Chapter 18

Obadiah Meets Elijah

1 Now it happened aafter many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and bI will send rain on the face of the earth.”

2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.

3 Ahab called Obadiah awho was over the household. (Now Obadiah 1bfeared the Lord greatly;

4 for awhen Jezebel 1destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and bprovided them with bread and water.)

5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not 1have to kill some of the cattle.”

6 So they divided the land between them to 1survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah 1met him, aand he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is this you, Elijah my master?”

8 He said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’ ”

9 He said, “What 1sin have I committed, that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?

10 “aAs the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

11 “And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here.” ’

12 “It will come about when I leave you athat the Spirit of the Lord will carry you where I do not know; so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have 1feared the Lord from my youth.

13 “aHas it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid 1a hundred prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?

14 “And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here” ’; he will then kill me.”

15 Elijah said, “aAs the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, aAhab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?”

18 He said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because ayou have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and byou have followed the Baals.

19 “Now then send and gather to me all Israel at aMount Carmel, btogether with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of cthe Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

God or Baal on Mount Carmel

20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “aHow long will you 1hesitate between two opinions? bIf the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I aalone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are b450 men.

23 “Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose 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 athe God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “1That is a good idea.”

25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox 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 Then they took the ox which 1was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was ano voice and no one answered. And they 2leaped about the altar which 3they made.

27 It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”

28 So they cried with a loud voice and acut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.

29 When midday was past, they 1raved auntil the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no 2one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And ahe repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.

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, “aIsrael shall be your name.”

32 So with the stones he built an altar in athe name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two 1measures of seed.

33 aThen he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.

34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And 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 The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

Elijah’s Prayer

36 aAt the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “bO Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that cYou are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and dI have done all these things at Your word.

37 “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”

38 Then the afire 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 trench.

39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “aThe Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”

40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to athe brook Kishon, band slew them there.

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.”

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of aCarmel; and he bcrouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

43 He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times.

44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, aa cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘1Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’ ”

45 In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to aJezreel.

46 Then athe hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and bhe girded up his loins and 1outran Ahab 2to Jezreel.

Chapter 19

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and 1ahow he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “aSo may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your 1life as the 1life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

3 And he 1was afraid and arose and ran for his 2life and came to aBeersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a 1juniper tree; and ahe requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my 2life, for I am not better than my fathers.”

5 He lay down and slept under a 1juniper tree; and behold, there was aan angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.”

6 Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7 The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.”

8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food aforty days and forty nights to bHoreb, the mountain of God.

Elijah at Horeb

9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, athe word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He said, “aI have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, btorn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And cI alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

11 So He said, “aGo forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And ba great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

12 After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire aa sound of a gentle blowing.

13 When Elijah heard it, ahe wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, ba voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 Then he said, “aI have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn 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 The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, ayou shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;

16 and aJehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and bElisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

17 “It shall come about, the aone who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu bshall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

18 “aYet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not bkissed him.”

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw ahis mantle on him.

20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please alet me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and aboiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

Chapter 20

War with Aram

1 Now aBen-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, band there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and cbesieged Samaria and fought against it.

2 Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad,

3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.’ ”

4 The king of Israel replied, “It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.”

5 Then the messengers returned and said, “Thus says 1Ben-hadad, ‘Surely, I sent to you saying, “You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children,”

6 but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and 1whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will 2take in their hand and carry away.’ ”

7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and asee how this man is looking for trouble; for he sent to me for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”

9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ” And the messengers departed and brought him word again.

10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “May athe gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls for all the people who 1follow me.”

11 Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘aLet not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’ ”

12 When Ben-hadad heard this message, as ahe was drinking 1with the kings in the 2temporary shelters, he said to his servants, “Station yourselves.” So they stationed themselves against the city.

Ahab Victorious

13 Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, aI will deliver them into your hand today, and byou shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”

14 Ahab said, “By whom?” So he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.’ ” Then he said, “Who shall 1begin the battle?” And he 2answered, “You.”

15 Then he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, even all the sons of Israel, 7,000.

16 They went out at noon, while aBen-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the 1temporary shelters 2with the thirty-two kings who helped him.

17 The young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

18 aThen he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

19 So these went out from the city, the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and the army which followed them.

20 They 1killed each his man; and the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.

21 The king of Israel went out and 1struck the horses and chariots, and 1killed the Arameans with a great slaughter.

22 Then athe prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for bat the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.”

23 Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “aTheir gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.

24 “Do this thing: remove the kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,

25 and 1muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

Another Aramean War

26 aAt the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to bAphek to fight against Israel.

27 The sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, abut the Arameans filled the country.

28 Then aa man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “bThe Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore cI will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”

29 So they camped one over against the other seven days. And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel 1killed of the Arameans 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.

30 But the rest fled to aAphek into the city, and the wall fell on 27,000 men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city binto an inner chamber.

31 aHis servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us bput sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your 1life.”

32 So athey girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “bYour servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men 1took this as an omen, and quickly 2catching his word said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he 3took him up into the chariot.

34 Ben-hadad said to him, “aThe cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

35 Now a certain man of athe sons of the prophets said to 1another bby the word of the Lord, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him.

36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, aa lion will 1kill you.” And as soon as he had departed from him a lion found him and 2killed him.

37 Then he found another man and said, “Please 1strike me.” And the man 2struck him, 3wounding him.

38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and adisguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.

39 As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, athen your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’

40 “While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”

41 Then he hastily took the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him that he was of the prophets.

42 He said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore ayour 1life shall go for his 1life, and your people for his people.’ ”

43 So athe king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.