Y sucedió que después de muchos días, la palabra del SEÑOR vino a Elías en el tercer año^a, diciendo: Ve, muéstrate a Acab, y enviaré lluvia sobre la faz de la tierra^b. 2 Y Elías fue a mostrarse a Acab. Y el hambre era intensa en Samaria. 3 Y Acab llamó a Abdías que era mayordomo de¹ la casa^a. (Y Abdías temía² en gran manera al SEÑOR^b; 4 pues sucedió que cuando Jezabel destruyó¹ a los profetas del SEÑOR^a, Abdías tomó a cien profetas y los escondió de cincuenta en cincuenta en una cueva, y los sustentó^b con pan y agua.) 5 Entonces Acab dijo a Abdías: Ve por la tierra a todas las fuentes de agua y a todos los valles¹; quizá hallaremos hierba y conservaremos con vida los caballos y los mulos, y no tendremos que matar² parte del ganado. 6 Y dividieron la tierra entre ellos para recorrerla; Acab se fue solo por un camino, y Abdías se fue solo por otro.

7 Y estando Abdías en el camino, he aquí, Elías le salió al encuentro¹, y Abdías lo reconoció^a y cayó sobre su rostro, y dijo: ¿Eres tú Elías, mi señor? 8 Y él le respondió: Yo soy. Ve, di a tu señor: «Aquí está Elías». 9 Y él dijo: ¿Qué pecado he cometido¹, que entregas a tu siervo en manos de Acab para que me mate? 10 Vive el SEÑOR tu Dios^a, que no hay nación ni reino adonde mi señor no haya enviado a buscarte; y cuando decían: «No está aquí», hacía jurar al reino o a la nación que no te habían hallado. 11 Y ahora dices: «Ve, di a tu señor: “Aquí está Elías”». 12 Y sucederá que cuando te deje, el Espíritu del SEÑOR^a te llevará adonde yo no sepa; así que cuando yo vaya y se lo diga a Acab y él no pueda encontrarte, me matará, aunque yo tu siervo he temido¹ al SEÑOR desde mi juventud. 13 ¿No le han contado a mi señor lo que hice cuando Jezabel mató a los profetas del SEÑOR, que escondí a cien¹ de los profetas del SEÑOR de cincuenta en cincuenta en una cueva, y los sustenté con pan y agua^a? 14 Y ahora dices: «Ve, di a tu señor: “Aquí está Elías”»; entonces me matará. 15 Y Elías dijo: Vive el SEÑOR de los ejércitos^a, delante de quien estoy, que hoy ciertamente me mostraré a él.

16 Abdías fue al encuentro de Acab, y le dio aviso; y Acab fue al encuentro de Elías. 17 Y sucedió que cuando Acab vio a Elías, Acab le dijo^a: ¿Eres tú, perturbador de Israel? 18 Y él respondió: Yo no he perturbado a Israel, sino tú y la casa de tu padre, porque habéis abandonado los mandamientos del SEÑOR^a y habéis seguido a los baales^b. 19 Ahora pues, envía a reunir conmigo a todo Israel en el monte Carmelo^a, junto con cuatrocientos cincuenta profetas de Baal^b y cuatrocientos profetas de la Asera^c que comen a la mesa de Jezabel.

20 Acab envió mensaje a todos los hijos de Israel y reunió a los profetas en el monte Carmelo. 21 Elías se acercó a todo el pueblo y dijo: ¿Hasta cuándo vacilaréis entre¹ dos opiniones^a? Si el SEÑOR es Dios, seguidle^b; y si Baal, seguidle a él. Pero el pueblo no le respondió ni una palabra. 22 Entonces Elías dijo al pueblo: Solo yo he quedado como profeta del SEÑOR^a, pero los profetas de Baal son cuatrocientos cincuenta hombres^b. 23 Que nos den, pues, dos novillos; que escojan un novillo para ellos y lo despedacen, y lo coloquen sobre la leña, pero que no le pongan fuego debajo; y yo prepararé el otro novillo y lo colocaré sobre la leña, y no le pondré fuego. 24 Entonces invocad el nombre de vuestro dios, y yo invocaré el nombre del SEÑOR; y el Dios que responda por fuego,ese es Dios^a. Y todo el pueblo respondió y dijo: La idea es buena.

