Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Ahab » King of israel » Reproved by elijah; assembles the prophets of baal
And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. read more.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel.
Altar » Built by » Elijah
And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn.
Awakenings and religious reforms » Special examples of » Elijah
And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. read more.
And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
religious Awakenings » Special examples of » Elijah
And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. read more.
And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
Carmel » Mountain
And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. read more.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel.
And will bring Israel again to his pleasant pasture, that he may feed upon Carmel and Bashan, and be satisfied upon the mount of Ephraim and Gilead.
the desolate earth is in heaviness. Lebanon taketh it but for a sport, that it is hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness: Bashan and Carmel are turned upside down.
That head that standeth upon thee is like Carmel; the hair of thy head is like the king's purple folden up in plates.
She shall flourish pleasantly, and be joyful, and ever be giving thanks more and more. For the glory of Lebanon, the beauty of Carmel and Sharon shall be given her. These shall know the honour of the LORD, and the majesty of our God.
As truly as I live, sayeth the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, it shall come as the mount of Tabor, and as Lebanon if it stood in the sea.
And he said, "The LORD shall roar out of Zion, and show his voice from Jerusalem: so that the pastures of the shepherds shall be in a miserable case, and the top of Carmel dried up.
Elijah » Three times fed with divine supplies » A fearless reformer
And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. read more.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Ahab
The thirty eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and reigned in Samaria twenty two years. And he displeased the LORD above all that were before him. For it seemed him a light thing to walk in the sin of Jeroboam - But took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians to wife, and went and served Baal and bowed unto him. read more.
And he reared an altar to Baal in the house of Baal which he had made in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove, and proceeded further in angering the LORD God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. And it cost him Abiram his eldest son when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son when he set up the gates, agreeing unto the word of the LORD which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. And Elijah the Tishbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, save as I appoint it." And the word of God came to him, saying, "Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself in the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. Drink of the river for I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." And he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh every morning and every evening, and he drank of the brook. And it chanced after a while that the brook dried up, because there fell no rain upon the earth. Then came the word of the LORD unto him, saying, "Up, and get thee to Zarephath a city of Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee." And he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, there was a widow there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a dish that I may drink." And as she went to fetch it, he cried to her and said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." And she answered, "As surely as the LORD thy God liveth, I have no bread, but even a handful of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse. And see, I have gathered a few sticks for to go and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it and then die." And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not, but go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first of all, and bring it out to me, and afterward make for thee and thy son. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'The pitcher of meal shall not be wasted, neither shall thy oil cruse be without oil, until the LORD have sent rain upon the earth.'" And she went and did as Elijah bade. And she and he and her house did eat a good space, and the pitcher of meal wasted not neither was the oil cruse without oil according to the word of the LORD which he spake through Elijah. And after these things, it happened that the son of the wife of the house fell sick. And his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. Then said she unto Elijah, "What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art thou come unto me, that my sin should be thought on and my son slain?" And Elijah said unto her, "Give me thy son." And he took him out of her lap and carried him up into a loft where he lay, and laid him upon his own bed, and called unto the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, hast thou been so evil unto the widow with whom I sojourn, that thou hast slain her son?" And he stretched himself upon the lad three times, and called unto the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, let the lad's soul come into him again." And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the lad came into him again and he revived. And Elijah took the boy and brought him down out of the chamber into the house and delivered him unto his mother and said, "See, thy son liveth." Then the wife said to Elijah, "Now I know that thou art God's man, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth." And at the last, the word of the LORD came to Elijah the third year, saying, "Go show thyself unto Ahab, that I may send rain upon the earth." And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab, for there was a great famishment in Samaria. Wherefore Ahab called Obadiah the governor of his house - which Obadiah feared God greatly, insomuch that when Jezebel destroyed the Prophets of the LORD, he took a hundred of the Prophets and hid them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another, and provided bread and water for them. And Ahab said unto Obadiah, "Walk through the land, unto all fountains of water and unto all brooks, to see whether any grass may be found that we may save the horses and the mules, that we destroy not the beasts." And they divided the land between them to walk through it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another by himself. And it chanced, as Obadiah went in the way, that Elijah met him. And Obadiah knew him and fell on his face and said, "Art not thou my lord Elijah?" And he said unto him, "I am he. Go and tell Ahab that Elijah is here." And the other answered, "What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver me unto the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As surely as the LORD thy God liveth there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent, to seek