13. and when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat. He went out and stood at the entrance to the cave.The Lord asked, “Elijah, why are you here?”
14. Elijah answered, “Lord God All-Powerful, I've always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!”
15. The Lord said:Elijah, you can go back to the desert near Damascus. And when you get there, appoint Hazael to be king of Syria.
16. Then appoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat to take your place as my prophet.
17. Hazael will start killing the people who worship Baal. Jehu will kill those who escape from Hazael, and Elisha will kill those who escape from Jehu.
18. But seven thousand Israelites have refused to worship Baal, and they will live.
19. Elijah left and found Elisha ploughing a field with a pair of oxen. There were eleven other men in front of him, and each one was also ploughing with a pair of oxen. Elijah went over and put his own coat on Elisha.
20. Elisha stopped ploughing and ran after him. “Let me kiss my parents goodbye, then I'll go with you,” he said.“You can go,” Elijah said. “But remember what I've done for you.”
21. Elisha left and took his oxen with him. He killed them and boiled them over a fire he had made with the wood from his plough. He gave the meat to the people who were with him, and they ate it. Then he left with Elijah and became his assistant.