1 Kings 18 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.” ^[2] Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria. ^[3] Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly; ^[4] for when Jezebel cut off Yahweh’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) ^[5] Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.” ^[6] So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. ^[7] As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” ^[8] He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’ ” ^[9] He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? ^[10] As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you. ^[11] Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.” ’ ^[12] It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that Yahweh’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth. ^[13] Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed Yahweh’s prophets, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? ^[14] Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.” ^[15] Elijah said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” ^[16] So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah. ^[17] When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” ^[18] He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken Yahweh’s commandments and you have followed the Baals. ^[19] Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” ^[20] So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel. ^[21] Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”The people didn’t say a word. ^[22] Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men. ^[23] Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it. ^[24] You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.”All the people answered, “What you say is good.” ^[25] Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” ^[26] They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made. ^[27] At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.” ^[28] They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them. ^[29] When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention. ^[30] Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired Yahweh’s altar that had been thrown down. ^[31] Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” ^[32] With the stones he built an altar in Yahweh’s name. He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs^ⓘ of seed. ^[33] He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” ^[34] He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time. ^[35] The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. ^[36] At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ^[37] Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.” ^[38] Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. ^[39] When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!” ^[40] Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!”They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there. ^[41] Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” ^[42] So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees. ^[43] He said to his servant, “Go up now and look toward the sea.”He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.”He said, “Go again” seven times. ^[44] On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.”He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” ^[45] In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. ^[46] Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Footnotes

1 seah is about 7 liters or 1.9 gallons or 0.8 pecks

King James Version

