(a) Narrate Elijah's flight to Mount Horeb. [9 marks] (b) In what three ways did God plan to punish the house of Ahab and Israel? [6 marks]

Answer Details

(a) Elijah's flight to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:1-18)

• After Elijah had slain the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Ahab told Jezebel all that he had done.
• Jezebel sent a messenger threatening to take Elijah's life by the next day, swearing by the gods.
• Afraid, Elijah fled for his life to Beersheba in Judah, left his servant there, and went a day's journey into the wilderness.
• He sat under a broom tree, prayed that he might die, saying he was no better than his fathers, and fell asleep.
• An angel of the LORD touched him and provided a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water; he ate, drank and slept again.
• The angel came a second time, and in the strength of that food Elijah journeyed forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
• There he lodged in a cave, and the word of the LORD asked, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He complained that he alone was left and they sought his life.
• God told him to stand on the mount; a great wind, an earthquake and a fire passed by, but the LORD was not in them; then came a still small voice (a gentle whisper).
• God assured him that seven thousand in Israel had not bowed to Baal, and commissioned him afresh.

(b) Three ways God planned to punish the house of Ahab and Israel

• Elijah was to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria (Aram), who would come against Israel.
• He was to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, to destroy the house of Ahab.
• He was to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat as prophet in his place; and whoever escaped the sword of Hazael would be slain by Jehu, and whoever escaped Jehu would be slain by Elisha.