thee. And when they said thou wast not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, because he found thee not. And now thou sayest, 'Go and tell thy Lord Elijah is here.' And as soon as I am gone from thee, the spirit of the LORD shall carry thee away, whither I shall not know: and then when I have gone and told Ahab, and then he can not find thee, he shall slay me. And yet I thy servant have feared the LORD from my young age. Was it not told my lord what I did, when Jezebel slew the Prophets of the LORD? How I hid a hundred of the LORD's Prophets, fifty in one cave and as many in another, and provided them of bread and water? And yet now thou sayest, "Go show thy lord that Elijah is here, that he should slay me." Then Elijah said, "As truly as the LORD of Hosts liveth, before whom I stand: I will show myself unto him this day." And thereupon Obadiah went to Ahab and told him. And Ahab went against Elijah. And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and altogether how he had slain the Prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, "So do God to me, and so thereto, except I make thy soul like one of theirs by tomorrow this time." When he saw that, he arose and went for his life, and came to Beersheba in Judah, and left his lad there. And he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and when he was come sat down under a Juniper tree, and desired for his soul, that he might die, and said, "It is now enough, O LORD, take my soul; for I am not better than my fathers." And as he lay and slept under the Juniper tree, behold, there came an Angel and touched him, and said unto him, "Up and eat." And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep. And the Angel of the LORD came again the second time and touched him, and said, "Up and eat, for thou hast a long Journey to go." And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God, and entered there into a cave and lodged there all night. And then the word of the LORD came to him, and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" And he answered, "I have been thorough angry for the LORD God of Hosts' sake. For the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and have broken down thine altars and slain the Prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it too." And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice. And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and went out and stood in the mouth of the cave. And see, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here Elijah?" And he answered, "I was jealous for the LORD God of Hosts' sake: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and have cast down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it." Then the LORD said unto him, "Go and turn thy way to the wilderness of Damascus, and go and anoint Hazael to be king of Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi, anoint to be king over Israel; And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah anoint to be Prophet in thy room. And whoso escapeth the sword of Hazael, him shall Jehu slay: and if any man escape the sword of Jehu, him shall Elisha slay. And thereto I have left me seven thousand in Israel, of which never man bowed his knees unto Baal nor kissed him with his mouth." And he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelve. And Elijah went to him and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow thee." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to thee?" And he went back again from after him, and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and dressed the flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave it the people, and they did eat. And then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered unto him. And Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered all his host together - and thirty two kings with him, with horse and chariot - and went up and besieged Samaria and warred against it. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, "Thus sayeth Benhadad, 'Thy silver and thy gold is mine, and the best of thy wives, and the best of thy children be mine.'" And the king of Israel answered, and said, "My lord king, according to thy saying, I am thine with all I have." And the messengers came again to Ahab and said, "Thus sayeth Benhadad, 'I have therefore sent unto thee, saying: deliver me then thy silver and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children. Or else I will send my servants unto thee by tomorrow this time: and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants, which shall take all that is glorious in thine eyes, and bring it away with them.'" Then the king of Israel sent for the elders of the land and said, "Take heed I pray you and see, how this fellow goeth about mischief. For he sent unto me, for my wives and my children, and my silver and my gold: and I denied him nothing of it." And all the elders of Israel and all the people said, "Hearken not to him nor consent." Whereupon he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, "Tell my lord the king, all that he sent for the first time, that I will do: but this request I may not do." And the messengers departed and brought him word. Then Benhadad sent unto him and said, "Thus do the gods to me and so thereto, if the dust of Samaria be enough for all the people that follow me, that every man may have a handful." And the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not him that putteth on his harness boast himself, as he putteth it off.'" And when Benhadad heard that tidings, as he and the kings were drinking in the pavilions, he said unto his servants, "Put ye in array." And they put themselves in array against the city. And behold there came a Prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Seest thou all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into thine hand this day, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD.'" And Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Even by the men of the governors of the shires.'" And Ahab said, "Who shall join battle?" And he said, "Thou." Then he numbered the men of the governors of the shires: and they were two hundred and thirty two. And after them he numbered all the people, and all the children of Israel were seven thousand. And they went out at noon when Benhadad was a drinking strong drink in the pavilions with the thirty two kings that holp him. And the men of the sheriffs of the shires went out first. And Benhadad sent out, and they showed him, saying, "There came men out of Samaria." And he said, "If they come out for peace, take them alive. And also if they come for war, take them yet alive." And when those men of the sheriffs of the shires were come out of the city and the Host after them, they slew every one of them his man. And the Syrians fled, and Israel followed after them. And Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with his horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and smote horse and chariot, and slew a great slaughter of the Syrians. Then there came a Prophet to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go forth and play the man: be wise and take heed what thou doest. For