1 Kings 19:1-9

Elijah Flees Jezebel

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how 1he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 2"So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."
3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to 3Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. 4And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."
5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat."
6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you."
8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food 5forty days and forty nights to 6Horeb, the mount of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, 7the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1 Kings 19:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 19

This chapter gives us a further account of Elijah, of his being obliged to flee for his life through the threats of Jezebel, 1Ki 19:1-4, of the care the Lord took of him, providing food for him, in the strength of which he went to Horeb, 1Ki 19:5-8, of the Lord's appearance to him there, and conversation with him, 1Ki 19:9-14, of some instructions he gave him to anoint a king over Syria, another over Israel, and a prophet in his room, 1Ki 19:15-18, and of his finding Elisha, and throwing his mantle over him, who left his secular employment, and followed him, and became his servant, 1Ki 19:19-21.

Cross References 7

  • 1. 1 Kings 18:40
  • 2. [1 Kings 20:10]; See Ruth 1:17
  • 3. See Genesis 21:31
  • 4. [Numbers 11:15; Jonah 4:3, 8]
  • 5. Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18; Matthew 4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2
  • 6. Exodus 3:1
  • 7. ver. 13
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.