3 Царств 18
Священное Писание (Восточный Перевод)
Ильяс возвращается в Исраил
18 Спустя долгое время, на третьем году засухи, к Ильясу было слово Вечного:
– Иди и предстань перед Ахавом, и Я пошлю на землю дождь.
2 И Ильяс пошёл, чтобы предстать перед Ахавом.
В Самарии был страшный голод, 3 и Ахав призвал Авдия, распорядителя его дворца.
(Авдий почитал Вечного. 4 Когда Иезевель истребляла пророков Вечного, Авдий спрятал сто пророков в двух пещерах – по пятьдесят в каждой – и снабжал их пищей и водой.)
5 Ахав сказал Авдию:
– Иди по стране ко всем источникам воды и рекам. Может быть, мы сможем найти траву, чтобы прокормить лошадей и мулов, и нам не придётся их убивать.
6 Они поделили между собой землю, которую собирались обойти, и Ахав пошёл в одну сторону, а Авдий пошёл в другую. 7 Когда Авдий был в пути, ему повстречался Ильяс. Авдий узнал его, пал лицом на землю и сказал:
– Ты ли это, Ильяс, мой господин?
8 – Я, – ответил он. – Иди, скажи хозяину: «Ильяс здесь».
9 – Чем я согрешил, – спросил Авдий, – что ты отдаёшь твоего раба в руки Ахава на казнь? 10 Верно, как и то, что жив Вечный, твой Бог, – нет ни такого народа, ни царства, куда мой господин ни посылал бы искать тебя. И всякий раз, когда в том царстве или в народе говорили, что тебя там нет, он брал с них клятву, что они не смогли тебя отыскать. 11 А теперь ты говоришь: «Пойди, скажи хозяину, что Ильяс здесь». 12 Я уйду от тебя, а Дух Вечного унесёт тебя, не знаю куда. Я приду и скажу Ахаву, он тебя не найдёт и убьёт меня. А я, твой раб, чту Вечного с юности. 13 Разве моему господину не рассказывали, что я сделал, когда Иезевель убивала пророков Вечного? Я спрятал сто пророков в двух пещерах, по пятьдесят в каждой, и снабжал их пищей и водой. 14 А теперь ты говоришь мне пойти к моему хозяину и сказать: «Ильяс здесь». Да он меня убьёт!
15 Ильяс сказал:
– Верно, как и то, что жив Вечный, Повелитель Сил, – я непременно предстану сегодня перед Ахавом.
Ильяс и пророки Баала на горе Кармил
16 Авдий отправился навстречу Ахаву и всё рассказал ему. Тогда Ахав пошёл навстречу Ильясу. 17 Увидев его, он сказал:
– Это ты навёл беду на Исраил?
18 – Не я навёл беду на Исраил, – ответил Ильяс, – а ты и дом твоего отца. Вы оставили повеления Вечного и пошли за статуями Баала. 19 Пошли же людей и собери народ со всего Исраила ко мне на гору Кармил. И приведи четыреста пятьдесят пророков Баала и четыреста пророков Ашеры, которые едят со стола Иезевели.
20 Ахав послал известить всех исраильтян и собрал пророков на гору Кармил. 21 Ильяс вышел к народу и сказал:
– Сколько ещё вы будете пытаться усидеть на двух стульях? Если Вечный – это Бог, идите за Ним, а если Баал, то идите за ним.
Народ не отвечал ему ни слова. 22 Тогда Ильяс сказал им:
– Из пророков Вечного остался я один, а у Баала пророков – четыреста пятьдесят человек. 23 Пусть нам приведут двух быков. Затем пусть они выберут себе одного, разрежут его на куски и положат на дрова, но не поджигают их. Я подготовлю другого быка, положу его на дрова, но не подожгу их. 24 И тогда вы призовёте имя вашего бога, а я призову имя Вечного. Бог, Который ответит огнём, и есть истинный Бог.
И весь народ сказал:
– Хорошо.
25 Ильяс сказал пророкам Баала:
– Выберите одного из двух быков и приготовьте его первыми, раз вас так много. Призывайте имя своего бога, но не зажигайте огня.
26 Они взяли быка, которого им дали, и подготовили его. Они призывали имя Баала с утра до полудня.
– Баал, ответь нам! – кричали они.
Но отклика не было, никто не отвечал. И они скакали вокруг сделанного ими жертвенника. 27 В полдень Ильяс начал насмехаться над ними.
