Elijah Proclaims a Drought
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of theinhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab,“AstheLordGod of Israel lives,before whom I stand,there shall not be dew nor rainthese years, except at my word.”
2 Then the word of theLordcame to him, saying,
3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
4 And it will bethatyou shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded theravens to feed you there.”
5 So he went and did according to the word of theLord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
Elijah and the Widow
8 Then the word of theLordcame to him, saying,
9 “Arise, go toZarephath, whichbelongstoSidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widowwasthere gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”
11 And as she was going to getit,he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
12 So she said, “As theLordyour God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, Iamgathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, anddie.”
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; goanddo as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bringitto me; and afterward makesomefor yourself and your son.
14 For thus says theLordGod of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day theLordsends rain on the earth.’ ”
15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate formanydays.
16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of theLordwhich He spoke by Elijah.
Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son
17 Now it happened after these thingsthatthe son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.
18 So she said to Elijah,“What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”
19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.
20 Then he cried out to theLordand said, “OLordmy God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”
21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to theLordand said, “OLordmy God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”
22 Then theLordheard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and herevived.
23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by thisI know that youarea man of God,andthat the word of theLordin your mouthisthe truth.”