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Verse 7
Theosis · English Bible
3 Kingdoms (1 Kings)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 19

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1And Achaab told Jezabel his wife all that Eliu had done, and how he had slain the prophets with the sword. 2And Jezabel sent to Eliu, and said, If thou art Eliu and I am Jezabel, God do so to me, and more also, if I do not make thy life by this time to-morrow as the life of one of them. 3And Eliu feared, and rose, and departed for his life: and he comes to Bersabee to the land of Juda, and he left his servant there. 4And he himself went a day's journey in the wilderness, and came and sat under a juniper tree; and asked concerning his life that he might die, and said, Let it be enough now, O Lord, take, I pray thee, my life from me; for I am no better than my fathers. 5And he lay down and slept there under a tree; and behold, some one touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat. 6And Eliu looked, and, behold, at his head there was a cake of meal and a cruse of water; and he arose, and ate and drank, and returned and lay down. 7And the angel of the Lord returned again, and touched him, and said to him, Arise, and eat, for the journey is far from thee. 8And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights to mount Choreb. 9And he entered there into a cave, and rested there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said, What doest thou here, Eliu? 10And Eliu said, I have been very jealous for the Lord Almighty, because the children of Israel have forsaken thee: they have digged down thine altars, and have slain thy prophets with the sword; and I only am left alone, and they seek my life to take it. 11And he said, Thou shalt go forth to-morrow, and shalt stand before the Lord in the mount; behold, the Lord will pass by. And, behold, a great and strong wind rending the mountains, and crushing the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire the voice of a gentle breeze. 13And it came to pass when Eliu heard, that he wrapt his face in his mantle, and went forth and stood in the cave: and, behold, a voice came to him and said, What doest thou here, Eliu? 14And Eliu said, I have been very jealous for the Lord Almighty; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and they have overthrown thine altars, and have slain thy prophets with the sword! and I am left entirely alone, and they seek my life to take it. 15And the Lord said to him, Go, return, and thou shalt come into the way of the wilderness of Damascus: and thou shalt go and anoint Azael to be king over Syria. 16And Ju the son of Namessi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisaie the son of Saphat shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17And it shall come to pass, that him that escapes from the sword of Azael, Ju shall slay; and him that escapes from the sword of Ju, Elisaie shall slay. 18And thou shalt leave in Israel seven thousand men, all the knees which had not bowed themselves to Baal, and every mouth which had not worshipped him. 19And he departed thence, and finds Elisaie the son of Saphat, and he was ploughing with oxen; there were twelve yoke before him, and he with the twelve, and he passed by to him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20And Elisaie left the cattle, and ran after Eliu and said, I will kiss my father, and follow after thee. And Eliu said, Return, for I have done a work for thee. 21And he returned from following him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled them with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate: and he arose, and went after Eliu, and ministered to him.

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3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 19:7

Ephraem the Syrian

Ephraem the Syrian4th century

Look, Elijah was resting beneath a tree when an angel approached him and stirred him from his slumber. Overcome by weariness, sorrow, and disillusionment, the prophet was renewed in strength and comforted by the sustenance the angel provided. This sustenance consisted of bread baked over coals and water. The angel conveyed, “A long journey lies ahead for you,” meaning that you would not escape the despair you fear through death, as you believe, but rather by fleeing. The path before you is arduous and not merely a short trip to Khorath; instead, you are headed to a distant land among strangers, where you will discover peace and prosperity. Thus, until you are ready, it is essential that you eat, drink, and gather strength for the extensive journey ahead, for you will find no sustenance in the barren wilderness.

Symbolically, the bread baked in ashes that the angel presents to Elijah carries dual significance: it clearly signifies the gravity of repentance, echoed in the ashes that represent sorrow and a contrite heart. Unleavened bread mixed with ashes and water is the sustenance of the impoverished and afflicted. Furthermore, it can be understood as a representation of all the righteous individuals for whom the Creator’s providence has prepared a life filled with trials. He guides them through suffering, want, and relentless fasting to ensure their complete purification from earthly impurities, ultimately leading them to the mountain, which epitomizes the perfection of the saints.