Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 19:3

"And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there." — 1 Kings 19:3 (ASV)

He arose, and went for his life. —The sudden reaction of disappointment and despondency, strange as it seems to superficial observation, is eminently characteristic of an impulsive and vehement nature. His blow had been struck, as he thought, triumphantly. Now the power of cool unrelenting antagonism makes itself felt, unshaken and only embittered by all that had passed. On Ahab and the people he knows that he cannot rely; so once more he flees for his life.

Beer-sheba. (Genesis 21:33; Genesis 22:19; Genesis 28:10; Genesis 46:1, and other passages)—This frontier town of Palestine to the south is little mentioned after the patriarchal time. The note that it belonged to Judah is, perhaps, significant. Judah was now in half-dependent alliance with Israel; even under Jehoshaphat, Elijah might not be safe there, though his servant—traditionally the son of the widow of Zarephath—might stay without danger.