1 Kings 19:3

And when he sawthat] The LXX. reading וַיִרָא instead of the text וַיַרָא renders by καὶ ἐφοβήθη, -and he was afraid." And this makes a good sense. But it is not necessary. Elijah saw (mentally) from the message which came to him, that he must be gone, if he would save his life. Moreover after the verb -to fear" there usually follows a mention of the person who is feared.

and went for his life i.e. To make sure of saving his life. It was no part of his duty to expose himself to unnecessary peril. The same phrase is found in 2 Kings 7:7 and nearly the same in Genesis 19:17. The Vulgate rendering -quocunque eum ferebat voluntas" -wherever he felt inclined" is certainly not what is meant.

and cameto Beer-sheba, whichbelongeth to Judah Beer-sheba was in the tribe of Simeon (see Joshua 19:2), though in Joshua 15:28 it is included among the uttermost cities of Judah. Here -which belongeth to Judah" signifies -which is part of the kingdom of Judah." Elijah had thus escaped from Ahab's dominions. The use of such a phrase shews that the writer of this narrative was an Israelite.

and left his servant there The servant (according to Jewish tradition, the son of the widow of Zarephath) must have attended on him from Carmel to Jezreel, and from thence to the south of Judah. The prophet now desires solitude, and so dismisses him. In the need of spiritual communion with God no companion is desired. Even Jesus himself said to His disciples -Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder" (Matthew 26:36).