Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Here is the rewritten chapter:

Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done - how he had taken out all the prophets with his sword. This made her very angry. She sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "May God deal severely with me if I don't make your life like one of my servants by tomorrow."

When Elijah saw this, he was terrified and ran for his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah, where he left his servant behind. Then he traveled on into the wilderness and sat down under a juniper tree. He was so exhausted that he asked God to take away his life, saying, "Lord, it's enough! I'm no better than my ancestors."

Just then, an angel touched Elijah and said, "Get up and eat." Elijah got up, ate some food the angel provided, and lay down again. The angel came back and touched him, saying, "Get up and eat - you need more strength for your journey." Elijah ate and drank, and with that food he was able to go without eating or drinking for forty days and nights until he reached Horeb, God's Mountain.

There, in a cave, the word of the Lord came to him: "Elijah, what are you doing here?" Elijah explained how he had been consumed by jealousy for God because his people Israel had abandoned their covenant with him, torn down his altars, and slaughtered his prophets. He felt like the only one left, and they were out to kill him.

The Lord told Elijah to go outside and stand at the entrance of the cave. A voice came and asked Elijah what he was doing there. Elijah repeated his concerns about being alone against Israel's rebellion. Then God spoke again, saying, "Go back on your way to Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Next, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abelmeholah as a prophet in my place."

Anyone who escaped the sword of Hazael would be killed by Jehu, while anyone who escaped Jehu's sword would be killed by Elisha. But God said he had reserved seven thousand people in Israel - those whose knees hadn't bowed to Baal and whose mouths hadn't kissed him.

Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him. As Elijah passed by, he threw his mantle over Elisha, a sign that he was choosing him as his successor. Elisha said goodbye to his family and followed Elijah.

When Elisha's oxen were slaughtered, their meat was cooked with the equipment used to plow the fields, and everyone ate. Then Elisha went after Elijah, serving him.