot stones, and a cruse of water, —and he did eat and drink, and then went back and lay down.
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 And the messenger of Yahweh came again a second time, and touched him, and said—Rise, eat, —because, too much for thee, is the journey.
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 arose, and did eat and drink, —and journeyed, in the strength of that eating, forty days and forty nights, as far as the mountain of God—Horeb.
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, the mountain of God.
9 And he entered, there, into a cave, and lodged there, —and lo! the word of Yahweh [came] unto him, and said to him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
There he entered a cave and spent the night. The Lord spoke to Elijah, and asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 And he said—Very jealous, have I been, for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thine altars, have they thrown down, thy prophets, also have they slain with the sword, —and, I alone, am left, and they have sought my life, to take it.
“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 And he said—Go forth to-morrow, and stand in the mountain, before Yahweh. And lo! Yahweh, passing by, and a great and strong wind—rending the mountains, and breaking in pieces the crags, before Yahweh, Not, in the wind, was, Yahweh, —And, after the wind, an, earthquake, Not, in the earthquake, was, Yahweh;
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 And, after the earthquake, a, fire, Not, in the fire, was, Yahweh, —And, after the fire, the voice of a gentle whisper.
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 And it came to pass, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went forth, and stood at the entrance of the cave, —and lo! unto him, a voice; and it said—What doest thou here, Elijah?
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 And he said—Very jealous, have I been, for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thine altars, have they thrown down, thy prophets also, have they slain with the sword, —and, I alone, am left, and they rove sought my life, to take it.
“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 And Yahweh said unto him, Go, return to thy way, towards the wilderness of Damascus, —and, when thou enterest, then shalt thou anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
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 And, Jehu son of Minshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel, —and, Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy stead:
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 Then shall it come to pass, that—him that escapeth the sword of Hazael, shall, Jehu, slay, —and, him that escapeth the sword of Jehu, shall, Elisha, slay;
Jehu will execute anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will execute anyone who escapes the sword of Jehu.
18 Yet will I leave remaining in Israel, seven thousand, —all knees which have not bowed to Baal, and all mouths which have not kissed to him.
I still have seven thousand left in Israel, all those who have not bowed their knees to worship and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
19 So he departed from thence, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, as he was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, he being with the twelfth, —so Elijah crossed over unto him, and cast his mantle towards him;
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 and he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said—Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, that I may follow thee. And he said unto him, —Go, turn back, for what have I done to thee?
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.”
21 So he turned back from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and sacrificed them, and, with the implements of the oxen, boiled their flesh, and gave unto the people, and they did eat, —then he arose, and followed Elijah, and ministered unto him.
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. Then he left to follow and serve Elijah.
