¹⁹ Now then, send orders and gather to me all Israel at ^(A)Mount Carmel, ^(B)together with 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of ^[a](C)the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

God or Baal on Mount Carmel

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, “^(D)How long are you going to ^[b]struggle with the two choices? ^(E)If 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 ^(F)alone am left as a prophet of the Lord, while Baal’s prophets are ^(G)450 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 ^(H)the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people replied, “^[c]That is a good idea.”

Elijah’s Prayer

³⁶ Then ^(A)at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached and said, “^(B)Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known 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, 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 ^(E)fire 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, “^(F)The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God!”