1 Kings 18 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Obadiah Meets Elijah

1 Now it happened ^H1961 after many ^H7227 days ^H3117 that the word ^H1697 of Yahweh ^H3068 came ^H1961 to Elijah ^H452 in the third ^H7992 year ^H8141, saying ^H559, “Go ^H1980, show ^H7200 yourself to Ahab ^H256, and I will send ^H5414 rain ^H4306 on the face ^H6440 of the earth ^H127.”

2 So Elijah ^H452 went ^H1980 to show ^H7200 himself to Ahab ^H256. Now the famine ^H7458 was severe ^H2389 in Samaria ^H8111. 3 And Ahab ^H256 called ^H7121 Obadiah ^H5662 who ^H834 was over ^H5921 the household ^H1004. (Now Obadiah ^H5662 [fn]feared ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068 greatly ^H3966. 4 And it happened that when Jezebel ^H348 was cutting ^H3772 down ^H3772 the prophets ^H5030 of Yahweh ^H3068, Obadiah ^H5662 took ^H3947 one hundred ^H3967 prophets ^H5030 and hid ^H2244 them by fifties ^H2572 in a cave ^H4631, and sustained ^H3557 them with bread ^H3899 and water ^H4325.) 5 Then Ahab ^H256 said ^H559 to Obadiah ^H5662, “Go ^H1980 through the land ^H776 to all ^H3605 the springs ^H4599 of water ^H4325 and to all ^H3605 the valleys ^H5158; perhaps ^H194 we will find ^H4672 grass ^H2682 and keep ^H2421 the horses ^H5483 and mules ^H6505 alive ^H2421, and not have to cut ^H3772 down ^H3772 some ^H4480 of the cattle ^H929.” 6 So they divided ^H2505 the land ^H776 between them to pass ^H5674 through ^H5674 it; Ahab ^H256 went ^H1980 one ^H259 way ^H1870 by ^H905 himself ^H905 and Obadiah ^H5662 went ^H1980 another ^H259 way ^H1870 by ^H905 himself ^H905.

7 Now it happened that as Obadiah ^H5662 was on the way ^H1870, behold ^H2009, Elijah ^H452 [fn]met ^H7122 him, and he recognized ^H5234 him and fell ^H5307 on his face ^H6440 and said ^H559, “Is this ^H2088 you, Elijah ^H452 my master ^H113?” 8 And he said ^H559 to him, “It is I. Go ^H1980, say ^H559 to your master ^H113, ‘Behold ^H2009, Elijah ^H452 is here.’” 9 And he said ^H559, “What ^H4100 [fn]sin ^H2398 have I committed ^H2398, that you are giving ^H5414 your servant ^H5650 into the hand ^H3027 of Ahab ^H256 to put ^H4191 me to ^H4191 death ^H4191? 10 As Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430 lives ^H2416, there ^H3426 is ^H3426 no ^H518 nation ^H1471 or kingdom ^H4467 where ^H834 H8033 my master ^H113 has not sent ^H7971 to search ^H1245 for you; and if they said ^H559, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom ^H4467 or nation ^H1471 swear ^H7650 that they could not find ^H4672 you. 11 And now ^H6258 you are saying ^H559, ‘Go ^H1980, say ^H559 to your master ^H113, “Behold ^H2009, Elijah ^H452 is here.”’ 12 And it will be ^H1961 that when I leave ^H1980 H4480 you, the Spirit ^H7307 of Yahweh ^H3068 will carry ^H5375 you where ^H5921 H834 I do not know ^H3045; and I will come ^H935 and tell ^H5046 Ahab ^H256, and he will not ^H3808 find ^H4672 you, and he will kill ^H2026 me, although I your servant ^H5650 have [fn]feared ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068 from my youth ^H5271. 13 Has it not been told ^H5046 to my master ^H113 what ^H834 I did ^H6213 when Jezebel ^H348 killed ^H2026 the prophets ^H5030 of Yahweh ^H3068, that I hid ^H2244 [fn]one hundred ^H3967 prophets ^H5030 of Yahweh ^H3068 by fifties ^H2572 in a cave ^H4631, and sustained ^H3557 them with bread ^H3899 and water ^H4325? 14 So now ^H6258 you are saying ^H559, ‘Go ^H1980, say ^H559 to your master ^H113, “Behold ^H2009, Elijah ^H452 is here”’; he will then kill ^H2026 me.” 15 And Elijah ^H452 said ^H559, “As Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635 lives ^H2416, before ^H6440 whom ^H834 I stand ^H5975, I will surely ^H3588 show ^H7200 myself to him today ^H3117.” 16 So Obadiah ^H5662 went ^H1980 to meet ^H7122 Ahab ^H256 and told ^H5046 him; and Ahab ^H256 went ^H1980 to meet ^H7122 Elijah ^H452.