^[1] And it came to pass [after] manyH7227 days,H3117 that the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 came to ElijahH452 in the thirdH7992 year,H8141 saying,H559(QalInf) Go,H3212(QalImpv) shewH7200(NiphImpv) thyself unto Ahab;H256 and I will sendH5414(QalImpf) rainH4306 uponH6440 the earth.H127 ^[2] And ElijahH452 wentH3212(QalImpf) to shewH7200(NiphInf) himself unto Ahab.H256 And [there was] a soreH2389 famineH7458 in Samaria.H8111 ^[3] And AhabH256 calledH7121(QalImpf) Obadiah,H5662 which [was] the governor of [his] house.H1004 (Now ObadiahH5662 fearedH3373 the LordH3068 greatly:H3966 ^[4] For it was [so], when JezebelH348 cut offH3772(HiphInf) the prophetsH5030 of the Lord,H3068 that ObadiahH5662 tookH3947(QalImpf) an hundredH3967 prophets,H5030 and hidH2244(HiphImpf) them by fiftyH376 in a cave,H4631 and fedH3557(PilpPerf) them with breadH3899 and water.H4325) ^[5] And AhabH256 saidH559(QalImpf) unto Obadiah,H5662 GoH3212(QalImpv) into the land,H776 unto all fountainsH4599 of water,H4325 and unto all brooks:H5158 peradventureH194 we may findH4672(QalImpf) grassH2682 to saveH2421(PielImpf) the horsesH5483 and mulesH6505 alive,H2421(PielImpf) that we loseH3772(HiphImpf) not all the beasts.H929 ^[6] So they dividedH2505(PielImpf) the landH776 between them to pass throughoutH5674(QalInf) it: AhabH256 wentH1980(QalPerf) oneH259 wayH1870 by himself, and ObadiahH5662 wentH1980(QalPerf) anotherH259 wayH1870 by himself. ^[7] And as ObadiahH5662 was in the way,H1870 behold, ElijahH452 metH7125(QalInf) him: and he knewH5234(HiphImpf) him, and fellH5307(QalImpf) on his face,H6440 and said,H559(QalImpf) [Art] thou that my lordH113 Elijah?H452 ^[8] And he answeredH559(QalImpf) him, I [am]: go,H3212(QalImpv) tellH559(QalImpv) thy lord,H113 Behold, ElijahH452 [is here]. ^[9] And he said,H559(QalImpf) What have I sinned,H2398(QalPerf) that thou wouldest deliverH5414(QalActPtc) thy servantH5650 into the handH3027 of Ahab,H256 to slayH4191(HiphInf) me? ^[10] [As] the LordH3068 thy GodH430 liveth,H2416 there is noH3426 nationH1471 or kingdom,H4467 whitherH834 my lordH113 hath not sentH7971(QalPerf) to seekH1245(PielInf) thee: and when they said,H559(QalPerf) [He is] not [there]; he took an oathH7650(HiphPerf) of the kingdomH4467 and nation,H1471 that they foundH4672(QalImpf) thee not. ^[11] And now thou sayest,H559(QalActPtc) Go,H3212(QalImpv) tellH559(QalImpv) thy lord,H113 Behold, ElijahH452 [is here]. ^[12] And it shall come to pass, [as soon as] I am goneH3212(QalImpf) from thee, that the SpiritH7307 of the LordH3068 shall carryH5375(QalImpf) thee whither I knowH3045(QalImpf) not; and [so] when I comeH935(QalPerf) and tellH5046(HiphInf) Ahab,H256 and he cannot findH4672(QalImpf) thee, he shall slayH2026(QalPerf) me: but I thy servantH5650 fearH3372(QalPerf) the LordH3068 from my youth.H5271 ^[13] Was it not toldH5046(HophPerf) my lordH113 what I didH6213(QalPerf) when JezebelH348 slewH2026(QalInf) the prophetsH5030 of the Lord,H3068 how I hidH2244(HiphImpf) an hundredH3967 menH376 of the Lord’sH3068 prophetsH5030 by fiftyH2572 in a cave,H4631 and fedH3557(PilpImpf) them with breadH3899 and water?H4325 ^[14] And now thou sayest,H559(QalActPtc) Go,H3212(QalImpv) tellH559(QalImpv) thy lord,H113 Behold, ElijahH452 [is here]: and he shall slayH2026(QalPerf) me. ^[15] And ElijahH452 said,H559(QalImpf) [As] the LordH3068 of hostsH6635 liveth,H2416 beforeH6440 whom I stand,H5975(QalPerf) I will surely shewH7200(NiphImpf) myself unto him to day.H3117 ^[16] So ObadiahH5662 wentH3212(QalImpf) to meetH7125(QalInf) Ahab,H256 and toldH5046(HiphImpf) him: and AhabH256 wentH3212(QalImpf) to meetH7125(QalInf) Elijah.H452 ^[17] And it came to pass, when AhabH256 sawH7200(QalInf) Elijah,H452 that AhabH256 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, [Art] thou he that troublethH5916(QalActPtc) Israel?H3478 ^[18] And he answered,H559(QalImpf) I have not troubledH5916(QalPerf) Israel;H3478 but thou, and thy father’sH1 house,H1004 in that ye have forsakenH5800(QalInf) the commandmentsH4687 of the Lord,H3068 and thou hast followedH3212(QalImpf) Baalim.H1168 ^[19] Now therefore send,H7971(QalImpv) [and] gatherH6908(QalImpv) to