1 Kings 18:15-40

1 Kings 18:15-40

[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  to meet  Ahab,  and told  him: and Ahab  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,  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,  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,  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  [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] the wood  in order,  and cut  the bullock  in pieces, and laid  him on the wood,  [34] And he said,  Do it the second time.  And he said,  Do it the third time.  [35] And the water  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,  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.