25 Y Elías dijo a los profetas de Baal: Escoged un novillo para vosotros y preparadlo primero, pues sois los más, e invocad el nombre de vuestro dios, pero no le pongáis fuego. 26 Entonces tomaron el novillo que les dieron¹ y lo prepararon, e invocaron el nombre de Baal desde la mañana hasta el mediodía, diciendo: Oh Baal, respóndenos. Pero no hubo voz^a ni nadie respondió. Y danzaban² alrededor del altar que habían hecho³. 27 Y sucedió que ya al mediodía, Elías se burlaba de ellos y decía: Clamad en voz alta, pues es un dios; tal vez estará meditando o se habrá desviado, o estará de viaje, quizá esté dormido y habrá que despertarlo. 28 Y gritaban a grandes voces y se sajaban, según su costumbre^a, con espadas y lanzas hasta que la sangre chorreaba sobre ellos. 29 Y sucedió que pasado el mediodía, se pusieron a gritar frenéticamente¹ hasta la hora de ofrecerse el sacrificio de la tarde^a; pero no hubo voz, ni nadie respondió ni nadie hizo caso².

30 Entonces Elías dijo a todo el pueblo: Acercaos a mí. Y todo el pueblo se acercó a él. Y reparó el altar del SEÑOR que había sido derribado^a. 31 Elías tomó doce piedras conforme al número de las tribus de los hijos de Jacob, a quien había venido la palabra del SEÑOR, diciendo: Israel será tu nombre^a. 32 Y con las piedras edificó un altar en el nombre del SEÑOR^a, e hizo una zanja alrededor del altar, suficientemente grande para contener dos medidas¹ de semilla. 33 Dispuso después la leña, cortó el novillo en pedazos y lo colocó sobre la leña^a. 34 Y dijo: Llenad cuatro cántaros de agua y derramadla sobre el holocausto y sobre la leña. Después dijo: Hacedlo por segunda vez; y lo hicieron por segunda vez. Y añadió: Hacedlo por tercera vez; y lo hicieron por tercera vez. 35 El agua corría alrededor del altar, y también llenó la zanja de agua. 36 Y sucedió que a la hora de ofrecerse el sacrificio de la tarde^a, el profeta Elías se acercó y dijo: Oh SEÑOR, Dios de Abraham, de Isaac y de Israel^b, que se sepa hoy que tú eres Dios en Israel^c, que yo soy tu siervo y que he hecho todas estas cosas por palabra tuya^d. 37 Respóndeme, oh SEÑOR, respóndeme, para que este pueblo sepa que tú, oh SEÑOR, eres Dios, y que has hecho volver sus corazones. 38 Entonces cayó el fuego del SEÑOR, y consumió el holocausto^a, la leña, las piedras y el polvo, y lamió el agua de la zanja. 39 Cuando todo el pueblo lo vio, se postraron sobre su rostro y dijeron: El SEÑOR, Él es Dios^a; el SEÑOR, Él es Dios. 40 Entonces Elías les dijo: Prended a los profetas de Baal, que no se escape ninguno de ellos. Los prendieron, y Elías los hizo bajar al torrente Cisón^a y allí los degolló^b.

41 Y Elías dijo a Acab: Sube, come y bebe; porque se oye el estruendo de mucha lluvia. 42 Acab subió a comer y a beber, pero Elías subió a la cumbre del Carmelo^a; y allí se agachó en tierra^b y puso su rostro entre las rodillas. 43 Y dijo a su criado: Sube ahora, y mira hacia el¹ mar. Y él subió, miró y dijo: No hay nada. Y Elías dijo siete veces: Vuelve a mirar. 44 Y sucedió que a la séptima vez, él dijo: He aquí, una nube^a tan pequeña como la mano¹ de un hombre sube del mar. Y dijo: Sube, y di a Acab: «Prepara² tu carro y desciende, para que la fuerte lluvia no te detenga». 45 Y sucedió que al poco tiempo, el cielo se oscureció con nubes y viento, y hubo gran lluvia. Y Acab montó en su carro y fue a Jezreel^a. 46 Y la mano del SEÑOR estaba sobre Elías^a, el cual ciñó sus lomos^b y corrió delante de Acab hasta¹ Jezreel.