when the year is about, the king of Syria will come against thee again." Then said the servants of the kings of Syria to him, "The gods of the hills are their gods, and therefore they had the better of us. But let us fight with them in the plain, and for what ye will, we shall have the better of them. And this do: take the kings away every man out of his place, and put dukes in their rooms. And do thou number thee a host, like the host that thou hast lost, and horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and let us fight with them in the plain; and for a wager, we get the better of them." And the king hearkened unto their voice and did even so. And as soon as the year was about, Benhadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to war with Israel. And the children of Israel were numbered and provided of victuals, and went against them, and pitched before them like two little flocks of kids: but the Syrians filled the country. Then there came a man of God and said unto the king of Israel, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because the Syrians say that the LORD is but a God of the hills, and not God of the valleys too: therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand that ye may know that I am the LORD.'" And they pitched one over against the other seven days, and the seventh day joined battle. And the children of Israel slew of the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen in one day. And the rest fled to Aphek into the city. And there fell a wall upon twenty seven thousand of them that were left. And Benhadad fled and went into the city, from chamber to chamber. Then said his servants unto him, "Behold, we have heard say that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sack cloth about our Loins and ropes about our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: haply he will save thy life." And they girded sack cloth about their loins and put ropes about their heads, and went out to the king of Israel and said, "Thy servant Benhadad sayeth, 'I pray thee let me live.'" And he said, "Is he yet alive? He is my brother." And they took the word for good luck and hastily caught it out of his mouth, and said, "Yea, thy brother Benhadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." And Benhadad came out to him, and the other took him up into the chariot. And Benhadad said, "The cities which my father took from thy father, I will restore again. And thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria. And I will make a covenant with thee and send thee away." And so he made a covenant with him and sent him away. Then a certain man of the children of the Prophets said unto his fellow, with the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man would not smite him. And he said, "Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD: behold, as soon as thou art departed from me a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him and slew him. Then he found another man and said to him, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man gave him a good stripe and wounded him. And the Prophet went forth and waited for the king by the way and altered his face with ashes. And when the king came by, he cried unto him and said, "Thy servant went out in the midst of the battle. And see, there was one began to flee. And there came a man to me and said, 'Keep this man. And if he be missed thy life shall go for his, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.' And as thy servant had here and there to do, he was gone." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Even so shall thy judgment be, as thou hast defined it thyself." And he hasted and took the ashes away from his eyes: and the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the Prophets. And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because thou hast let go a man that ought to have died, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his." And the king of Israel went to his house wayward and heavy, and entered into Samaria. After these things were done, it chanced that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel hard by the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Let me have thy vineyard, to make me a garden of herbs thereof, because it lieth so nigh my house: and I will give thee a better vineyard for it: or if it please thee I will give thee, the worth of it in silver." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that from me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." Then went Ahab unto his house wayward and evil apaid, because of the words which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him, saying, "I will not give to thee the inheritance of my fathers." And he laid him down upon his bed and turned away his face, and would eat no meat. And then Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, "Why art thou so froward, that thou eatest no meat?" And he said unto her, "I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, 'Give me thy vineyard for silver, or else if thou wilt, I will give thee another vineyard for it.' And he said, 'I will not give thee my vineyard.'" Then said Jezebel his wife unto him, "What a goodly kingdom were thou able to make in Israel? Up, and eat meat and set thine heart at rest, for I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." And she wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sealed it with his seal, and sent it unto the elders and chief men of his city that dwelt where Naboth dwelt. And she wrote in the letter, saying, "Proclaim fasting and set Naboth on high among the people, and set two unthrifties before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'Thou didst curse both God and the king.' And upon that carry him out and stone him to death." And the elders and nobles of his city, which dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letter which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed fasting, and set Naboth on high among the people, and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death. And then they sent to Jezebel saying, "Naboth is stoned to death." And when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Up, and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he denied to give thee for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead." And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. He stood up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. And the word of the LORD came unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Up, and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth: for he is gone down thither, to take possession of it. And say unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou hast killed and thereto gotten possession.' And say moreover unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: in the place where dogs lapped the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lap even thy blood also.'" And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me thine enemy at any time?" And he said, "Yea, because thou art utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will make clean riddance of thee, and will destroy unto Ahab all that pisseth against the wall, and if ought be prisoned or forsaken in Israel: and will make thine house, like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the angering wherewith thou hast angered and made Israel sin." And thereto against Jezebel came the word of the LORD, saying, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel, under the walls of Jezreel. And he that dieth of Ahab in the town, him shall dogs eat: and he that dieth in the fields, him shall the fowls of the air eat." For there was none at all like Ahab, that was so utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, and that because Jezebel his wife pricked him forward. And therefore he did exceeding abominably, in following Idols, in all things like as did the Amorites which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. When Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes and put sackcloth about his flesh and fasted, and lay in sack and went comfortless. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he so submitteth himself before me, I will not bring that evil in his days: but in his son's days, I will bring evil upon his house." And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. And the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah came to the king of Israel. Then said the king of Israel unto his servants, "Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we sit still and take it not out of the hands of the king of Syria?" And he said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me to battle, to Ramoth in Gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "I will be as thou art, and my people shall be as thine, and my horses as thine." And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Ask counsel, I pray thee, of the LORD today." And then the king of Israel gathered of the Prophets together, upon a four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall I go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or be still?" And they said, "Go: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there never a Prophet of the LORD's here, more, that we might enquire of him?" And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one, by whom we may ask counsel of the LORD: one Micaiah the son of Imlah. But I hate him: for he never prophesieth good unto me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel called unto one of his chamberlains and said, "Fetch Micaiah the son of Imlah hither at once." And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either in his seat and their apparel on them, in a void place beside the entering of the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron and said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'With these horns thou shalt winnow the Syrians until thou have made an end of them." And all the Prophets prophesied even so, saying, "Go to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, said unto him, "See, the words of the Prophets speak good unto the king with one voice: let thy words, I pray thee, be like the words of one of them, and speak that is good." And Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, what the LORD putteth in my mouth, that will I speak." And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall we be still?" And he said unto him, "Go and prosper, the LORD deliver it unto the hands of the king." And the king said unto him, "How often shall I adjure thee, that thou tell me nothing but truth, in the name of the LORD?" Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have no shepherds. And the LORD said, 'Those have no master; let them return, every man to his house in peace.'" Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would prophesy no good unto me, but evil?" And Micaiah said, "Hear therefore the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit on his seat and all his company of heaven standing about him, on his righthand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab that he may go and be slain at Ramoth in Gilead?' And one said on this manner and another on that. Then came forth a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will deceive him.' And the LORD said, 'Wherewith?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a false spirit in the mouths of all Prophets.' And the LORD said, 'Thou shalt deceive him and also prevail, go forth and do even so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets: when in very deed the LORD hath spoken evil toward thee." Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "How is the spirit of the LORD gone from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee." And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back again into Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joab the king's son, and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'" Then Micaiah said, "If thou come safe again, the LORD hath not spoken in me." And he said moreover, "Hearken to the people every one of you." And so the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth in Gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to war: but put on thine own apparel." And the king of Israel changed himself, and went to battle also. But the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, of which he had thirty two, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, save with the king of Israel only." And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he had been the king of Israel, and therefore turned to him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out. And when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him. And a certain man drew a bow ignorantly and smote the king of Israel between the ribs of his harness. Wherefore the king said unto the driver of his chariot, "Turn thy hand and carry me out of the host, for I am hurt." And the battle increased that day, and the king continued in his chariot before the Syrians, and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. And there went a proclamation throughout the host after the sun was down, saying, "Every man to his city and to his own country." And when the king of Israel was dead, they came to Samaria and buried him there. And while they washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood, and harlots washed him according to the word of the LORD which he spake. The rest of the deeds of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and the cities that he built, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And when Ahab was laid to rest with his fathers, Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
