1 Kings 19:13-21

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 1  a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 2  to the Lord, the sovereign God, 3  even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 4  torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 5  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.” 6 

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 7  said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 8  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. 9  He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.

1 tn Heb “look.”

2 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.

3 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”

4 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”

5 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”

6 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.”

7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

8 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

9 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”