17 Now it happened when Ahab ^H256 saw ^H7200 Elijah ^H452, that Ahab ^H256 said ^H559 to him, “Is this ^H2088 you, you troubler ^H5916 of Israel ^H3478?” 18 And he said ^H559, “I have not troubled ^H5916 Israel ^H3478, but you and your father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 have, because you have forsaken ^H5800 the commandments ^H4687 of Yahweh ^H3068 and you have followed ^H1980 H310 the Baals ^H1168. 19 So now ^H6258 then send ^H7971 and gather ^H6908 to me all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 at Mount ^H2022 Carmel ^H3760, together with 450 ^{H702 H3967 H2572} prophets ^H5030 of Baal ^H1168 and 400 ^H702 H3967 prophets ^H5030 of the Asherah ^H842, who eat ^H398 at Jezebel’s ^H348 table ^H7979.”

Yahweh or Baal on Mount Carmel

20 So Ahab ^H256 sent ^H7971 a message among all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 and gathered ^H6908 the prophets ^H5030 together ^H6908 at Mount ^H2022 Carmel ^H3760.

21 And Elijah ^H452 came ^H5066 near ^H5066 to all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 and said ^H559, “How ^H4970 long ^H5704 H4970 will you be ^H6452 limping ^H6452 between ^H5921 two ^H8147 opinions ^H5587? If ^H518 Yahweh ^H3068 is God ^H430, follow ^H1980 H310 Him; but if ^H518 Baal ^H1168, follow ^H1980 H310 him.” But the people ^H5971 did not answer ^H6030 him a word ^H1697. 22 Then Elijah ^H452 said ^H559 to the people ^H5971, “I alone ^H905 am left ^H3498 a prophet ^H5030 of Yahweh ^H3068, but Baal’s ^H1168 prophets ^H5030 are 450 ^{H702 H3967 H2572} men ^H376. 23 Now let them give ^H5414 us two ^H8147 oxen ^H6499; and let them choose ^H977 one ^H259 ox ^H6499 for themselves and cut ^H5408 it up ^H5408, and place ^H7760 it on the wood ^H6086, but place ^H7760 no ^H3808 fire ^H784 under it; and I will prepare ^H6213 the other ^H259 ox ^H6499 and put ^H7760 it on the wood ^H6086, and I will not place ^H7760 fire ^H784 under it. 24 Then you call ^H7121 on the name ^H8034 of your god ^H430, and I will call ^H7121 on the name ^H8034 of Yahweh ^H3068, and the God ^H430 who ^H834 answers ^H6030 by fire ^H784, He is God ^H430.” And all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 answered ^H6030 and said ^H559, “[fn]That is a good ^H2896 word ^H1697.”

25 So Elijah ^H452 said ^H559 to the prophets ^H5030 of Baal ^H1168, “Choose ^H977 one ^H259 ox ^H6499 for yourselves and prepare ^H6213 it first ^H7223 for you are many ^H7227, and call ^H7121 on the name ^H8034 of your god ^H430, but place ^H7760 no ^H3808 fire ^H784 under it.” 26 Then they took ^H3947 the ox ^H6499 which ^H834 [fn]was given ^H5414 them and they prepared ^H6213 it and called ^H7121 on the name ^H8034 of Baal ^H1168 from morning ^H1242 until ^H5704 noon ^H6672 saying ^H559, “O Baal ^H1168, answer ^H6030 us.” But there ^H369 was ^H369 no ^H369 voice ^H6963 and no ^H369 one ^H369 answered ^H6030. And they [fn]limped ^H6452 about ^H5921 the altar ^H4196 which ^H834 [fn]they had made ^H6213. 27 Now it happened ^H1961 at noon ^H6672, that Elijah ^H452 mocked ^H2048 them and said ^H559, “Call ^H7121 out ^H7121 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963, for he is a god ^H430; either ^H3588 he is occupied ^H7879 or relieving ^H5509 himself, or is on a journey ^H1870, or perhaps ^H194 he is asleep ^H3463 and needs to be awakened ^H3364.” 28 So they cried ^H7121 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963 and gashed ^H1413 themselves according to their custom ^H4941 with swords ^H2719 and lances ^H7420 until ^H5704 the blood ^H1818 gushed ^H8210 out ^H8210 on them. 29 Now it happened when noon ^H6672 had passed ^H5674, that they prophesied ^H5012 until ^H5704 the time of the offering ^H5927 of the evening sacrifice ^H4503; but there ^H369 was ^H369 no ^H369 voice ^H6963, no ^H369 one ^H369 answered ^H6030, and no ^H369 [fn]one ^H369 paid ^H7182 attention ^H7182.

