¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ^(A)“Is it you, you ^(B)troubler of Israel?” ¹⁸ And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have ^(C)abandoned the commandments of the Lord and ^(D)followed the Baals. ¹⁹ Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount ^(E)Carmel, and the ^(F)450 prophets of Baal and ^(G)the 400 prophets of Asherah, ^(H)who eat at Jezebel's table.”

The Prophets of Baal Defeated

²⁰ So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. ²¹ And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long ^(I)will you go limping between two different opinions? ^(J)If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. ²² Then Elijah said to the people, ^(K)“I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are ^(L)450 men. ²³ Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. ²⁴ And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who ^(M)answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”

³⁶ And at the time of ^(A)the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, ^(B)God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that ^(C)you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that ^(D)I 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 hearts back.”