Now it happened ^aafter many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and ^bI will provide rain on the face of the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, ^awho was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah ^1bfeared the LORD greatly; 4 for ^awhen Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and ^bprovided them with bread and water.) 5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the river valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” 6 So they divided the land between them to ¹survey it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, ^aand he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, Elijah my master?” 8 And he said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 9 But he said, “What ¹sin have I committed, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab, to put me to death? 10 ^aAs surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my master has not sent word to search for you; and whenever they say, ‘He is not here,’ he makes the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. 11 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here!”’ 12 And it will come about when I leave you ^athat the Spirit of the LORD will carry you to where I do not know; so when I come and inform Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, though I, your servant, have ¹feared the LORD from my youth. 13 ^aHas it not been reported to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred ¹prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 14 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me!” 15 Then Elijah said, “^aAs surely as the LORD of armies lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly present myself to him today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and informed him; then Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, ^aAhab said to him, “Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?” 18 He said, “I have not brought disaster to Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because ^ayou have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and ^byou have followed the Baals. 19 Now then, send orders and gather to me all Israel at ^aMount Carmel, ^btogether with 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of ^1cthe Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent orders among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “^aHow long are you going to ¹struggle with the two choices? ^bIf the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I ^aalone am left as a prophet of the LORD, while Baal’s prophets are ^b450 men. 23 Now have them give us two oxen; and have them choose the 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. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and ^athe God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people replied, “¹That is a good idea.”

25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose the one ox for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the ox.” 26 Then they took the ox which ¹was given them and they prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was ^ano voice and no one answered. And they ²limped about the altar which ³they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah ridiculed them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, since he is a god; undoubtedly he is attending to business, or is on the way, or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep, and will awaken.” 28 So they cried out with a loud voice, and ^acut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until blood gushed out on them. 29 When midday was past, they raved ^auntil the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and ¹no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come forward to me.” So all the people came forward to him. And ^ahe repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. 31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “^aIsrael shall be your name.” 32 And with the stones he built an altar in ^athe name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two ¹measures of seed. 33 ^aThen he laid out the wood, and he cut the ox in pieces and placed it on the wood. 34 And he said, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” so they did it a second time. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” so they did it a third time. 35 The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.

36 Then ^aat the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached and said, “^bLORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that ^cYou are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that ^dI have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that You, LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.” 38 Then the ^afire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, “^aThe LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God!” 40 Then 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 ^athe brook Kishon, ^band slaughtered them there.

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of ^aCarmel; and he ^bbent down to the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, but he said, “There is nothing.” Yet Elijah said, “Go back” seven times. 44 And when he returned the seventh time, he said, “Behold, ^aa cloud as small as a person’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot horses and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” 45 Meanwhile the sky became dark with clouds and wind came up, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to ^aJezreel. 46 Then ^athe hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and ^bhe ¹belted his cloak around his waist and ²outran Ahab ³to Jezreel.

