So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and told Joab, “This is what the king commands, ‘Come out of there.’” But Joab said, “No, for I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought word to the king again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”

The king was told, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came before the king, he bowed before the king with his face to the ground.

“Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan [River].

He answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent messengers to seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ Ahab made the kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah [is here].”’

And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.”

There he came to a cave and spent the night in it; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

When Elijah heard the sound, he wrapped his face in his mantle (cloak) and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

But while your servant was busy here and there, he [escaped and] was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “Such is your own judgment (verdict); you have determined it.”

But Jehoshaphat [doubted and] said, “Is there not another prophet of the Lord here whom we may ask?”