1 Kings 19:9-18

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 

[19:10]  ¹ tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.

[19:10]  ² tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”

[19:10]  ³ tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”

[19:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”

[19:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).

[19:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”

[19:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “look.”

[19:14]  ⁹ tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.

[19:14]  ¹⁰ tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”

[19:14]  ¹¹ tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”

[19:14]  ¹² tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”

[19:18]  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.”