18 1 Elijah is sent to Ahab. 13 Obadiah hideth an hundred Prophets. 40 Elijah killeth all Baal’s prophets. 45 He obtaineth rain.

After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the [a]third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.

And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab, and there was a great famine in Samaria.

And Ahab called Obadiah the governor of his house: (and Obadiah [b]feared God greatly:

For when Jezebel destroyed the Prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took an hundred Prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and he fed them with bread and water.)

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the rivers, if so be that we may find grass to save the horses and the mules alive, lest we deprive the land of the beasts.

And so they divided the land between them to walk through it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

¶ And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah [c]met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art not thou my lord Elijah?

And he answered him, Yea, go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10 As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, if they had not found thee.

11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12 And when I am gone from thee, the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee into some place that I do not know: so when I come and tell Ahab, if he cannot find thee, then will he kill me: But I thy servant [d]fear the Lord from my youth.

13 Was it not told my lord, what I did when Jezebel slew the Prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord’s Prophets by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here, that he may slay me.

15 And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show [e]myself unto him this day.

16 ¶ So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 And when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but [f]thou and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baal.

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

20 ¶ So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long [g]halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if Baal be he, then go after him. And the people answered him not a word.

22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I only remain a Prophet of the Lord: but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks, and let them choose the one, and cut him in pieces, and lay him on the wood, but put no fire under, and I will prepare the other bullock, and lay him on the wood, and will put no fire under.

24 Then call ye on the name of your god, and I will call on the Name of the Lord: and then the God that answereth [h]by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered, and said, It is well spoken.

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you a bullock, and prepare him first, (for ye are many) and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26 So they took the one bullock that was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon, saying, O Baal, hear us: but there was no voice, nor any to answer: and they [i]leapt upon the altar that was made.

27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a [j]god: either he talketh or pursueth his enemies, or is in his journey, or it may be that he sleepeth, and must be [k]awaked.

28 And they cried loud, and cut themselves as their manner was, with knives and lancers, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29 And when midday was passed, and they had prophesied until the offering of the evening sacrifice, there was neither voice, nor one to answer, nor any that regarded.

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come to me. And all the people came to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, (unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, (A)Israel shall be thy name)

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the Name of the Lord: and he made a ditch round about the altar, as great as would contain two [l]measures of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order, and hewed the bullock in pieces, and laid him in the wood:

34 And said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it upon the burnt offering and on the wood. Again he said, Do so again. And they did so the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35 And the water ran round about the altar: and he [m]filled the ditch with water also.

36 And when they should offer the evening sacrifice, Elijah the Prophet came and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God of Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy commandment.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, and let this people know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart again [n]at the last.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the ditch.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and said, The Lord is God, the Lord is God.

40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal, let not [o]a man of them escape: and they took them, and Elijah brought them to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

41 ¶ And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink, and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel: and he crouched unto the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant, Go up now, and look toward the way of the Sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. Again he said, Go again [p]seven times.

44 And at the seventh time he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the Sea like a man’s hand. Then he said, Up, and say unto Ahab, Make ready the chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stay thee not.

45 And [q]in the meanwhile the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Then Ahab went up, and came to Jezreel,

46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins, and ran [r]before Ahab till he came to Jezreel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 18:1 After that he departed from the river Cherith.
  2. 1 Kings 18:3 God had begun to work his fear in his heart, but had not yet brought him to that knowledge, which is also requisite of the godly: that is, to profess his Name openly.
  3. 1 Kings 18:7 God pitieth oft times the wicked for the godly’s sake, and causeth Elijah to meet with Obadiah, that the benefit might be known to be granted for God’s children’s sake.
  4. 1 Kings 18:12 I am none of the wicked persecutors that thou shouldest procure unto me such displeasure, but serve God, and favor his children.
  5. 1 Kings 18:15 By my presence I will declare that thou hast told him the truth.
  6. 1 Kings 18:18 The true ministers of God ought not only not to suffer the truth to be unjustly slandered, but to reprove boldly the wicked slanderers without respect of person.
  7. 1 Kings 18:21 Be constant in religion, and make it not as a thing indifferent, whether ye follow God or Baal, or whether ye serve God wholly or in part, Zeph. 1:5.
  8. 1 Kings 18:24 By sending down fire from heaven to burn the sacrifice.
  9. 1 Kings 18:26 As men ravished with some strange spirit.
  10. 1 Kings 18:27 You esteem him as God.
  11. 1 Kings 18:27 He mocketh their beastly madness, which think that by any instance or suit, the dead and vile idols can help their worshippers in their necessity.
  12. 1 Kings 18:32 Hebrew, seahs, which some think contain about three pottles and a third part a piece.
  13. 1 Kings 18:35 Hereby he declared the excellent power of God, who contrary to nature could make the fire burn even in the water, to the intent they should have none occasion to doubt that he is the only God.
  14. 1 Kings 18:37 Though God suffer his to run in blindness and error for a time, yet at the length he calleth them home to him by some notorious sign and work.
  15. 1 Kings 18:40 He commanded them that as they were truly persuaded to confess the only God: so they would serve him with all their power, and destroy the idolaters his enemies.
  16. 1 Kings 18:43 As God’s spirit moved him to pray, so was he strengthened by the same, that he did not faint, but continued still till he had obtained.
  17. 1 Kings 18:45 Or, here and there.
  18. 1 Kings 18:46 He was so strengthened with God’s spirit, that he ran faster than the chariot was able to run.

Elijah and Obadiah

18 After a long time, in the third(A) year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present(B) yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain(C) on the land.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

Now the famine was severe(D) in Samaria, and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator.(E) (Obadiah was a devout believer(F) in the Lord. While Jezebel(G) was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden(H) them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied(I) them with food and water.) Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs(J) and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”(K) So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.

As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized(L) him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

“What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look(M) for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ 12 I don’t know where the Spirit(N) of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. 13 Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”

15 Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present(O) myself to Ahab today.”

Elijah on Mount Carmel

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler(P) of Israel?”

18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you(Q) and your father’s family have. You have abandoned(R) the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon(S) the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel.(T) And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”(U)

20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.(V) 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver(W) between two opinions? If the Lord(X) is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left,(Y) but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.(Z) 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call(AA) on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord.(AB) The god who answers by fire(AC)—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called(AD) on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response;(AE) no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”(AF) 28 So they shouted louder and slashed(AG) themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice.(AH) But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.(AI)

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar(AJ) of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”(AK) 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name(AL) of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs[a] of seed. 33 He arranged(AM) the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”

34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.

“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

36 At the time(AN) of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham,(AO) Isaac and Israel, let it be known(AP) today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.(AQ) 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know(AR) that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38 Then the fire(AS) of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate(AT) and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”(AU)

40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley(AV) and slaughtered(AW) there.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.(AX)

43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44 The seventh time(AY) the servant reported, “A cloud(AZ) as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain(BA) started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.(BB) 46 The power(BC) of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt,(BD) he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 18:32 That is, probably about 24 pounds or about 11 kilograms