Bible Chapter Summary
1 Kings 19 Summary
Elijah Flees and Finds God in Still Voice
When Jezebel hears that Elijah has slain the prophets of Baal, she threatens his life; Elijah flees to Beer-sheba and into the wilderness, where he despairs and requests death under a juniper tree. An angel twice feeds him and strengthens him to journey forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God, where he lodges in a cave. The Lord asks Elijah why he is there; Elijah declares his zealous service but complains that Israel has forsaken the covenant and slain the prophets. God passes before him in a great wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but speaks to him in a still small voice, commissioning him to anoint Hazael as king of Syria, Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as prophet in his stead.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Kings 19:4
“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
1 Kings 19:11-12
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:”
1 Kings 19:15-16
“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:”
1 Kings 19:19
“So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.”
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