Beginning
18 After many days, the Word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the Earth.”
2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. and a great famine was in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, the governor of his House. And Obadiah feared God greatly.
4 For when Jezebel destroyed the Prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred Prophets and hid them in a cave, by fifties. And he fed them with bread and water.
5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land, to all the fountains of water, and to all the rivers, if so be that we may find grass to save the horses and the mules alive, lest we deprive the land of the beasts.”
6 And so, they divided the land between them, to walk through it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was on the road, behold, Elijah met him. And he knew him and fell on his face, and said, “Are not you my lord, Elijah?”
8 And he answered him, “Yes. Go tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah.’”
9 And he said, “What have I sinned, that you would deliver 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 lord has not sent to seek you. And when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom or nation that they had not found you.
11 “And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah.”’
12 “And when I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you into some place that I do not know. So, when I come and tell Ahab, if he cannot find you, then he will kill me! But I, your servant, fear the LORD from my youth.
13 “Was it not told to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the Prophets of the LORD? How I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s Prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14 “And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah,”’ so that he may kill me.’
15 And Elijah said, “As the LORD of Hosts lives, before Whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him this day.”
16 So, Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Are you he who troubles Israel?”
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but rather you and your father’s House, in that you have forsaken the Commandments of the LORD, and you have followed Baal.
19 “Now, therefore, send and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So, Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is, then go after him.” And the people did not answer him a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I only remain as a Prophet of the LORD! But Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men!
23 “Let them, therefore, give us two bulls! And let them choose one, and cut him in pieces, and lay him on the wood! But put no fire! And I will prepare the other bull, and lay him on the wood, and will put no fire!
24 “Then you call on the name of your god! And I will call on the Name of the LORD! And then the God Who answers by fire, let him be God!” And all the people answered, and said, “It is well spoken!”
25 And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose a bull for yourselves, and prepare him first (for you are many) and call on the name of your gods. But put no fire.”
26 So, they took the one bull that was given to them. And they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon, saying, “O Baal! Hear us!” But there was no voice, nor anyone to answer. And they leapt upon the altar that was made.
27 And at noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud. For he is a god. Either he talks or pursues or is on a journey. Or it may be that he sleeps, and must be awakened?”
28 And they cried loudly and cut themselves (as their manner was) with knives and lancers, until the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And when midday had passed, and they had prophesied until the offering of the sacrifice, there was neither voice nor one to answer nor any who paid attention.
30 And Elijah said to all the people, “Come to me!” And all the people came to him. And he repaired the Altar of the LORD that had 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 came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”).
32 And with the stones he built an Altar in the Name of the LORD. And he made a ditch all around the Altar, as great as could contain two seahs of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid him on the wood,
34 and said, “Fill four barrels with water and pour it upon the Burnt Offering and on the wood.” Again, he said, “Do so again.” And they did so a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time.
35 And the water ran all around the Altar. And he filled the ditch with water also.
36 And when they were to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Prophet came and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel! Let it be known this day, that You are the God of Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Commandment!
37 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me! And let this people know that You are the LORD God! And that You have turned their hearts back again!”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the Burnt Offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the ditch.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and said, “The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”
40 And Elijah said to them, “Take the prophets of Baal! Do not let a man of them escape!” And they took them. And Elijah brought them to the brook Kishon and killed them there.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up. Eat and drink. For there is a sound of much rain.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. And he crouched to the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, “Go up, now, and look toward the way of the sea.” And he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” Again, he said, “Go back seven times.”
44 And on the seventh time, he said, “Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” Then he said, “Up! And say to Ahab, ‘Make ready. And get yourself down, so that the rain does not stop you.’”
45 And in the meantime, the sky was black with clouds and wind. And there was a heavy rain. Then Ahab went up and came to Jezreel.
46 And the Hand of the LORD was on Elijah. And he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab until he came to Jezreel.
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “The gods do so to me and more also if I do not make your life like one of their lives by tomorrow at this time.”
3 When he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba (which is in Judah) and left his servant there.
4 But he went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a Juniper tree, and desired that he might die, and said, “It is now enough! O LORD, take my soul. For I am no better than my fathers.”
5 And as he lay, and slept under the Juniper tree, behold, now, an Angel touched him, and said to him, “Up. Eat.”
6 And when he looked around, behold, there was a cake, baked on the coals, and a pot of water, by his head. So he ate and drank and returned and slept.
7 And the Angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Up. Eat. For you have a great journey.”
8 Then he arose and ate and drank and walked in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights, to Horeb, the Mount of God.
9 And he entered into a cave there and lodged there. And behold, the LORD spoke to him, and said to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 And he answered, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts. For the children of Israel have forsaken Your Covenant, broken down Your Altars, and killed Your Prophets with the sword. And I alone am left. And they seek my life, to take it away.”
11 And He said, “Come out and stand upon the Mount, before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD went by. And a mighty, strong wind tore the mountains and broke the rocks before the LORD. The LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. The LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 And after the earthquake came fire. The LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still and soft voice.
13 And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 And he answered, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken Your Covenant, cast down Your Altars, and killed Your Prophets with the sword. And I alone am left. And they seek my life, to take it away.”
