1 Reyes 18
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Encuentro de Elías y Acab
18 Después de muchos días, la palabra del Señor vino a Elías en el tercer año(A), diciéndole: «Ve, muéstrate a Acab, y enviaré lluvia sobre la superficie 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 de la casa(C). (Y Abdías temía[a] en gran manera al Señor(D); 4 pues cuando Jezabel destruyó[b] a los profetas del Señor(E), Abdías tomó a cien profetas y los escondió de cincuenta en cincuenta en una cueva, y los sustentó(F) con pan y agua). 5 Entonces Acab dijo a Abdías: «Ve por la tierra a todas las fuentes de agua y a todos los valles; quizá hallaremos hierba y conservaremos con vida los caballos y los mulos, y no tendremos que matar 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 Abdías estaba en el camino cuando Elías le salió al encuentro, y Abdías lo reconoció(G) y cayó sobre su rostro, y le dijo: «¿Es usted Elías, mi señor?». 8 Él le respondió: «Yo soy. Ve, dile a tu señor: “Aquí está Elías”». 9 Y él dijo: «¿Qué pecado he cometido, que entrega a su siervo en manos de Acab para que me mate? 10 Vive el Señor su Dios(H), que no hay nación ni reino adonde mi señor no haya enviado a buscarlo; y cuando decían: “No está aquí”, hacía jurar al reino o a la nación que no lo habían hallado. 11 Y ahora dices: “Ve, dile a tu señor: ‘Aquí está Elías’”. 12 Y sucederá que cuando lo deje, el Espíritu del Señor(I) lo llevará adonde yo no sepa; así que cuando yo vaya y se lo diga a Acab y él no pueda encontrarlo, me matará, aunque yo su siervo he temido[c] 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 cien de los profetas del Señor de cincuenta en cincuenta en una cueva, y los sustenté con pan y agua(J)? 14 Y ahora usted me dice: “Ve, dile a tu señor: ‘Aquí está Elías’”; entonces me matará». 15 Elías le dijo: «Vive el Señor de los ejércitos(K), 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 Cuando Acab vio a Elías, Acab le dijo(L): «¿Eres tú, perturbador de Israel?». 18 Y él respondió: «Yo no he perturbado a Israel, sino tú y la casa de tu padre, porque ustedes han abandonado los mandamientos del Señor(M) y han seguido a los Baales(N). 19 Ahora pues, envía a reunir conmigo a todo Israel en el monte Carmelo(O), junto con 450 profetas de Baal(P) y 400 profetas de la Asera(Q) que comen a la mesa de Jezabel».
Elías y los profetas de Baal
20 Acab envió mensaje a todos los israelitas y reunió a los profetas en el monte Carmelo. 21 Elías se acercó a todo el pueblo y dijo: «¿Hasta cuándo vacilarán entre[d] dos opiniones(R)? Si el Señor es Dios, síganlo(S); y si Baal, síganlo 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(T), pero los profetas de Baal son 450 hombres(U). 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 invoquen el nombre de su dios, y yo invocaré el nombre del Señor; y el Dios que responda por fuego, ese es Dios(V)». Y todo el pueblo respondió: «La idea es buena».
25 Y Elías dijo a los profetas de Baal: «Escojan un novillo para ustedes y prepárenlo primero, pues son los más, e invoquen el nombre de su dios, pero no le pongan fuego». 26 Entonces tomaron el novillo que les dieron y lo prepararon, e invocaron el nombre de Baal desde la mañana hasta el mediodía, diciendo: «Oh Baal, respóndenos». Pero no hubo voz(W) ni nadie respondió. Y danzaban[e] alrededor del altar que habían hecho[f]. 27 Como al mediodía, Elías se burlaba de ellos y decía: «Clamen 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(X), con espadas y lanzas hasta que la sangre chorreaba sobre ellos. 29 Pasado el mediodía, se pusieron a gritar frenéticamente[g] hasta la hora de ofrecerse el sacrificio de la tarde(Y); pero no hubo voz, ni nadie respondió ni nadie hizo caso.
30 Entonces Elías dijo a todo el pueblo: «Acérquense a mí». Y todo el pueblo se acercó a Elías. Entonces él reparó el altar del Señor que había sido derribado(Z). 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(AA)». 32 Con las piedras edificó un altar en el nombre del Señor(AB), e hizo una zanja alrededor del altar, suficientemente grande para contener dos medidas (14.6 litros) de semilla. 33 Dispuso después la leña, cortó el novillo en pedazos y lo colocó sobre la leña(AC). 34 Y dijo: «Llenen cuatro cántaros de agua y derrámenla sobre el holocausto y sobre la leña». Después dijo: «Háganlo por segunda vez; y lo hicieron por segunda vez». Y añadió: «Háganlo 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 a la hora de ofrecerse el sacrificio de la tarde(AD), el profeta Elías se acercó y dijo: «Oh Señor, Dios de Abraham, de Isaac y de Israel(AE), que se sepa hoy que Tú eres Dios en Israel(AF), que yo soy Tu siervo y que he hecho todas estas cosas por palabra Tuya(AG). 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(AH), la leña, las piedras y el polvo, y secó el agua de la zanja. 39 Cuando todo el pueblo lo vio, se postraron sobre su rostro y dijeron: «El Señor, Él es Dios(AI); el Señor, Él es Dios». 40 Entonces Elías les dijo: «Prendan a los profetas de Baal, que no se escape ninguno de ellos». Los prendieron, y Elías los hizo bajar al torrente Cisón(AJ) y allí los degolló(AK).
