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 Aram, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat as prophet in his place. God said seven thousand in Israel had not bowed to Baal. Elijah departed and found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. He threw his cloak over Elisha, who left the oxen and followed him as his servant.