16 Now the word of the Lord came to Jehub son of Hananic against Baasha: 2 “Because I raised you up from the dustd and made you ruler over my people Israel,e but you have walked in the ways of Jeroboam and have caused my people Israel to sin,f angering me with their sins, 3 take note: I will eradicate Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat:g

4 Anyone who belongs to Baasha and dies in the city,

the dogs will eat,

and anyone who is his and dies in the field,

the birdsC will eat.”h

5 The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.i 6 Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah became king in his place. 7 But through the prophet Jehuj son of Hanani the word of the Lord also had come against Baasha and against his house because of all the evil he had done in the Lord’s sight. His actions angered the Lord, and Baasha’s house became like the house of Jeroboam, because he had struck it down.k

ISRAEL’S KING ELAH

8 In the twenty-sixth year of Judah’s King Asa, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel, and he reigned in Tirzahl two years.

9 His servant Zimri,m commander of half his chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunkn in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the householdo at Tirzah. 10 In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri went in and struck Elah down, killing him. Then Zimri became king in his place.p

11 When he became king, as soon as he was seated on his throne, Zimri struck down the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave a single male,D,q including his kinsmen and his friends. 12 So Zimri destroyed the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu.r 13 This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and those of his son Elah, which they committed and caused Israel to commit, angering the Lord God of Israels with their worthless idols.t

14 The rest of the events of Elah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.u

ISRAEL’S KING ZIMRI

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri became king for seven days in Tirzah.v Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines.w 16 When these troops heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king, then all Israel made Omri, the army commander, king over Israel that very day in the camp. 17 Omri along with all Israel marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.x 18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself. He died 19 because of the sin he committed by doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and by walking in the ways of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit.y

20 The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he instigated, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. 21 At that time the people of Israel were divided: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

ISRAEL’S KING OMRI

23 In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king over Israel, and he reigned twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah,z 24 then he bought the hill of Samariaaa from Shemer for 150 poundsA of silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built SamariaB based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

25 Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.ab 26 He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat in every respect and continued in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, angering the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.a 27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. 28 Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.

ISRAEL’S KING AHAB

29 Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him.b 31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not enough, he married Jezebel,c the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,d and then proceeded to serve Baal and bow in worship to him.e 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baalf that he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole.g Ahab did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.h

34 During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he finished its gates, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.i

ELIJAH ANNOUNCES FAMINE

17 Now Elijahj the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers,A,k said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives,l in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”m

2 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward, and hiden at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. 4 You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravenso to provide for you there.”

5 So he proceeded to do what the Lord commanded. Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. 6 The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening,p and he would drink from the wadi. 7 After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephathq that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.” 10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.”r 11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”

12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives,s I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oilt in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”u

13 Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, 14 for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’ ”v

15 So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days.w 16 The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken throughB Elijah.

THE WIDOW’S SON RAISED

17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing.x 18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God,y what do you have against me?z Have you come to call attention to my iniquityaa so that my son is put to death?”

19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs roomab where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lordac and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times.ad He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!”

22 So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.ae 23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house, and gave him to his mother.a Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.”

24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of Godb and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”c

ELIJAH’S MESSAGE TO AHAB

18 After a long time, the word of the Lordd came to Elijah in the third year:e “Go and present yourself to Ahab.f I will send rain on the surface of the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

The famine was severe in Samaria.g 3 Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.h Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the Lordi 4 and took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebelj slaughtered the Lord’s prophets.k 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and to every wadi. Perhaps we’ll find grass so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to destroy any cattle.”l 6 They divided the land between them in order to cover it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

7 While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him.m When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

8 “It is I,” he replied. “Go tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here!’ ”A

9 But Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed,n that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.

11 “Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here!” ’ 12 But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you offo to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Wasn’t it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the Lord’s prophets? I hid a hundred of the prophets of the Lord, fifty men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water. 14 Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here!” ’ He will kill me!”

15 Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of Armies lives,p in whose presence I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.”

16 Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, the one ruining Israel?”q

18 He replied, “I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commandsr and followed the Baals.s 19 Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel,t along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherahu who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

ELIJAH AT MOUNT CARMEL

20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions?A,v If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.”w But the people didn’t answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord,x but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord.y The God who answers with fire, he is God.”

All the people answered, “That’s fine.”

25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.”

26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound;z no one answered. Then they dancedB around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away;C or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!”aa 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselvesab with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. 29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice,a but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.b

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down:c 31 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, “Israel will be your name”d—32 and he built an altare with the stones in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.D,E 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time!” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.