– Кричите громче! – говорил он. – Он же бог! Наверное, он задумался, или отошёл по нужде, или путешествует. А может быть, он спит, и его нужно разбудить.
28 Они кричали громче и, по своему обычаю, резали себя мечами и копьями, пока не полилась кровь. 29 Миновал полдень, а они продолжали неистовствовать до времени вечернего жертвоприношения[a]. Но ни отклика, ни ответа, ни отзыва не было. 30 Тогда Ильяс сказал народу:
– Подойдите ко мне.
Они подошли к нему, и он восстановил разрушенный жертвенник Вечного. 31 Ильяс взял двенадцать камней – по числу родов, произошедших от Якуба, которому Вечный сказал: «Твоё имя будет Исраил». 32 Из этих камней он сложил жертвенник во имя Вечного и выкопал вокруг него ров вместимостью в пятнадцать литров[b]. 33 Он разложил дрова, разрезал быка на части и положил его на дрова. 34 Затем он сказал:
– Наполните четыре больших кувшина водой и вылейте её на жертву всесожжения и на дрова.
– Повторите, – сказал он.
И они повторили.
– Сделайте это в третий раз, – сказал он.
И они сделали это в третий раз.
35 Вода лилась вокруг жертвенника и даже наполнила ров. 36 Когда пришло время жертвоприношения, пророк Ильяс подошёл и сказал:
– Вечный, Бог Ибрахима, Исхака и Якуба[c], пусть откроется сегодня, что Ты – Бог в Исраиле, а я – Твой раб и совершил всё это по Твоему слову! 37 Ответь мне, Вечный, ответь мне, чтобы этот народ узнал, что Ты, Вечный, – Бог, и что Ты вновь обращаешь их сердца.
38 Тогда сошёл огонь Вечного и пожрал жертву всесожжения, дрова, камни и почву, и поглотил воду во рву. 39 Увидев это, весь народ пал лицом на землю и закричал:
– Вечный есть Бог! Вечный есть Бог!
40 А Ильяс приказал им:
– Схватите пророков Баала! Смотрите, чтобы ни один не скрылся!
Они схватили их, а Ильяс отвёл их к реке Кишону и там предал их смерти.[d]
Конец засухи
41 Ильяс сказал Ахаву:
– Иди, ешь и пей, потому что вот он, шум ливня!
42 И Ахав пошёл есть и пить, а Ильяс поднялся на вершину Кармила, опустился на корточки и положил своё лицо между колен.
43 – Пойди, посмотри в сторону моря, – сказал он слуге.
Тот пошёл и посмотрел.
– Ничего нет, – сказал он.
Семь раз Ильяс говорил: «Иди снова». 44 На седьмой раз слуга сказал:
– С моря поднимается облако, размером не больше ладони.
Ильяс сказал:
– Пойди и скажи Ахаву: «Запрягай колесницу и поезжай, чтобы тебя не застал дождь».
45 Тем временем небо потемнело от облаков, поднялся ветер, начался сильный ливень, и Ахав поехал в город Изреель. 46 А на Ильяса сошла сила Вечного, и, заправив плащ под пояс, он бежал всю дорогу до Изрееля перед Ахавом.
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 Reyes 18
La Biblia de las Américas
Encuentro de Elías y Acab
18 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 de[a] la casa(C). (Y Abdías temía[b] en gran manera al Señor(D); 4 pues sucedió que cuando Jezabel destruyó[c] 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[d]; quizá hallaremos hierba y conservaremos con vida los caballos y los mulos, y no tendremos que matar[e] 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 encuentro[f], y Abdías lo reconoció(G) 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 cometido[g], que entregas a tu siervo en manos de Acab para que me mate? 10 Vive el Señor tu Dios(H), 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(I) 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 temido[h] 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[i] de los profetas del Señor de cincuenta en cincuenta en una cueva, y los sustenté con pan y agua(J)? 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(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 Y sucedió que 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 habéis abandonado los mandamientos del Señor(M) y habéis seguido a los baales(N). 19 Ahora pues, envía a reunir conmigo a todo Israel en el monte Carmelo(O), junto con cuatrocientos cincuenta profetas de Baal(P) y cuatrocientos 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 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 entre[j] dos opiniones(R)? Si el Señor es Dios, seguidle(S); 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(T), pero los profetas de Baal son cuatrocientos cincuenta 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 invocad el nombre de vuestro dios, y yo invocaré el nombre del Señor; y el Dios que responda por fuego, ese es Dios(V). 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 dieron[k] 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[l] alrededor del altar que habían hecho[m]. 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(X), con espadas y lanzas hasta que la sangre chorreaba sobre ellos. 29 Y sucedió que pasado el mediodía, se pusieron a gritar frenéticamente[n] hasta la hora de ofrecerse el sacrificio de la tarde(Y); pero no hubo voz, ni nadie respondió ni nadie hizo caso[o].
