1 Kings 19 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

In this chapter, the author describes how Elijah had to flee for his life to escape from Jezebel, Ahab’s queen, who refused to stop worshiping Baal even after Elijah defeated all the prophets of Baal. Elijah went to Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai), where Yahweh had made a covenant with the Israelites, to report that they had broken his covenant. But Yahweh reassured Elijah that many Israelites were still faithful, and he told him to appoint various leaders who would accomplish his purposes.

1. Elijah flees for his life from Jezebel (19:1–8)
2. Elijah speaks with Yahweh at Mount Horeb (19:9–18)
3. Elijah appoints Elisha as his successor (19:19–21)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Why did Elijah not anoint the people whom Yahweh told him to anoint?

In 19:15–16, Yahweh tells Elijah to anoint Hazael as king of Aram, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elisha as his own successor. Elijah first goes to see Elisha, but he does not anoint him. Instead, he throws his cloak over him. And the subsequent narrative does not record Elijah anointing Hazael or Jehu either. Instead, somewhat later, Elisha speaks with Hazael, and he sends a messenger to speak with Jehu. So it might appear that Elijah did not obey what Yahweh told him to do. However, it seems best to understand the term “anoint” to represent the idea of “appoint.” Yahweh was not so much specifying a specific way in which Elijah was to appoint these new leaders as he was simply telling him to appoint them. The new kings would punish those who had worshiped idols, and Elisha would carry on the prophetic ministry of Elijah.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

“bread-cake” and “jug”

In 19:6, when the angel awakens Elijah and tells him to have some food and drink to strengthen himself for his journey, Elijah discovers that there is a “bread-cake” and a “jug” of water by his head. These are the same two terms that the widow in Zarephath used in 17:12 when she told Elijah that she did not have so much as a bread-cake, only a handful of flour and a little bit of oil in a jug. These details seem to be significant. They illustrate how Yahweh provided for Elijah, and for other people through Elijah, throughout his ministry. To show this to your readers, we recommend that you use the same words for “bread-cake” and “jug” in this chapter as in chapter 17.