1 N ow it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.”

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

2 S o Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.

So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.

3 A hab called Obadiah who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly;

And Ahab called Obadiah, who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly;

4 f or when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)

For when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)

5 T hen Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.”

And Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land to all the fountains of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, that we lose none of the beasts.

6 S o they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.

So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went one way and Obadiah went another way, each by himself.

7 N ow as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is this you, Elijah my master?”

As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him and fell on his face and said, Are you my lord Elijah?

8 H e said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’”

He answered him, It is I. Go tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9 H e said, “What sin have I committed, that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?

And he said, What sin have I committed, that you would deliver your servant into the hands of Ahab to be slain?

10 A s the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they said, He is not here, he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they had not found you.

11 A nd now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’

And now you say, Go tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12 I t will come about when I leave you that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you where I do not know; so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth.

And as soon as I have gone out from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where; so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared and revered the Lord from my youth.

13 H as it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid a hundred prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?

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

14 A nd now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here ”’; he will then kill me.”

And now you say, Go tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here; and he will kill me.

15 E lijah said, “ As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”

Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts lives, before Whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today.

16 S o Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

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

17 W hen Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?”

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Are you he who troubles Israel?

18 H e said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.

Elijah replied, I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, by forsaking the commandments of the Lord and by following the Baals.

19 N ow then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” God or Baal on Mount Carmel

Therefore send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.

20 S o Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

So Ahab sent to all the Israelites and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.

21 E lijah came near to all the people and said, “ How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.

22 T hen Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

Then Elijah said to the people, I, I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

23 N ow let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.

Let two bulls be given us; let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire to it. I will dress the other bull, lay it on the wood, and put no fire to it.

24 T hen you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “ That is a good idea.”

Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the One Who answers by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken.

25 S o Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”

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 T hen they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.

So they took the bull given them, dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, hear and answer us! But there was no voice; no one answered. And they leaped upon or limped about the altar they had made.

27 I t came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”

At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.

28 S o they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.

And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with knives and lances until the blood gushed out upon them.

29 W hen midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

Midday passed, and they played the part of prophets until the time for offering the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice, no answer, no one who paid attention.

30 T hen Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.

Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been broken down.

31 E lijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “ Israel shall be your name.”

Then Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be your name.

32 S o with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed.

And with the stones Elijah built an altar in the name of the Lord. He made a trench about the altar as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33 T hen he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.

He put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood and said, Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and the wood.

34 A nd he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.

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 T he water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water. Elijah’s Prayer

The water ran round about the altar, and he filled the trench also with water.

36 A t the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “ O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.

At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word.

37 A nswer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You, the Lord, are God, and have turned their hearts back.

38 T hen 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 trench.

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

39 W hen all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “ The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”

When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!

40 T hen Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

And Elijah said, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one escape. They seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

41 N ow Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.”

And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of abundance of rain.

42 S o Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

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

43 H e said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times.

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

44 I t came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘ Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”

And at the seventh time the servant said, A cloud as small as a man’s hand is arising out of the sea. And Elijah said, Go up, say to Ahab, Hitch your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.

45 I n a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.

In a little while, the heavens were black with wind-swept clouds, and there was a great rain. And Ahab went to Jezreel.

46 T hen the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.

The hand of the Lord was on Elijah. He girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.