15 And the LORD said to him, “Go. Return by the wilderness to Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael king over Aram.
16 “And Jehu, the son of Nimshi, shall you anoint king over Israel. And Elisha, the son of Shaphat, of Abel Meholah, shall you anoint to be Prophet in your room.
17 “And he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, shall Jehu kill. And he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, shall Elisha kill.
18 “Still, I will leave seven thousand in Israel: all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yokes of oxen in front of him and was with the twelfth. And Elijah went towards him and cast his cloak upon him.
20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Who answered him, “Go back. For what have I done to you?”
21 And when he went back from him again, he took a couple of oxen and killed them and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave to the people and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered to him.
20 Then Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, assembled all his army, and thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots, and went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, into the city,
3 and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad, ‘Your silver and your gold is mine. Also, your women and your fair children are mine.’”
4 And the king of Israel answered, and said, “My lord king, according to your saying, I am yours, and all that I have.”
5 And when the messengers came back, they said, “Thus commands Ben-Hadad, and says, ‘When I shall send to you and command, you shall deliver to me your silver and your gold and your women and your children.
6 ‘Or else, I will send my servants to you by tomorrow at this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants, and whatever is pleasant in your eyes they shall take it in their hands and bring it away.’”
7 Then the king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land, and said, “Take heed, please, and see how he seeks mischief. For he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold. And I did not deny him.”
8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen to him, or consent.”
9 Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time, that I will do. But this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him an answer.
10 And Ben-Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria is enough for every man who follows me to have a handful.”
11 And the king of Israel answered, and said, “Tell him, ‘Do not let him who girds his harness boast of himself just as he who takes it off.’”
12 And when he heard that news, as he was with the kings drinking in the pavilions, he said to the servants, “Make ready.” And they set themselves against the city.
13 And behold, there came a Prophet to Ahab, king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day, so that you may know that I am the LORD.’”
14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘By the servants of the princes of the provinces.’” He said again, “Who shall order the battle?” And he answered, “You.”
15 Then he mustered the servants of the princes of the provinces. And there were two hundred thirty-two. And after them, he mustered the whole people of all the children of Israel: seven thousand.
16 And they went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad drank in the tents, until he was drunk, he and the kings. Thirty-two kings helped him.
17 So, the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out. And they told him, saying, “There are men who came out of Samaria.”
18 And he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out to fight, still take them alive.”
19 So they came out of the city, the servants of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
20 And each one killed his enemy. And the Aramites fled. And Israel pursued them. But Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse, with horsemen.
21 And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots and killed the Aramites with a great slaughter.
22 (For there had come a Prophet to the king of Israel, and had said to him, “Go. Be of good courage. And consider and take heed to what you do. For when the year has gone around, the king of Aram will come up against you.”)
23 Then the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the mountains, and therefore they overcame us. But let us fight against them on the plain, and doubtless we shall overcome them.
24 “And do this: take the kings away, each one out of his place, and place captains for them.
25 “And muster an army for yourself, like the army that you have lost, with the same horses and the same chariots, and we will fight against them on the plain. And doubtless we shall overcome them.” And he listened to their voice and did so.
26 And after the year had gone around, Ben-Hadad mustered the Aramites, and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 And the children of Israel were mustered and were all assembled and went against them. And the children of Israel camped before them, like two little flocks of kids. But the Aramites filled the country.
28 And a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Aramites have said, “The LORD is the God of the mountains, and not God of the valleys,” I will therefore deliver all this great multitude into your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD.’”
29 And they camped opposite each other for seven days. And on the seventh day, the battle was joined. And the children of Israel killed a hundred thousand Aramite footmen in one day.
30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city. And a wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand men who were left. And Ben-Hadad fled into the city and came into a secret chamber.
31 And his servants said to him, “Behold, now, we have heard say that the kings of the House of Israel are merciful kings. Please, let us put sackcloth around our loins, and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. It may be that he will spare your life.”
32 Then they girded sackcloth around their loins, and ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Now the men took diligent care, for they were anxious to perceive something more, and said, “Your brother, Ben-Hadad!” And he said, “Go. Bring him.” So, Ben-Hadad came out to him. And he had him brought up into the chariot.
34 And Ben-Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father, I will restore. And you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then Ahab said, “I will let you go with this covenant.” So, he made a covenant with him and let him go.
35 Then, a certain man of the children of the Prophets said to his neighbor by the Commandment of the LORD, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the Voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion shall kill you.” So, after he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.
37 Then he found another man, and said, “Strike me, please!” And the man struck him. And in smiting, wounded him.
38 So, the Prophet departed and waited for the king by the road and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
39 And when the king came by, he cried to the king, and said, “Your servant went into the midst of the battle, and behold, there went away a man whom another man brought to me, and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is lost for any reason, your life shall go for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
40 “And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You have given sentence.”
41 And he hurried and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the Prophets.
42 And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have let go out of your hands a man whom I appointed to die, your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.”
43 And the king of Israel went to his house, heavy and in displeasure, and came to Samaria.
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