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(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 Y 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[p] de semilla. 33 Dispuso después la leña, cortó el novillo en pedazos y lo colocó sobre la leña(AC). 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(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 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(AI); 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(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[q] 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(AN) tan pequeña como la mano[r] de un hombre sube del mar. Y dijo: Sube, y di a Acab: «Prepara[s] 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(AO). 46 Y la mano del Señor estaba sobre Elías(AP), el cual ciñó sus lomos(AQ) y corrió delante de Acab hasta[t] Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Reyes 18:3 Lit., que estaba sobre
- 1 Reyes 18:3 O, reverenciaba
- 1 Reyes 18:4 Lit., cortó
- 1 Reyes 18:5 O, arroyos
- 1 Reyes 18:5 Lit., cortar
- 1 Reyes 18:7 Lit., a encontrarlo
- 1 Reyes 18:9 Lit., ¿Qué he pecado yo
- 1 Reyes 18:12 O, reverenciado
- 1 Reyes 18:13 Lit., cien hombres
- 1 Reyes 18:21 Lit., cojearéis sobre
- 1 Reyes 18:26 Lit., les dio
- 1 Reyes 18:26 Lit., cojeaban; i.e., un tipo de danza ceremonial
- 1 Reyes 18:26 Así en algunos mss. y versiones antiguas; en el T.M., que él había hecho
- 1 Reyes 18:29 Lit., profetizaron
- 1 Reyes 18:29 Lit., ni hubo atención
- 1 Reyes 18:32 Heb., seah; un seah equivale aprox. a 7.3 litros
- 1 Reyes 18:43 Lit., camino del
- 1 Reyes 18:44 Lit., palma
- 1 Reyes 18:44 Lit., Ata, unce
- 1 Reyes 18:46 Lit., hasta tu entrada a
1 Kings 18
New King James Version
Elijah’s Message to Ahab
18 And it came to pass after (A)many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and (B)I will send rain on the earth.”
2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was [a]in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. 4 For so it was, while Jezebel [b]massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.” 6 So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he (C)recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that you, my lord Elijah?”
8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ ”
9 So he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you. 11 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here” ’! 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that (D)the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the Lord’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here.” ’ He will kill me!”
15 Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, (E)“Is that you, O (F)troubler of Israel?”
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, (G)in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on (H)Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, (I)and the four hundred prophets of [c]Asherah, who [d]eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Elijah’s Mount Carmel Victory
20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and (J)gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, (K)“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, (L)follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, (M)“I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; (N)but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who (O)answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, [e]“It is well spoken.”
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull 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 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, [f]hear us!” But there was (P)no voice; no one answered. Then they [g]leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry [h]aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and (Q)cut themselves, as was their custom, with [i]knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, (R)they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was (S)no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. (T)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, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, (U)“Israel shall be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar (V)in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he (W)put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and (X)pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then 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 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled (Y)the trench 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 (Z)God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, (AA)let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that (AB)I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then (AC)the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, (AD)“The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
40 And Elijah said to them, (AE)“Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook (AF)Kishon and (AG)executed them there.
The Drought Ends
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; (AH)then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”
So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”
44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, [j]‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the (AI)hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he (AJ)girded[k] up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 18:3 Lit. over the house
- 1 Kings 18:4 Lit. cut off
- 1 Kings 18:19 A Canaanite goddess
- 1 Kings 18:19 Are provided for by Jezebel
- 1 Kings 18:24 Lit. The word is good
- 1 Kings 18:26 answer
- 1 Kings 18:26 Lit. limped about, leaped in dancing around
- 1 Kings 18:27 with a loud voice
- 1 Kings 18:28 swords
- 1 Kings 18:44 Lit. Bind or Harness
- 1 Kings 18:46 Tucked the skirts of his robe in his belt in preparation for quick travel
Central Asian Russian Scriptures (CARS)
Священное Писание, Восточный Перевод
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