me all IsraelH3478 unto mountH2022 Carmel,H3760 and the prophetsH5030 of BaalH1168 fourH702 hundredH3967 and fifty,H2572 and the prophetsH5030 of the grovesH842 fourH702 hundred,H3967 which eatH398(QalActPtc) at Jezebel’sH348 table.H7979 ^[20] So AhabH256 sentH7971(QalImpf) unto all the childrenH1121 of Israel,H3478 and gatheredH6908 the prophetsH5030 togetherH6908(QalImpf) unto mountH2022 Carmel.H3760 ^[21] And ElijahH452 cameH5066(QalImpf) unto all the people,H5971 and said,H559(QalImpf) How longH5921 haltH6452(QalActPtc) ye between twoH8147 opinions?H5587 if the LordH3068 [be] God,H430 follow him: but if Baal,H1168 [then] followH3212(QalImpv) him. And the peopleH5971 answeredH6030(QalPerf) him not a word.H1697 ^[22] Then saidH559(QalImpf) ElijahH452 unto the people,H5971 I, [even] I only, remainH3498(NiphPerf) a prophetH5030 of the Lord;H3068 but Baal’sH1168 prophetsH5030 [are] fourH702 hundredH3967 and fiftyH2572 men.H376 ^[23] Let them therefore giveH5414(QalImpf) us twoH8147 bullocks;H6499 and let them chooseH977(QalImpf) oneH259 bullockH6499 for themselves, and cut it in pieces,H5408(PielImpf) and layH7760(QalImpf) [it] on wood,H6086 and putH7760(QalImpf) no fireH784 [under]: and I will dressH6213(QalImpf) the otherH259 bullock,H6499 and layH5414(QalPerf) [it] on wood,H6086 and putH7760(QalImpf) no fireH784 [under]: ^[24] And callH7121(QalPerf) ye on the nameH8034 of your gods,H430 and I will callH7121(QalImpf) on the nameH8034 of the Lord:H3068 and the GodH430 that answerethH6030(QalImpf) by fire,H784 let him be God.H430 And all the peopleH5971 answeredH6030(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) It is wellH2896 spoken.H1697 ^[25] And ElijahH452 saidH559(QalImpf) unto the prophetsH5030 of Baal,H1168 ChooseH977(QalImpv) you oneH259 bullockH6499 for yourselves, and dressH6213(QalImpv) [it] first;H7223 for ye [are] many;H7227 and callH7121(QalImpv) on the nameH8034 of your gods,H430 but putH7760(QalImpf) no fireH784 [under]. ^[26] And they tookH3947(QalImpf) the bullockH6499 which was givenH5414(QalPerf) them, and they dressedH6213(QalImpf) [it], and calledH7121(QalImpf) on the nameH8034 of BaalH1168 from morningH1242 even until noon,H6672 saying,H559(QalInf) O Baal,H1168 hearH6030(QalImpv) us. But [there was] noH369 voice,H6963 nor any that answered.H6030(QalActPtc) And they leapedH6452(PielImpf) upon the altarH4196 which was made.H6213(QalPerf) ^[27] And it came to pass at noon,H6672 that ElijahH452 mockedH2048(PielImpf) them, and said,H559(QalImpf) CryH7121(QalImpv) aloud:H1419 for he [is] a god;H430 either he is talking,H7879 or he is pursuing,H7873 or he is in a journey,H1870 [or] peradventureH194 he sleepeth,H3463 and must be awaked.H3364(QalImpf) ^[28] And they criedH7121(QalImpf) aloud,H6963 and cutH1413(HipoImpf) themselves after their mannerH4941 with knivesH2719 and lancets,H7420 till the bloodH1818 gushed outH8210(QalInf) upon them. ^[29] And it came to pass, when middayH6672 was past,H5674(QalInf) and they prophesiedH5012(HithImpf) until the [time] of the offeringH5927(QalInf) of the [evening] sacrifice,H4503 that [there was] neither voice,H6963 nor any to answer,H6030(QalActPtc) nor any that regarded.H7182 ^[30] And ElijahH452 saidH559(QalImpf) unto all the people,H5971 Come nearH5066(QalImpv) unto me. And all the peopleH5971 came nearH5066(QalImpf) unto him. And he repairedH7495(PielImpf) the altarH4196 of the LordH3068 [that was] broken down.H2040(QalPasPtc) ^[31] And ElijahH452 tookH3947(QalImpf) twelveH8147 stones,H68 according to the numberH4557 of the tribesH7626 of the sonsH1121 of Jacob,H3290 unto whom the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 came, saying,H559(QalInf) IsraelH3478 shall be thy name:H8034 ^[32] And with the stonesH68 he builtH1129(QalImpf) an altarH4196 in the nameH8034 of the Lord:H3068 and he madeH6213(QalImpf) a trenchH8585 aboutH5439 