4. Then he traveled for one day into the desert. He came to a small tree. He sat down under it. He prayed that he would die. "Lord, I've had enough," he said. "Take my life. I'm no better than my people of long ago."
5. Then he lay down under the tree. And he fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat."
6. Elijah looked around. Near his head he saw a flat cake of bread. It had been baked over hot coals. A jar of water was also there. So Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down again.
7. The angel of the Lord came to him a second time. He touched him and said, "Get up and eat. Your journey will be long and hard."
8. So he got up. He ate and drank. The food gave him new strength. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights. He kept going until he arrived at Horeb. It was the mountain of God.
9. There he went into a cave and spent the night. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, "Elijah, what are you doing here?"
10. He replied, "Lord God who rules over all, I've been very committed to you. The people of Israel have turned their backs on your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They've put your prophets to death with their swords. I'm the only one left. And they are trying to kill me."
11. The Lord said, "Go out. Stand on the mountain in front of me. I am going to pass by." As the Lord approached, a very powerful wind tore the mountains apart. It broke up the rocks. But the Lord wasn't in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake. But the Lord wasn't in the earthquake.
12. After the earthquake a fire came. But the Lord wasn't in the fire. And after the fire there was only a gentle whisper.
13. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his coat over his face. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, "Elijah, what are you doing here?"
14. He replied, "Lord God who rules over all, I've been very committed to you. The people of Israel have turned their backs on your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They've put your prophets to death with their swords. I'm the only one left. And they are trying to kill me."
15. The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you came. Go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
16. Also anoint Jehu as king over Israel. He is the son of Nimshi. And anoint Elisha from Abel Meholah as the next prophet after you. He is the son of Shaphat.
17. Jehu will put to death anyone who escapes Hazael's sword. And Elisha will put to death anyone who escapes Jehu's sword.