^aNow 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 ^bI will send rain on the face of the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab called Obadiah ^awho was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah ^bfeared the LORD greatly; 4 for ^awhen Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and ^bprovided them with bread and water.) 5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the sources of water and to all the streams; perhaps we may find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” 6 So they divided the land between them to ¹survey 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. ^aHe recognized him and fell face downward out of respect and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” 8 He answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’” 9 But he said, “What sin have I committed, that you would hand over your servant to Ahab to put me to death? 10 ^aAs the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent messengers to seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ Ahab made the kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you. 11 And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ 12 And as soon as I leave you, ^athe Spirit of the LORD will carry you ¹to a place I do not know; so when I come to tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. Yet your servant has reverently feared the LORD from my youth. 13 ^aHas it not been told to my lord Elijah what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred of the LORD’S prophets by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 14 And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.” 15 Elijah said, “^aAs the LORD of hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly show myself to Ahab today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, ^aAhab said to him, “Are you the one who is bringing disaster on Israel?” 18 Elijah said, “I have not brought disaster on Israel, but you and your father’s household have, by ^aabandoning (rejecting) the commandments of the LORD and by ^bfollowing the Baals. 19 Now then, send word and gather to me all Israel at ^aMount Carmel, together with ^bthe 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the goddess ^cAsherah, who eat at Queen Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent word to all the Israelites and assembled the pagan prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “^aHow long will you ¹hesitate between two opinions? ^bIf the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people of Israel did not answer him so much as a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “^aI alone remain a prophet of the LORD, while Baal’s prophets are ^b450 men. 23 Now let them give us two oxen, and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and ^athe god who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26 So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear and answer us.” But there was ^ano voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out at the moment, or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!” 28 So they cried out with a loud voice to get Baal’s attention and ^acut themselves with swords and lances in accordance with their custom, until the blood flowed out on them. 29 As midday passed, they played the part of prophets and raved dramatically ^auntil the time for offering the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him. And ^ahe repaired and rebuilt the old altar of the LORD that had been torn down by Jezebel. 1+@Kin 18:13; 19:10 31 Then Elijah took twelve stones in accordance with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “^aIsrael shall be your name.” Gen 32:28 32 So with the stones Elijah built an altar in ^athe name of the LORD. He made a trench around the altar large enough to hold ¹two measures of seed. 33 ^aThen he laid out the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. 34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and the wood.” 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 a third time. 35 The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.

36 ^aAt the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “^bO LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob) , let it be known today that ^cYou are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that ^dI have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You.” 38 Then the ^afire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and even the stones and the dust; it also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell face downward; and they said, “^aThe LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” 40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to ^athe brook Kishon, ^band as God’s law required killed them there. Deut 13:5, 12-15; 18:20

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the roar of an abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of ^aCarmel; and he ^bcrouched down to the earth and put his face between his knees, 43 and he said to his servant, “Go up, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Elijah said, “Go back” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time the servant said, “^aA cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain shower does not stop you.’” 45 In a little while the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there were heavy showers. And Ahab mounted and rode his chariot and went inland to ^1aJezreel. 46 ^aThen the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah giving him supernatural strength. ^bHe ¹girded up his loins and outran Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel nearly twenty miles.

Now it happened ^aafter many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and ^bI will send rain on the face of the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab called Obadiah ^awho was over the household. (Now Obadiah ^1bfeared the LORD greatly; 4 for ^awhen Jezebel ¹destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and ^bprovided them with bread and water.) 5 Then 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 ¹have to kill some of the cattle.” 6 So they divided the land between them to ¹survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah ¹met him, ^aand he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is this you, Elijah my master?” 8 He said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 9 He said, “What ¹sin have I committed, that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death? 10 ^aAs 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. 11 And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ 12 It will come about when I leave you ^athat 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 ¹feared the LORD from my youth. 13 ^aHas it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid ¹a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 14 And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me.” 15 Elijah said, “^aAs the LORD of hosts 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, ^aAhab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 He said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because ^ayou have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and ^byou have followed the Baals. 19 Now then send and gather to me all Israel at ^aMount Carmel, ^btogether with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of ^cthe Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “^aHow long will you ¹hesitate between two opinions? ^bIf the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I ^aalone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are ^b450 men. 23 Now 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. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and ^athe God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “¹That is a good idea.”

25 So 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.” 26 Then they took the ox which ¹was 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 ^ano voice and no one answered. And they ²leaped about the altar which ³they made. 27 It 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.” 28 So they cried with a loud voice and ^acut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. 29 When midday was past, they ¹raved ^auntil the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no ²one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And ^ahe repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. 31 Elijah 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, “^aIsrael shall be your name.” 32 So with the stones he built an altar in ^athe name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two ¹measures of seed. 33 ^aThen he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. 34 And 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. 35 The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

36 ^aAt the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “^bO LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that ^cYou are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and ^dI have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer 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.” 38 Then the ^afire 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. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “^aThe LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.” 40 Then 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 ^athe brook Kishon, ^band slew them there.

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of ^aCarmel; and he ^bcrouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 He 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. 44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, ^aa cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘¹Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” 45 In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to ^aJezreel. 46 Then ^athe hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and ^bhe girded up his loins and ¹outran Ahab ²to Jezreel.