1 Kings 18



1.  And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying * , Go * , shew * thyself unto Ahab; and I will send * rain upon the earth.

2.  And Elijah went * to shew * himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

3.  And Ahab called * Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

4.  For it was so, when Jezebel cut off * the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took * an hundred prophets, and hid * them by fifty in a cave,and fed * them with bread and water.)

5.  And Ahab said * unto Obadiah, Go * into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find * grass to save * the horses and mules alive * , that we lose * not all the beasts.

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.  And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met * him: and he knew * him, and fell * on his face, and said * , Art thou that my lord Elijah?

8.  And he answered * him, I am: go * , tell * thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9.  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 there; he took an oath * of the kingdom and nation, that they found * thee not.

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

12.  And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone * from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry * thee whither I know * not; and so when I come * and tell * Ahab, and he cannot find * thee, he shall slay * me: but I thy servant 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 fifty in a cave, and fed * them with bread and water?

14.  And now thou sayest * , Go * , tell * thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay * me.

15.  And Elijah said * , As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand * , I will surely shew * myself unto him to day.

16.  So Obadiah went * to meet * Ahab, and told * him: and Ahab went * to meet * Elijah.

17.  And it came to pass, when Ahab saw * Elijah, that Ahab said * unto him, Art thou he that troubleth * Israel?

18.  And he answered * , I have not troubled * Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken * the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed * Baalim.

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 halt * ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow * him. And the people answered * him not a word.

22.  Then said * Elijah unto the people, I, even 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 * one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces * , and lay * it on wood, and put * no fire under: and I will dress * the other bullock, and lay * it on wood, and put * no fire under:

24.  And call * ye on the name of your gods, and I will call * on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth * 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 one bullock for yourselves, and dress * it first; for ye are many; and call * on the name of your gods, but put * no fire under.

26.  And they took * the bullock which was given * them, and they dressed * it, and called * on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying * , O Baal, hear * us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered * . And they leaped * upon the altar which was made * .

27.  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked * them, and said * , Cry * aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth,and must be awaked * .

28.  And they cried * aloud, and cut * themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out * upon them.

29.  And it came to pass, when midday was past * , and they prophesied * until the time of the offering * of the evening sacrifice,that there was neither voice, nor any to answer * , nor any that regarded.

30.  And Elijah said * unto all the people, Come near * unto me. And all the people came near * unto 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 * , Israel shall be thy name:

32.  And with the stones he built * an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made * a trench about the altar,as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33.  And he put * the wood in order * , and cut * the bullock in pieces, and laid * him on the wood, and said * , Fill * four barrels with water, and pour * it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34.  And he said * , Do it the second time * . And they did it 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 filled * the trench also with water.

36.  And it came to pass at the time of the offering * of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near * , and said * , LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known * this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done * all these things at thy word.

37.  Hear * me, O LORD, hear * me, that this people may know * that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned * their heart back * again.

38.  Then the fire of the LORD fell * , and consumed * the burnt sacrifice,and the wood, and the stones, and the dust,and licked up * the water that was in the trench.

39.  And when all the people saw * it, they fell * on their faces: and they said * , The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

40.  And Elijah said * unto them, Take * the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape * . And they took * them: and Elijah brought them down * 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 abundance of rain.

42.  So Ahab went up * to eat * and to drink * . And Elijah went up * to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down * upon the earth, and put * his face between his knees,

43.  And said * to his servant, Go up * now, look * toward the sea.And he went up * , and looked * , and said * , There is nothing. And he said * , Go again * seven times.

44.  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said * , Behold, there ariseth * a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said * , Go up * , say * unto Ahab, Prepare * thy chariot, and get thee down * , that the rain stop * thee not.

45.  And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black * with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode * , and went * to Jezreel.

46.  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up * his loins, and ran * before Ahab to the entrance * of Jezreel.