Ahab told Jezebel what Elijah had done to the prophets of Baal. Jezebel sent word that by the next day Elijah’s life would be made like theirs. Elijah fled to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there.
He went a day’s journey into the wilderness, sat beneath a broom tree, and asked to die. He said he was no better than his ancestors and lay down to sleep. An angel touched him and told him to rise and eat. Beside him were bread baked on coals and a jar of water. He ate, drank, and lay down again.
The angel returned and told him to eat because the journey was too much for him. Strengthened by the food, Elijah traveled forty days and nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. He entered a cave and spent the night there. God asked him what he was doing there.
Elijah said Israel had abandoned God’s covenant, torn down the altars, killed the prophets, and now sought his life. God told him to stand on the mountain. A great wind broke rocks, then came an earthquake, then fire; God was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire.
After the fire came a quiet, gentle voice. Elijah covered his face with his cloak and stood at the cave entrance. When God asked again, he repeated his complaint. God told him to return by the wilderness road to Damascus.
God commanded Elijah to anoint Hazael king over Syria, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat as prophet in his place. Those who escaped Hazael’s sword would be killed by Jehu, and those who escaped Jehu’s would be killed by Elisha. God had reserved seven thousand in Israel who had neither bowed to Baal nor kissed him. Elijah departed and found Elisha plowing with twelve pairs of oxen, working with the last pair. He put his cloak on Elisha. Elisha asked to say farewell to his parents, killed a pair of oxen, and cooked the meat using their equipment for fuel. After giving the food to the people, he followed Elijah and served him.