1 Kings 19 - Easy To Read Version

¹ King Ahab told Jezebel all the things that Elijah did. Ahab told her how Elijah had killed all the prophets with a sword.

² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. Jezebel said, “I promise that before this same time tomorrow, I will kill you like you killed those prophets. If I don’t succeed, then may the gods kill me.”

³ When Elijah heard this, he was afraid. So he ran away to save his life. He took his servant with him. They went to Beersheba, Judah. Elijah left his servant in Beersheba.

⁴ Then Elijah walked for a whole day into the desert. Elijah sat down under a bush. He asked to die. Elijah said, “I have had enough, Lord! Let me die. I am no better than my ancestors. [210] ”

⁵ Then Elijah lay down under the tree and slept. An angel came to Elijah and touched him. The angel said, “Get up! Eat!”

⁶ Elijah saw very near him a cake baked over coals and a jar of water. Elijah ate and drank. Then he went back to sleep.

⁷ Later the Lord’s angel came to him again. The angel said, “Get up! Eat! If you don’t, you will not be strong enough to make the long trip.”

⁸ So Elijah got up. He ate and drank. The food made Elijah strong enough to walk for 40 days and nights. He walked to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.

⁹ There Elijah went into a cave and stayed all night.

¹⁰ Elijah answered, “Lord God All-Powerful, I have always served you the best I can. But the people of Israel have broken their agreement with you. They destroyed your altars. They killed your prophets. I am the only prophet that is still living. And now they are trying to kill me!”

¹¹ Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go, stand in front of me on the mountain. I will pass by you.” [211] Then a very strong wind blew. The wind caused the mountains to break apart. It broke large rocks in front of the Lord. But that wind was not the Lord! After that wind, there was an earthquake. But that earthquake was not the Lord.

¹² After the earthquake, there was a fire. But that fire was not the Lord. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice. [212]

¹³ When Elijah heard the voice [213] he used his coat to cover his face. Then he went and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?”

¹⁴ Elijah said, “Lord God All-Powerful, I have always served you the best that I can. But the people of Israel broke their agreement with you. They destroyed your altars. They killed your prophets. I am the only prophet that is still living. And now they are trying to kill me.”

¹⁵ The Lord said, “Go back on the road that leads to the desert around Damascus. Go into Damascus, and anoint [214] Hazael as king over Aram.

¹⁶ Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel. Next, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah. He will be the prophet that takes your place.

¹⁷ {Hazael will kill many bad people.} Jehu will kill anyone that escapes from Hazael’s sword. And Elisha will kill anyone that escapes from Jehu’s sword.

¹⁸ {Elijah, you are not the only faithful person in Israel. Those men will kill many people. But, even after that,} there will still be 7,000 people living in Israel that never bowed down to Baal! I will let those 7,000 people live—and none of those people ever kissed a Baal idol.

¹⁹ So Elijah left that place and went to find Elisha son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing 12 acres of land. Elisha was working on the last acre when Elijah came. [215] Elijah went to Elisha. Then Elijah put his coat [216] on Elisha.

²⁰ Elisha immediately left his cows and ran after Elijah. Elisha said, “Let me kiss my mother and father goodbye. Then I will follow you.”

²¹ {Then Elisha had a special meal with his family.} Elisha went and killed his cows. He used the yoke [218] for firewood and boiled the meat. Then he gave it to the people and they ate the meat. Then Elisha began following Elijah. Elisha became Elijah’s helper.