36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice,f the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,g today let it be knownh that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are Godi and that you have turned their hearts back.”

38 Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedownj and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”k

40 Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal!l Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishonm and slaughtered them there.n 41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”o

42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.p He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees.q 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.”

So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.”

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44 On the seventhr time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.”

Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ”

45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.s 46 The power of the Lordt was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his beltu and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

ELIJAH’S JOURNEY TO HOREB

19 Ahab told Jezebelv everything that Elijah had donew and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.x 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severelyy if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

3 Then Elijah became afraidA,z and immediately ran for his life.aa When he came to Beer-shebaab that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,ac 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom treead and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life,ae for I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him.af The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.ag So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lordah returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nightsai to Horeb, the mountain of God.aj 9 He entered a caveak there and spent the night.

ELIJAH’S ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD

Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”al

10 He replied, “I have been very zealousam for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant,an torn down your altars,ao and killed your prophetsa with the sword. I alone am left,b and they are looking for me to take my life.”c

11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”d

At that moment, the Lord passed by.e A great and mighty windf was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,g but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire,h but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.i 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantlej and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”k

15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazaell as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehum son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elishan son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,o and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.p 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israelq—every knee that has not bowed to Baalr and every mouth that has not kissed him.”s

ELISHA’S APPOINTMENT AS ELIJAH’S SUCCESSOR

19 Elijah left there and found Elishat son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.u 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”v

“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”

21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughteredA them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow,w he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.x

VICTORY OVER BEN-HADAD

20 Now King Ben-hadady of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings,z along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria,aa and fought against it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well!’ ”ab

4 Then the king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

5 The messengers then returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent messengers to you, saying, “You are to give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.” 6 But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you,A,ac and they will search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will lay their hands on and take away whatever is precious to you.’ ”

7 Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “RecognizeB that this one is only looking for trouble,ad for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.”

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen or agree.”

9 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ” So the messengers left and took word back to him.

10 Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severelyae if Samaria’s dustaf amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boastag like the one who takes it off.’ ”

12 When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinkingah in their quarters,* he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.

13 A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this whole huge army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am the Lord.’ ”a

14 Ahab asked, “By whom?”

And the prophet said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’ ”

Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle?”b

He said, “You.”

15 So Ahab mobilized the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he mobilized all the Israelite troops: 7,000.c 16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kingsd who were helping him were getting drunk in their quarters. 17 The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”e

18 So he said, “If they have marched out in peace,f take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”

19 The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city, 20 and each one struck down his opponent.g So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them,h but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry. 21 Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a severe slaughter on Aram.

22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider carefullyA what you should do, for in the springi the king of Aram will attack you.”

23 Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.j That’s why they were stronger than we were. Instead, we should fight with them on the plain; then we will certainly be stronger than they are. 24 Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place. 25 Raise another army for yourself like the army you lost—horse for horse, chariot for chariot—and let’s fight with them on the plain; and we will certainly be stronger than they are.” The king listened to them and did it.

26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphekk to battle Israel. 27 The Israelites mobilized, gathered supplies, and went to fight them. The Israelites camped in front of them like two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the landscape.l

28 Then the man of Godm approached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,”n I will hand over all this whole huge army to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”o

29 They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day,p the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—one hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. 30 The ones who remained fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell on those twenty-seven thousand remaining men.

Ben-hadad also fled and went into an inner roomq in the city. 31 His servants said to him, “Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth around our waistsr and ropes around our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So they dressed with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’ ”

So he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on thisB and responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.”

Then he said, “Go and bring him.”

So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot. 34 Then Ben-hadad said to him, “I restore to you the cities that my father took from your father,s and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”t

Ahab responded, “On the basis of this treaty, I release you.” So he made a treaty with him and released him.

AHAB REBUKED BY THE LORD

35 One of the sons of the prophetsu said to his fellow prophet by the word of the Lord, “Strike me!” But the man refused to strike him.

36 He told him, “Because you did not listen to the Lord, mark my words: When you leave me, a lion will kill you.”v When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said to him, “Strike me!” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound. 38 Then the prophet went and waited for the king on the road. He disguiseda himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant marched out into the middle of the battle. Suddenly, a man turned aside and brought someone to me and said, ‘Guard this man! If he is ever missing, it will be your life in place of his life,b or you will weigh out seventy-five poundsA of silver.’ 40 But while your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.”

The king of Israel said to him, “That will be your sentence; you yourself have decided it.”c

41 He quickly removed the bandage from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. 42 The prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you released from your hand the man I had set apart for destruction,d it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’ ” 43 The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry,e and he entered Samaria.