1. Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”
2. Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah:
3. “Leave here, turn east, and hide beside the Cherith River, which is east of the Jordan River.
4. You can drink from the stream, and I’ve commanded ravens to feed you there.”
5. Elijah left and did what the word of the Lord ⌊had told him⌋. He went to live by the Cherith River, which is east of the Jordan River.
6. Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. And he drank from the stream.
7. But after some time the stream dried up because no rain had fallen in the land.
8. Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah:
9. “Get up, go to Zarephath (which belongs to Sidon), and stay there. I’ve commanded a widow there to feed you.”
10. He got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town’s entrance, a widow was gathering wood. He called to her, “Please bring me a drink of water.”
11. As she was going to get it, he called to her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread too.”
12. She said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.”
13. Then Elijah told her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son.