Discovery Box1 Kings 19:11-18 
Context19:11 The Lord 1 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, 2 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. 3 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 4 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 5 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 6 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 7 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 8 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.” 9
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
2 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
3 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
4 tn Heb “look.”
5 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
6 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
7 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
8 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
9 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.”
