A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, 8 but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 19:12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. 9 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden 10 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 11 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 12 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 13 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 14 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 19:16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 19:17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 19:18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” 15
9:26 “Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law. 16 They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies.
2:30 “It did no good for me to punish your people.
They did not respond to such correction.
You slaughtered your prophets
like a voracious lion.” 17
1 tn Heb “cutting off.”
2 tn Heb “Has it not been told to my master what I did…?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “Of course it has!”
3 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
4 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
5 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
6 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
8 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
9 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
10 tn Heb “look.”
11 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
12 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
13 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
14 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
15 tn Heb “I have kept in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and all the mouths that have not kissed him.”
16 tn Heb “they cast your law behind their backs.”
17 tn Heb “Your sword devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.” However, the reference to the sword in this and many similar idioms is merely idiomatic for death by violent means.