² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,^(A) if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”^(B)

³ Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran^(C) for his life.^(D) When he came to Beersheba^(E) in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,^(F) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;^(G) I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.^(H)

All at once an angel^(I) touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty^(J) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,^(K) the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave^(L) and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”^(M)

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous^(N) for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,^(O) torn down your altars,^(P) and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(Q) and now they are trying to kill me too.”