1 Kings 18:41-46
New English Translation
41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.”[a] 42 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. 43 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.”[b] Seven times Elijah sent him to look.[c] 44 The seventh time the servant[d] said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah[e] then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’”[f] 45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward[g] Jezreel. 46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power;[h] he tucked his robe into his belt[i] and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
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- 1 Kings 18:41 tn Heb “for [there is] the sound of the roar of the rain.”
- 1 Kings 18:43 sn So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Several times in this chapter those addressed by Elijah obey his orders. In vv. 20 and 42 Ahab does as instructed, in vv. 26 and 28 the prophets follow Elijah’s advice, and in vv. 30, 34, 40 and 43 the people and servants do as they are told. By juxtaposing Elijah’s commands with accounts of those commands being obeyed, the narrator emphasizes the authority of the Lord’s prophet.
- 1 Kings 18:43 tn Heb “He said, ‘Return,’ seven times.”
- 1 Kings 18:44 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 18:44 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 18:44 tn Heb “so that the rain won’t restrain you.”
- 1 Kings 18:45 tn Heb “rode and went to.”
- 1 Kings 18:46 tn Heb “and the hand of the Lord was on Elijah.”
- 1 Kings 18:46 tn Heb “and girded up his loins.” The idea is that of gathering up the robes and tucking them into the sash or belt so that they do not get in the way of the legs when running (or working or fighting).
1 Kings 18:41-46
New American Standard Bible
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 (A)Carmel; and he (B)bent 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, (C)a 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 (D)Jezreel. 46 Then (E)the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and (F)he [a]belted his cloak around his waist and [b]outran Ahab [c]to Jezreel.
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- 1 Kings 18:46 I.e., for travel
- 1 Kings 18:46 Lit ran ahead of
- 1 Kings 18:46 Lit until your coming to
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