1 Kings 19
Not in the Wind, the Earthquake, or the Fire
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Elijah Flees from Jezebel
19:1Ahab reported to Jezebel his wife all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed the prophets with the sword.
19:2Jezebel sent to Elijah and said, “If you are Elijah, I am Jezebel! May the god do thus to me and add more, for at this time tomorrow I will make your life like the life of one of them!”
19:3Elijah was afraid, rose, and went for his life. He came to Beer-sheba in Judah and left his young attendant there.
The Angel Under the Juniper
19:4He himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, came, and sat under a single broom bush. He asked that his life might end and said, “Let it be enough now! Please take my life from me, Lord, for I am no better than my fathers.”
19:5He lay down and slept there under a plant. Look, someone touched him and said to him, “Rise and eat.”
19:6Elijah looked, and there at his head were a hearth cake of spelt and a flask of water. He rose, ate, and drank, then lay down again.
19:7The Lord’s angel returned a second time, touched him, and said to him, “Rise, eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
19:8He rose, ate, and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb.
The Voice of a Light Breeze at Horeb
19:9He entered the cave there and lodged there. Look, the Lord’s word came to him, and He said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
19:10Elijah said, “I have been most zealous for the Lord Almighty, because the children of Israel have abandoned You. They have demolished Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. I remain utterly alone, and they seek my life to take it.”
19:11He said, “You shall go out tomorrow and stand before the Lord on the mountain. Look, the Lord will pass by.” A great, strong wind was breaking mountains apart and crushing rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
19:12After the earthquake came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came the sound of a gentle breeze, and there was the Lord.
19:13When Elijah heard, he covered his face with his sheepskin cloak, went out, and stood beneath the cave. Look, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
19:14Elijah said, “I have been most zealous for the Lord Almighty, because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant. They have pulled down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. I remain utterly alone, and they seek my life to take it.”
Hazael, Jehu and Elisha to Be Anointed
19:15The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way, and you will come to the wilderness road of Damascus. Anoint Hazael as king of Syria.
19:16Anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, from Abel-meholah, as prophet in your place.
19:17Whoever is spared from Hazael’s sword, Jehu will put to death; whoever is spared from Jehu’s sword, Elisha will put to death.
19:18You will leave seven thousand men in Israel: every knee that has not bent the knee to Baal, and every mouth that has not bowed down to him.”
The Calling of Elisha
19:19He went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing with oxen. Twelve pairs of oxen were before him, and he was among the twelve. He came upon him and threw his sheepskin cloak over him.
19:20Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “I will kiss my father and follow you.” Elijah said, “Return, for I have acted for you.”
19:21He turned back from following him, took the pairs of oxen, and sacrificed them. With the oxen’s equipment he boiled them, gave them to the people, and they ate. Then he rose, followed Elijah, and ministered to him.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.