the altar,H4196 as great as would containH1004 two measuresH5429 of seed.H2233 ^[33] And he putH6186 the woodH6086 in order,H6186(QalImpf) and cutH5408(PielImpf) the bullockH6499 in pieces, and laidH7760(QalImpf) [him] on the wood,H6086 and said,H559(QalImpf) FillH4390(QalImpv) fourH702 barrelsH3537 with water,H4325 and pourH3332(QalImpv) [it] on the burnt sacrifice,H5930 and on the wood.H6086 ^[34] And he said,H559(QalImpf) Do [it] the second time.H8138(QalImpv) And they did [it] the second time.H8138(QalImpf) And he said,H559(QalImpf) Do [it] the third time.H8027(PielImpv) And they did [it] the third time.H8027(PielImpf) ^[35] And the waterH4325 ranH3212(QalImpf) round aboutH5439 the altar;H4196 and he filledH4390(PielPerf) the trenchH8585 also with water.H4325 ^[36] And it came to pass at [the time of] the offeringH5927(QalInf) of the [evening] sacrifice,H4503 that ElijahH452 the prophetH5030 came near,H5066(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) LordH3068 GodH430 of Abraham,H85 Isaac,H3327 and of Israel,H3478 let it be knownH3045(NiphImpf) this dayH3117 that thou [art] GodH430 in Israel,H3478 and [that] I [am] thy servant,H5650 and [that] I have doneH6213(QalPerf) all these things at thy word.H1697 ^[37] HearH6030(QalImpv) me, O Lord,H3068 hearH6030(QalImpv) me, that this peopleH5971 may knowH3045(QalImpf) that thou [art] the LordH3068 God,H430 and [that] thou hast turnedH5437 their heartH3820 backH5437(HiphPerf) again.H322 ^[38] Then the fireH784 of the LordH3068 fell,H5307(QalImpf) and consumedH398(QalImpf) the burnt sacrifice,H5930 and the wood,H6086 and the stones,H68 and the dust,H6083 and licked upH3897(PielPerf) the waterH4325 that [was] in the trench.H8585 ^[39] And when all the peopleH5971 sawH7200(QalImpf) [it], they fellH5307(QalImpf) on their faces:H6440 and they said,H559(QalImpf) The Lord,H3068 he [is] the God;H430 the Lord,H3068 he [is] the God.H430 ^[40] And ElijahH452 saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, TakeH8610(QalImpv) the prophetsH5030 of Baal;H1168 let not oneH376 of them escape.H4422(NiphImpf) And they tookH8610(QalImpf) them: and ElijahH452 brought them downH3381(HiphImpf) to the brookH5158 Kishon,H7028 and slewH7819(QalImpf) them there. ^[41] And ElijahH452 saidH559(QalImpf) unto Ahab,H256 Get thee up,H5927(QalImpv) eatH398(QalImpv) and drink;H8354(QalImpv) for [there is] a soundH6963 of abundanceH1995 of rain.H1653 ^[42] So AhabH256 went upH5927(QalImpf) to eatH398(QalInf) and to drink.H8354(QalInf) And ElijahH452 went upH5927(QalPerf) to the topH7218 of Carmel;H3760 and he cast himself downH1457(QalImpf) upon the earth,H776 and putH7760(QalImpf) his faceH6440 between his knees,H1290 ^[43] And saidH559(QalImpf) to his servant,H5288 Go upH5927(QalImpv) now, lookH5027(HiphImpv) towardH1870 the sea.H3220 And he went up,H5927(QalImpf) and looked,H5027(HiphImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) [There is] nothing.H3972 And he said,H559(QalImpf) Go againH7725(QalImpv) sevenH7651 times.H6471 ^[44] And it came to pass at the seventh time,H7637 that he said,H559(QalImpf) Behold, there arisethH5927(QalActPtc) a littleH6996 cloudH5645 out of the sea,H3220 like a man’sH376 hand.H3709 And he said,H559(QalImpf) Go up,H5927(QalImpv) sayH559(QalImpv) unto Ahab,H256 PrepareH631(QalImpv) [thy chariot], and get thee down,H3381(QalImpv) that the rainH1653 stopH6113(QalImpf) thee not. ^[45] And it came to pass in the mean while,H3541 that the heavenH8064 was blackH6937(HithPerf) with cloudsH5645 and wind,H7307 and there was a greatH1419 rain.H1653 And AhabH256 rode,H7392(QalImpf) and wentH3212(QalImpf) to Jezreel.H3157 ^[46] And the handH3027 of the LordH3068 was on Elijah;H452 and he girded upH8151(PielImpf) his loins,H4975 and ranH7323(QalImpf) beforeH6440 AhabH256 to the entranceH935(QalInf) of Jezreel.H3157

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