1. Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done—that he had murdered all the prophets by the sword.
2. Jezebel then sent a messenger to Elijah and said, “May the gods do thus to me and more, if by this time tomorrow I have not done with your life what was done to each of them.”
3. Elijah was afraid and fled for his life, going to Beer-sheba of Judah. He left his servant there
4. and went a day’s journey into the wilderness, until he came to a solitary broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: “Enough, Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”
5. He lay down and fell asleep under the solitary broom tree, but suddenly a messenger touched him and said, “Get up and eat!”
6. He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again,
7. but the angel of the Lord came back a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat or the journey will be too much for you!”
8. He got up, ate, and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.
9. There he came to a cave, where he took shelter. But the word of the Lord came to him: Why are you here, Elijah?
10. He answered: “I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, but the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have destroyed your altars and murdered your prophets by the sword. I alone remain, and they seek to take my life.”
11. Then the Lord said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord—but the Lord was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
12. after the earthquake, fire—but the Lord was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound.
13. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah?