19:9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 1 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 2 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 3 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 4 19:11 The Lord 5 said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, 6 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. 7 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 8 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 9 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 10 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 11 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 12 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.” 13
1 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
2 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
3 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
4 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
6 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
7 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
8 tn Heb “look.”
9 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
10 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
11 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
12 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
13 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.”