Discovery Box1 Kings 19:9-21
Context19:9 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
19:19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. 19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah 14 said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 15 went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. 16 He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
[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
[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.”
[19:14] 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.”
[19:20] 14 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 15 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 16 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”
