1 Kings 19

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

1King Ahab told his wife Jezebel everything Elijah had done. He also told her that Elijah had killed all the prophets of Baal with a sword.

2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

2Jezebel sent a message to Elijah. She said, "May the gods punish me if I fail. By this time tomorrow, I will kill you, just like you killed them."

3And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

3Elijah was afraid, so he ran away to save his life. He came to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and left his servant there.

4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

4Elijah walked one more day into the empty desert. He sat down under a small bush and asked to die. He said, "I have had enough, LORD. Take my life. I am no better than my family before me."

NoteThe KJV says "juniper tree." It was really a broom bush, a desert plant with thin branches and a little shade.

5And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

5He lay down under the bush and fell asleep. Then an angel, a messenger from God, touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat."

6And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

6Elijah looked around. Near his head was bread baked on hot coals and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and then he lay down again.

7And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

7The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat. The trip ahead is too long and hard for you."

8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

8So Elijah got up and ate and drank. That food made him strong. He walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

9There he went into a cave and stayed the night. Then a message came from the LORD. God asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

10And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

10Elijah said, "I have worked hard for the LORD, the God of armies. But the people of Israel have broken their promise to you. They knocked down your altars. They killed your prophets with swords. I am the only one left, and they want to kill me too."

11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

11God said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain in front of me." Then the LORD went past. A strong wind tore the mountains and broke the rocks apart. But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

12After the earthquake came a fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire came a soft, quiet voice.

13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

13When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

14And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

14Elijah said, "I have worked hard for the LORD, the God of armies. But the people of Israel have broken their promise to you. They knocked down your altars. They killed your prophets with swords. I am the only one left, and they want to kill me too."

15And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

15The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came. Go to the desert near Damascus. When you get there, pour oil on Hazael's head to make him king of Syria.

16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

16Also pour oil on Jehu son of Nimshi to make him king of Israel. And pour oil on Elisha son of Shaphat, from the town of Abelmeholah, to be a prophet in your place.

NotePouring oil on someone's head was how people showed that God had picked that person for a job.

17And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

17Anyone who gets away from Hazael's sword, Jehu will kill. Anyone who gets away from Jehu's sword, Elisha will kill.

18Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

18But I have kept seven thousand people in Israel for myself. They have never bowed down to the god Baal. They have never kissed his statue."

19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

19So Elijah left. He found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. Twelve pairs of oxen worked ahead, and Elisha drove the twelfth pair. Elijah walked past him and threw his coat over him.

NoteThrowing a coat over someone was a sign. It meant Elijah was choosing Elisha to take his place someday.

20And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

20Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. He said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will come with you." Elijah said, "Go on back. Think about what I have done to you."

21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

21So Elisha went back. He took his pair of oxen and killed them. He used the wooden plow tools as firewood to cook the meat. He gave the food to the people, and they ate it. Then he got up and went with Elijah as his helper.