Fin de la sequía
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(AL); y allí se agachó en tierra(AM) y puso su rostro entre las rodillas. 43 Y dijo a su criado: «Sube ahora, y mira hacia el 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: «Veo una nube(AN) tan pequeña como la mano de un hombre, que sube del mar». Y Elías le dijo: «Sube, y dile a Acab: “Prepara[h] tu carro y desciende, para que la fuerte lluvia no te detenga”». 45 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(AO). 46 Y la mano del Señor estaba sobre Elías(AP), quien ajustándose el cinturón(AQ) corrió delante de Acab hasta Jezreel.
1 Kings 18
King James Version
18 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:
4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10 As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
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 went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went 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, and thou hast followed 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, and gathered 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, then follow 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 upon them.
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 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 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 And the water ran 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, and that thou hast turned 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.
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Kings 18
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Elijah’s Message to Ahab
18 After a long time, the word of the Lord(A) came to Elijah in the third year:(B) ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab.(C) I will send rain on the surface of the land.’ 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
The famine was severe in Samaria.(D) 3 Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.(E) Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the Lord(F) 4 and took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebel(G) slaughtered the Lord’s prophets.(H) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, ‘Go throughout the land to every spring and to every wadi. Perhaps we’ll find grass so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to destroy any cattle.’(I) 6 They divided the land between them in order to cover it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.
7 While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him.(J) When Obadiah recognised him, he fell face down and said, ‘Is it you, my lord Elijah? ’
8 ‘It is I,’ he replied. ‘Go and tell your lord, “Elijah is here! ” ’[a]
9 But Obadiah said, ‘What sin have I committed,(K) that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, “He is not here,” he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.
11 ‘Now you say, “Go and tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here! ’ ” 12 But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you off(L) to some place I don’t know. Then when I go and report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Wasn’t it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the Lord’s prophets? I hid a hundred of the prophets of the Lord, fifty men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water. 14 Now you say, “Go and tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here! ’ ” He will kill me! ’
15 Then Elijah said, ‘As the Lord of Armies lives,(M) in whose presence I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.’
16 Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, the one ruining Israel? ’(N)
18 He replied, ‘I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commands(O) and followed the Baals.(P) 19 Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel,(Q) along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah(R) who eat at Jezebel’s table.’
Elijah at Mount Carmel
20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions?[b](S) If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.’(T) But the people didn’t answer him a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord,(U) but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord.(V) The God who answers with fire, he is God.’
All the people answered, ‘That’s fine.’
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.’
26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, ‘Baal, answer us! ’ But there was no sound;(W) no one answered. Then they danced[c] around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, ‘Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away;[d] or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up! ’(X) 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves(Y) with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. 29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice,(Z) but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.(AA)
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near me.’ So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down:(AB) 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, ‘Israel will be your name’(AC) – 32 and he built an altar(AD) with the stones in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench round the altar large enough to hold about seven litres.[e][f] 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, ‘Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.’ 34 Then he said, ‘A second time! ’ and they did it a second time. And then he said, ‘A third time! ’ and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all round the altar; he even filled the trench with water.
36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice,(AE) the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,(AF) today let it be known(AG) that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God(AH) and that you have turned their hearts back.’
38 Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell face down(AI) and said, ‘The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God! ’(AJ)
40 Then Elijah ordered them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal!(AK) Do not let even one of them escape.’ So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon(AL) and slaughtered them there.(AM) 41 Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.’(AN)
42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.(AO) He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees.(AP) 43 Then he said to his servant, ‘Go up and look towards the sea.’
So he went up, looked, and said, ‘There’s nothing.’
Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’
44 On the seventh(AQ) time, he reported, ‘There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.’
Then Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, “Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.” ’
45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.(AR) 46 The power of the Lord(AS) was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt(AT) and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 18:8 The Hb words translated ‘Elijah is here’also mean ‘Look, my God is the Lord’
- 18:21 Lit you hobble on two crutches?
- 18:26 Or hobbled
- 18:27 Or has turned aside; possibly to relieve himself
- 18:32 LXX reads trench containing two measures of seed
- 18:32 Lit altar corresponding to a house of two seahs of seed
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