30 Then Elijah ^H452 said ^H559 to all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, “Come ^H5066 near ^H5066 to me.” So all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 came ^H5066 near ^H5066 to him. And he repaired ^H7495 the altar ^H4196 of Yahweh ^H3068 which had been pulled ^H2040 down ^H2040. 31 Then Elijah ^H452 took ^H3947 twelve ^H8147 H6240 stones ^H68 according to the number ^H4557 of the tribes ^H7626 of the sons ^H1121 of Jacob ^H3290, to whom ^H834 the word ^H1697 of Yahweh ^H3068 had come ^H1961, saying ^H559, “Israel ^H3478 shall be your name ^H8034.” 32 And with the stones ^H68 he built ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 in the name ^H8034 of Yahweh ^H3068, and he made ^H6213 a trench ^H8585 around ^H5439 the altar ^H4196, large ^H1004 enough ^H1004 to ^H1004 hold ^H1004 two [fn]seahs ^H5429 of seed ^H2233. 33 Then he arranged ^H6186 the wood ^H6086 and cut ^H5408 the ox ^H6499 in ^H5408 pieces ^H5408 and placed ^H7760 it on the wood ^H6086. 34 And he said ^H559, “Fill ^H4390 four ^H702 pitchers ^H3537 with water ^H4325 and pour ^H3332 it on the burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 and on the wood ^H6086.” And he said ^H559, “Do ^H8138 it a ^H8138 second ^H8138 time ^H8138,” and they did ^H8138 it a ^H8138 second ^H8138 time ^H8138. And he said ^H559, “Do ^H8027 it a ^H8027 third ^H8027 time ^H8027,” and they did ^H8027 it a ^H8027 third ^H8027 time ^H8027. 35 And the water ^H4325 flowed ^H1980 around ^H5439 the altar ^H4196 and he also ^H1571 filled ^H4390 the trench ^H8585 with water ^H4325.

Yahweh Answers, He Is God

36 Now it happened at the time ^H3117 of the offering ^H5927 of the evening sacrifice ^H4503, that Elijah ^H452 the prophet ^H5030 came ^H5066 near ^H5066 and said ^H559, “O Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Abraham ^H85, Isaac ^H3327 and Israel ^H3478, today ^H3117 let it be known ^H3045 that You are God ^H430 in Israel ^H3478 and that I am Your slave ^H5650 and I have done ^H6213 all ^H3605 these ^H428 things ^H1697 at Your word ^H1697. 37 Answer ^H6030 me, O Yahweh ^H3068, answer ^H6030 me, that this ^H2088 people ^H5971 may know ^H3045 that You, O Yahweh ^H3068, are God ^H430, and that You have turned ^H5437 their heart ^H3820 back ^H322 again ^H322.” 38 Then the fire ^H784 of Yahweh ^H3068 fell ^H5307 and consumed ^H398 the burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 and the wood ^H6086 and the stones ^H68 and the dust ^H6083, and licked ^H3897 up ^H3897 the water ^H4325 that was in the trench ^H8585. 39 And all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 saw ^H7200 it and fell ^H5307 on their faces ^H6440 and said ^H559, “Yahweh ^H3068, He is God ^H430; Yahweh ^H3068, He is God ^H430.” 40 Then Elijah ^H452 said ^H559 to them, “Seize ^H8610 the prophets ^H5030 of Baal ^H1168; do not let one ^H376 of them escape ^H4422.” So they seized ^H8610 them; and Elijah ^H452 brought ^H3381 them down ^H3381 to the brook ^H5158 Kishon ^H7028, and slaughtered ^H7819 them there ^H8033.

Yahweh Sends Rain

41 Now Elijah ^H452 said ^H559 to Ahab ^H256, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927, eat ^H398 and drink ^H8354; for there is the sound ^H6963 of the tumult ^H1995 of rain ^H1653.”

42 So Ahab ^H256 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to eat ^H398 and drink ^H8354. But Elijah ^H452 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to the top ^H7218 of Carmel ^H3760; and he stretched ^H1457 himself down ^H1457 toward the ground ^H776 and put ^H7760 his face ^H6440 between ^H996 his knees ^H1290. 43 And he said ^H559 to his young ^H5288 man ^H5288, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927 now ^H4994, look ^H5027 toward ^H1870 the sea ^H3220.” So he went ^H5927 up ^H5927 and looked ^H5027 and said ^H559, “There ^H369 is ^H369 nothing ^H369 H3972.” And he said ^H559, “Go ^H7725 back ^H7725” seven ^H7651 times ^H6471. 44 Now it happened ^H1961 at the seventh ^H7637 time, that he said ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, a cloud ^H5645 as small ^H6996 as a man’s ^H376 hand ^H3709 is coming ^H5927 up ^H5927 from the sea ^H3220.” And he said ^H559, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927, say ^H559 to Ahab ^H256, ‘[fn]Prepare ^H631 your chariot and go ^H3381 down ^H3381, so that the rain ^H1653 does not stop ^H6113 you.’” 45 Now it happened that in a little ^H5704 H3541 while ^H5704 H3541 the sky ^H8064 grew ^H6937 dark ^H6937 with clouds ^H5645 and wind ^H7307, and there was a heavy ^H1419 rain ^H1653. And Ahab ^H256 rode ^H7392 and went ^H1980 to Jezreel ^H3157. 46 But the hand ^H3027 of Yahweh ^H3068 was on Elijah ^H452, and he girded ^H8151 up his loins ^H4975 and [fn]outran ^H7323 H6440 Ahab ^H256 unto where you enter ^H935 Jezreel ^H3157.