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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Kings 18 NET Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_kings/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_kings/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NET Bible</a> > 1 Kings 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_kings/17.htm" title="1 Kings 17">◄</a> 1 Kings 18 <a href="../1_kings/19.htm" title="1 Kings 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">NET Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/net/esv/1_kings/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="title">Elijah Meets the King’s Servant</p><p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> told Elijah, “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.</p><p class="bodytext">Now the famine was severe in Samaria. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>When Jezebel was killing the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill some of the animals.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>They divided up the land between them; Ahab went one way and Obadiah went the other.</p> <p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>He replied, “Yes, go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution? <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>As certainly as the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them swear an oath that they could not find you. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’ <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But when I leave you, the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. That would not be fair, because your servant has been a loyal follower of the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> from my youth. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Certainly my master is aware of what I did when Jezebel was killing the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’ but he will kill me.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>But Elijah said, “As certainly as the <span class="smallcaps">Lord who rules over all</span> lives (whom I serve), I will make an appearance before him today.”</p> <p class="title">Elijah Confronts Baal’s Prophets</p><p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster on Israel?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Elijah replied, “I have not brought disaster on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>’s commandments and following the Baals. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Now send out messengers and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports.</p> <p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Elijah said to them: “I am the only prophet of the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then you will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.”</p> <p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.</p> <p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> that had been torn down. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> had said, “Israel will be your new name.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>With the stones he constructed an altar for the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>. Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs of seed. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>When it was time for the evening offering, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and prayed: “O <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Answer me, O <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>, answer me, so these people will know that you, O <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span>, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Then fire from the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> fell from the sky. It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> is the true God! The <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> is the true God!” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed them there.</p> <p class="bodytext"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>He told his servant, “Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Seven times Elijah sent him to look. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>The seventh time the servant said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward Jezreel. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_kings/18-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>Now the <span class="smallcaps">Lord</span> energized Elijah with power; he tucked his robe into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.</p></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><a href="http://netbible.com/">NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com.<br />Used by permission. 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