1 Kings 18
18
Elijah Meets the King’s Servant
1 Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the Lord told Elijah,#tn Heb “the word of the Lord came to Elijah.” “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” 2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria.#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. 3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord.#tn Heb “now Obadiah greatly feared the Lord.” “Fear” refers here to obedience and allegiance, the products of healthy respect for the Lord’s authority. 4 When Jezebel was killing#tn Heb “cutting off.” the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) 5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas#tn Heb “grass.” so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill#tn Heb “to cut off.” some of the animals.” 6 They divided up the land between them; Ahab went#tn The Hebrew text has “alone” here and again in reference to Obadiah toward the end of the verse. one way and Obadiah went the other.
7 As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him.#tn Heb “look, Elijah [came] to meet him.” When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” 8 He replied, “Yes,#tn Heb “[It is] I.” go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’”#tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.” 9 Obadiah#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Obadiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution?#tn Heb “to kill me.” 10 As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them#tn Heb “he makes the kingdom or the nation swear an oath.” swear an oath that they could not find you. 11 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’#tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.” 12 But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you.#tn Heb “to [a place] which I do not know.” If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me.#tn Heb “and I will go to inform Ahab and he will not find you and he will kill me.” That would not be fair,#tn The words “that would not be fair” are added to clarify the logic of Obadiah’s argument. because your servant has been a loyal follower of#tn Heb “has feared the Lord” (also see the note at 1 Kgs 18:3). the Lord from my youth. 13 Certainly my master is aware of what I did#tn Heb “Has it not been told to my master what I did…?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “Of course it has!” when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. 14 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’#tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.” but he will kill me.” 15 But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord who rules over all#tn Traditionally, “the Lord of Hosts.” lives (whom I serve),#tn Heb “(before whom I stand).” I will make an appearance before him today.”
Elijah Confronts Baal’s Prophets
16 When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah.#tn Heb “Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.” 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he#tn Heb “Ahab.” said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster#tn Or “trouble.” on Israel?” 18 Elijah#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. replied, “I have not brought disaster#tn Or “trouble.” on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals. 19 Now send out messengers#tn The word “messengers” is supplied in the translation both here and in v. 20 for clarification. and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports.#tn Heb “who eat at the table of Jezebel.”
20 Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision?#tn Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?” (see HALOT 762 s.v. סְעִפִּים). In context this idiomatic expression refers to indecision rather than physical disability. If the Lord is the true God,#tn Heb “the God.” then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word. 22 Elijah said to them:#tn Heb “to the people.” “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 23 Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire. 24 Then you#tn Elijah now directly addresses the prophets. will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.”#tn Heb “the God.” All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.”#tn Heb “The matter [i.e., proposal] is good [i.e., acceptable].”
25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.”#tc The last sentence of v. 25 is absent in the Syriac Peshitta. 26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested,#tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.” and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped#tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21). around on the altar they had made.#tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew mss and the ancient versions have the plural form of the verb. 27 At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.”#sn Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets. 28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual,#tn Or “as was their custom.” mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood.#tn Heb “until blood poured out on them.”sn mutilated…covered with blood. This self-mutilation was a mourning rite designed to facilitate Baal’s return from the underworld. 29 Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy,#tn Heb “when noon passed they prophesied until the offering up of the offering.” but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.#tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta include the following words here: “When it was time to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Tishbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations: ‘Stand aside for the time being, and I will offer my burnt offering.’ So they stood aside and departed.”sn In 2 Kgs 4:31 the words “there was no sound and there was no response” are used to describe a dead boy. Similar words are used here to describe the god Baal as dead and therefore unresponsive.
30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.#sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people. 31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new#tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text. name.”#sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10. 32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord.#tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the Lord.” Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs#tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts. of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so,#tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification. he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 36 When it was time for the evening offering,#tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.” Elijah the prophet approached the altar#tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification. and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove#tn Heb “let it be known.” today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God#tn Heb “the God.” and that you are winning back their allegiance.”#tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.” 38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky.#tn The words “from the sky” are added for stylistic reasons. It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God!#tn Heb “the God” (the phrase occurs twice in this verse). The Lord is the true God!” 40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed#tn Or “slaughtered.” them there.
41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.”#tn Heb “for [there is] the sound of the roar of the rain.” 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.”#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. Seven times Elijah sent him to look.#tn Heb “He said, ‘Return,’ seven times.” 44 The seventh time the servant#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’”#tn Heb “so that the rain won’t restrain you.” 45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward#tn Heb “rode and went to.” Jezreel. 46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power;#tn Heb “and the hand of the Lord was on Elijah.” he tucked his robe into his belt#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). and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
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1 Kings 18: NET
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1 Kings 18
18
1And the days are many, and the word of Jehovah hath been unto Elijah in the third year, saying, ‘Go, appear unto Ahab, and I give rain on the face of the ground;’
2and Elijah goeth to appear unto Ahab. And the famine is severe in Samaria,
3and Ahab calleth unto Obadiah, who [is] over the house — and Obadiah hath been fearing Jehovah greatly,
4and it cometh to pass, in Jezebel's cutting off the prophets of Jehovah, that Obadiah taketh a hundred prophets, and hideth them, fifty men in a cave, and hath sustained them with bread and water —
5and Ahab saith unto Obadiah, ‘Go through the land, unto all fountains of waters, and unto all the brooks, if so be we find hay, and keep alive horse and mule, and do not cut off any of the cattle.’
6And they apportion to themselves the land, to pass over into it; Ahab hath gone in one way by himself, and Obadiah hath gone in another way by himself;
7and Obadiah [is] in the way, and lo, Elijah — to meet him; and he discerneth him, and falleth on his face, and saith, ‘Art thou he — my lord Elijah?’
8And he saith to him, ‘I [am]; go, say to thy lord, Lo, Elijah.’
9And he saith, ‘What have I sinned, that thou art giving thy servant into the hand of Ahab — to put me to death?
10 Jehovah thy God liveth, if there is a nation and kingdom whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee; and they said, He is not, then he caused the kingdom and the nation to swear, that it doth not find thee;
11and now, thou art saying, Go, say to thy lord, Lo, Elijah;
12and it hath been, I go from thee, and the Spirit of Jehovah doth lift thee up, whither I know not, and I have come to declare to Ahab, and he doth not find thee, and he hath slain me; and thy servant is fearing Jehovah from my youth.
13‘Hath it not been declared to my lord that which I have done in Jezebel's slaying the prophets of Jehovah, that I hide of the prophets of Jehovah a hundred men, fifty by fifty in a cave, and sustained them with bread and water?
14and now thou art saying, Go, say to my lord, Lo, Elijah — and he hath slain me!’
15And Elijah saith, ‘Jehovah of Hosts liveth, before whom I have stood, surely to-day I appear unto him.’
16And Obadiah goeth to meet Ahab, and declareth [it] to him, and Ahab goeth to meet Elijah,
17and it cometh to pass at Ahab's seeing Elijah, that Ahab saith unto him, ‘Art thou he — the troubler of Israel?’
18And he saith, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but thou and the house of thy father, in your forsaking the commands of Jehovah, and thou goest after the Baalim;
19and now, send, gather unto me all Israel, unto the mount of Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the shrine, four hundred — eating at the table of Jezebel.’
20And Ahab sendeth among all the sons of Israel, and gathereth the prophets unto the mount of Carmel;
21and Elijah cometh nigh unto all the people, and saith, ‘Till when are ye leaping on the two branches? — if Jehovah [is] God, go after Him; and if Baal, go after him;’ and the people have not answered him a word.
22And Elijah saith unto the people, ‘I — I have been left a prophet of Jehovah — by myself; and the prophets of Baal [are] four hundred and fifty men;
23and let them give to us two bullocks, and they choose for themselves the one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and place [it] on the wood, and place no fire; and I — I prepare the other bullock, and have put [it] on the wood, and fire I do not place; —
24and ye have called in the name of your god, and I — I call in the name of Jehovah, and it hath been, the god who answereth by fire — He [is] the God.’ And all the people answer and say, ‘Good [is] the word.’
25And Elijah saith to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose for you the one bullock, and prepare first, for ye [are] the multitude, and call ye in the name of your god, and place no fire.’
26And they take the bullock that [one] gave to them, and prepare, and call in the name of Baal from the morning even till the noon, saying, ‘O Baal, answer us!’ and there is no voice, and there is none answering; and they leap on the altar that one had made.
27And it cometh to pass, at noon, that Elijah playeth on them, and saith, ‘Call with a loud voice, for he [is] a god, for he is meditating, or pursuing, or on a journey; it may be he is asleep, an doth awake.’
28And they call with a loud voice, and cut themselves, according to their ordinance, with swords and with spears, till a flowing of blood [is] on them;
29and it cometh to pass, at the passing by of the noon, that they feign themselves prophets till the going up of the present, and there is no voice, and there is none answering, and there is none attending.
30And Elijah saith to all the people, ‘Come nigh unto me;’ and all the people come nigh unto him, and he repaireth the altar of Jehovah that is broken down;
31and Elijah taketh twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Jehovah was, saying, ‘Israel is thy name;’
32and he buildeth with the stones an altar, in the name of Jehovah, and maketh a trench, as about the space of two measures of seed, round about the altar.
33And he arrangeth the wood, and cutteth in pieces the bullock, and placeth [it] on the wood, and saith, ‘Fill ye four pitchers of water, and pour on the burnt-offering, and on the wood;
34and he saith, ‘Do [it] a second time;’ and they do [it] a second time; and he saith, ‘Do [it] a third time;’ and they do [it] a third time;
35and the water goeth round about the altar, and also, the trench he hath filled with water.
36And it cometh to pass, at the going up of the [evening-] present, that Elijah the prophet cometh nigh and saith, ‘Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to-day let it be known that Thou [art] God in Israel, and I Thy servant, that by Thy word I have done the whole of these things;
37answer me, O Jehovah, answer me, and this people doth know that Thou [art] Jehovah God; and Thou hast turned their heart backward.’
38And there falleth a fire of Jehovah, and consumeth the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and the water that [is] in the trench it hath licked up.
39And all the people see, and fall on their faces, and say, ‘Jehovah, He [is] the God, Jehovah, He [is] the God.’
40And Elijah saith to them, ‘Catch ye the prophets of Baal; let not a man escape of them;’ and they catch them, and Elijah bringeth them down unto the stream Kishon, and doth slaughter them there.
41And Elijah saith to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink, because of the sound of the noise of the shower.’
42And Ahab goeth up to eat, and to drink, and Elijah hath gone up unto the top of Carmel, and he stretcheth himself out on the earth, and he placeth his face between his knees,
43and saith unto his young man, ‘Go up, I pray thee, look attentively the way of the sea;’ and he goeth up and looketh attentively, and saith, ‘There is nothing;’ and he saith, ‘Turn back,’ seven times.
44And it cometh to pass, at the seventh, that he saith, ‘Lo, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.’ And he saith, ‘Go up, say unto Ahab, ‘Bind — and go down, and the shower doth not restrain thee.’
45And it cometh to pass, in the meantime, that the heavens have become black — thick clouds and wind — and the shower is great; and Ahab rideth, and goeth to Jezreel,
46and the hand of Jehovah hath been on Elijah, and he girdeth up his loins, and runneth before Ahab, till thine entering Jezreel.
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