And he reared an altar to Baal in the house of Baal which he had made in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove, and proceeded further in angering the LORD God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. And it cost him Abiram his eldest son when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son when he set up the gates, agreeing unto the word of the LORD which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. And Elijah the Tishbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, save as I appoint it." And the word of God came to him, saying, "Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself in the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. Drink of the river for I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." And he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh every morning and every evening, and he drank of the brook. And it chanced after a while that the brook dried up, because there fell no rain upon the earth. Then came the word of the LORD unto him, saying, "Up, and get thee to Zarephath a city of Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee." And he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, there was a widow there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a dish that I may drink." And as she went to fetch it, he cried to her and said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." And she answered, "As surely as the LORD thy God liveth, I have no bread, but even a handful of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse. And see, I have gathered a few sticks for to go and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it and then die." And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not, but go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first of all, and bring it out to me, and afterward make for thee and thy son. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'The pitcher of meal shall not be wasted, neither shall thy oil cruse be without oil, until the LORD have sent rain upon the earth.'" And she went and did as Elijah bade. And she and he and her house did eat a good space, and the pitcher of meal wasted not neither was the oil cruse without oil according to the word of the LORD which he spake through Elijah. And after these things, it happened that the son of the wife of the house fell sick. And his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. Then said she unto Elijah, "What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art thou come unto me, that my sin should be thought on and my son slain?" And Elijah said unto her, "Give me thy son." And he took him out of her lap and carried him up into a loft where he lay, and laid him upon his own bed, and called unto the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, hast thou been so evil unto the widow with whom I sojourn, that thou hast slain her son?" And he stretched himself upon the lad three times, and called unto the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, let the lad's soul come into him again." And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the lad came into him again and he revived. And Elijah took the boy and brought him down out of the chamber into the house and delivered him unto his mother and said, "See, thy son liveth." Then the wife said to Elijah, "Now I know that thou art God's man, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth." And at the last, the word of the LORD came to Elijah the third year, saying, "Go show thyself unto Ahab, that I may send rain upon the earth." And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab, for there was a great famishment in Samaria. Wherefore Ahab called Obadiah the governor of his house - which Obadiah feared God greatly, insomuch that when Jezebel destroyed the Prophets of the LORD, he took a hundred of the Prophets and hid them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another, and provided bread and water for them. And Ahab said unto Obadiah, "Walk through the land, unto all fountains of water and unto all brooks, to see whether any grass may be found that we may save the horses and the mules, that we destroy not the beasts." And they divided the land between them to walk through it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another by himself. And it chanced, as Obadiah went in the way, that Elijah met him. And Obadiah knew him and fell on his face and said, "Art not thou my lord Elijah?" And he said unto him, "I am he. Go and tell Ahab that Elijah is here." And the other answered, "What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver me unto the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As surely as the LORD thy God liveth there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent, to seek thee. And when they said thou wast not there, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, because he found thee not. And now thou sayest, 'Go and tell thy Lord Elijah is here.' And as soon as I am gone from thee, the spirit of the LORD shall carry thee away, whither I shall not know: and then when I have gone and told Ahab, and then he can not find thee, he shall slay me. And yet I thy servant have feared the LORD from my young age. Was it not told my lord what I did, when Jezebel slew the Prophets of the LORD? How I hid a hundred of the LORD's Prophets, fifty in one cave and as many in another, and provided them of bread and water? And yet now thou sayest, "Go show thy lord that Elijah is here, that he should slay me." Then Elijah said, "As truly as the LORD of Hosts liveth, before whom I stand: I will show myself unto him this day." And thereupon Obadiah went to Ahab and told him. And Ahab went against Elijah. And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab, till they came to Jezreel. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and altogether how he had slain the Prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, "So do God to me, and so thereto, except I make thy soul like one of theirs by tomorrow this time." When he saw that, he arose and went for his life, and came to Beersheba in Judah, and left his lad there. And he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and when he was come sat down under a Juniper tree, and desired for his soul, that he might die, and said, "It is now enough, O LORD, take my soul; for I am not better than my fathers." And as he lay and slept under the Juniper tree, behold, there came an Angel and touched him, and said unto him, "Up and eat." And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep. And the Angel of the LORD came again the second time and touched him, and said, "Up and eat, for thou hast a long Journey to go." And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God, and entered there into a cave and lodged there all night. And then the word of the LORD came to him, and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" And he answered, "I have been thorough angry for the LORD God of Hosts' sake. For the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and have broken down thine altars and slain the Prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it too." And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice. And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and went out and stood in the mouth of the cave. And see, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here Elijah?" And he answered, "I was jealous for the LORD God of Hosts' sake: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and have cast down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it." Then the LORD said unto him, "Go and turn thy way to the wilderness of Damascus, and go and anoint Hazael to be king of Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi, anoint to be king over Israel; And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah anoint to be Prophet in thy room. And whoso escapeth the sword of Hazael, him shall Jehu slay: and if any man escape the sword of Jehu, him shall Elisha slay. And thereto I have left me seven thousand in Israel, of which never man bowed his knees unto Baal nor kissed him with his mouth." And he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelve. And Elijah went to him and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow thee." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to thee?" And he went back again from after him, and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and dressed the flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave it the people, and they did eat. And then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered unto him. And Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered all his host together - and thirty two kings with him, with horse and chariot - and went up and besieged Samaria and warred against it. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, "Thus sayeth Benhadad, 'Thy silver and thy gold is mine, and the best of thy wives, and the best of thy children be mine.'" And the king of Israel answered, and said, "My lord king, according to thy saying, I am thine with all I have." And the messengers came again to Ahab and said, "Thus sayeth Benhadad, 'I have therefore sent unto thee, saying: deliver me then thy silver and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children. Or else I will send my servants unto thee by tomorrow this time: and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants, which shall take all that is glorious in thine eyes, and bring it away with them.'" Then the king of Israel sent for the elders of the land and said, "Take heed I pray you and see, how this fellow goeth about mischief. For he sent unto me, for my wives and my children, and my silver and my gold: and I denied him nothing of it." And all the elders of Israel and all the people said, "Hearken not to him nor consent." Whereupon he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, "Tell my lord the king, all that he sent for the first time, that I will do: but this request I may not do." And the messengers departed and brought him word. Then Benhadad sent unto him and said, "Thus do the gods to me and so thereto, if the dust of Samaria be enough for all the people that follow me, that every man may have a handful." And the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not him that putteth on his harness boast himself, as he putteth it off.'" And when Benhadad heard that tidings, as he and the kings were drinking in the pavilions, he said unto his servants, "Put ye in array." And they put themselves in array against the city. And behold there came a Prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Seest thou all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into thine hand this day, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD.'" And Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Even by the men of the governors of the shires.'" And Ahab said, "Who shall join battle?" And he said, "Thou." Then he numbered the men of the governors of the shires: and they were two hundred and thirty two. And after them he numbered all the people, and all the children of Israel were seven thousand. And they went out at noon when Benhadad was a drinking strong drink in the pavilions with the thirty two kings that holp him. And the men of the sheriffs of the shires went out first. And Benhadad sent out, and they showed him, saying, "There came men out of Samaria." And he said, "If they come out for peace, take them alive. And also if they come for war, take them yet alive." And when those men of the sheriffs of the shires were come out of the city and the Host after them, they slew every one of them his man. And the Syrians fled, and Israel followed after them. And Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with his horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and smote horse and chariot, and slew a great slaughter of the Syrians. Then there came a Prophet to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go forth and play the man: be wise and take heed what thou doest. For when the year is about, the king of Syria will come against thee again." Then said the servants of the kings of Syria to him, "The gods of the hills are their gods, and therefore they had the better of us. But let us fight with them in the plain, and for what ye will, we shall have the better of them. And this do: take the kings away every man out of his place, and put dukes in their rooms. And do thou number thee a host, like the host that thou hast lost, and horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and let us fight with them in the plain; and for a wager, we get the better of them." And the king hearkened unto their voice and did even so. And as soon as the year was about, Benhadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to war with Israel. And the children of Israel were numbered and provided of victuals, and went against them, and pitched before them like two little flocks of kids: but the Syrians filled the country. Then there came a man of God and said unto the king of Israel, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because the Syrians say that the LORD is but a God of the hills, and not God of the valleys too: therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand that ye may know that I am the LORD.'" And they pitched one over against the other seven days, and the seventh day joined battle. And the children of Israel slew of the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen in one day. And the rest fled to Aphek into the city. And there fell a wall upon twenty seven thousand of them that were left. And Benhadad fled and went into the city, from chamber to chamber. Then said his servants unto him, "Behold, we have heard say that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sack cloth about our Loins and ropes about our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: haply he will save thy life." And they girded sack cloth about their loins and put ropes about their heads, and went out to the king of Israel and said, "Thy servant Benhadad sayeth, 'I pray thee let me live.'" And he said, "Is he yet alive? He is my brother." And they took the word for good luck and hastily caught it out of his mouth, and said, "Yea, thy brother Benhadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." And Benhadad came out to him, and the other took him up into the chariot. And Benhadad said, "The cities which my father took from thy father, I will restore again. And thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria. And I will make a covenant with thee and send thee away." And so he made a covenant with him and sent him away. Then a certain man of the children of the Prophets said unto his fellow, with the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man would not smite him. And he said, "Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD: behold, as soon as thou art departed from me a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him and slew him. Then he found another man and said to him, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man gave him a good stripe and wounded him. And the Prophet went forth and waited for the king by the way and altered his face with ashes. And when the king came by, he cried unto him and said, "Thy servant went out in the midst of the battle. And see, there was one began to flee. And there came a man to me and said, 'Keep this man. And if he be missed thy life shall go for his, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.' And as thy servant had here and there to do, he was gone." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Even so shall thy judgment be, as thou hast defined it thyself." And he hasted and took the ashes away from his eyes: and the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the Prophets. And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because thou hast let go a man that ought to have died, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his." And the king of Israel went to his house wayward and heavy, and entered into Samaria. After these things were done, it chanced that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel hard by the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Let me have thy vineyard, to make me a garden of herbs thereof, because it lieth so nigh my house: and I will give thee a better vineyard for it: or if it please thee I will give thee, the worth of it in silver." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that from me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." Then went Ahab unto his house wayward and evil apaid, because of the words which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him, saying, "I will not give to thee the inheritance of my fathers." And he laid him down upon his bed and turned away his face, and would eat no meat. And then Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, "Why art thou so froward, that thou eatest no meat?" And he said unto her, "I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, 'Give me thy vineyard for silver, or else if thou wilt, I will give thee another vineyard for it.' And he said, 'I will not give thee my vineyard.'" Then said Jezebel his wife unto him, "What a goodly kingdom were thou able to make in Israel? Up, and eat meat and set thine heart at rest, for I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." And she wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sealed it with his seal, and sent it unto the elders and chief men of his city that dwelt where Naboth dwelt. And she wrote in the letter, saying, "Proclaim fasting and set Naboth on high among the people, and set two unthrifties before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'Thou didst curse both God and the king.' And upon that carry him out and stone him to death." And the elders and nobles of his city, which dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letter which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed fasting, and set Naboth on high among the people, and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death. And then they sent to Jezebel saying, "Naboth is stoned to death." And when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Up, and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he denied to give thee for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead." And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. He stood up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. And the word of the LORD came unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Up, and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth: for he is gone down thither, to take possession of it. And say unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou hast killed and thereto gotten possession.' And say moreover unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: in the place where dogs lapped the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lap even thy blood also.'" And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me thine enemy at any time?" And he said, "Yea, because thou art utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will make clean riddance of thee, and will destroy unto Ahab all that pisseth against the wall, and if ought be prisoned or forsaken in Israel: and will make thine house, like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the angering wherewith thou hast angered and made Israel sin." And thereto against Jezebel came the word of the LORD, saying, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel, under the walls of Jezreel. And he that dieth of Ahab in the town, him shall dogs eat: and he that dieth in the fields, him shall the fowls of the air eat." For there was none at all like Ahab, that was so utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, and that because Jezebel his wife pricked him forward. And therefore he did exceeding abominably, in following Idols, in all things like as did the Amorites which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. When Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes and put sackcloth about his flesh and fasted, and lay in sack and went comfortless. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he so submitteth himself before me, I will not bring that evil in his days: but in his son's days, I will bring evil upon his house." And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. And the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah came to the king of Israel. Then said the king of Israel unto his servants, "Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we sit still and take it not out of the hands of the king of Syria?" And he said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me to battle, to Ramoth in Gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "I will be as thou art, and my people shall be as thine, and my horses as thine." And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Ask counsel, I pray thee, of the LORD today." And then the king of Israel gathered of the Prophets together, upon a four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall I go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or be still?" And they said, "Go: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there never a Prophet of the LORD's here, more, that we might enquire of him?" And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one, by whom we may ask counsel of the LORD: one Micaiah the son of Imlah. But I hate him: for he never prophesieth good unto me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel called unto one of his chamberlains and said, "Fetch Micaiah the son of Imlah hither at once." And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either in his seat and their apparel on them, in a void place beside the entering of the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron and said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'With these horns thou shalt winnow the Syrians until thou have made an end of them." And all the Prophets prophesied even so, saying, "Go to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver it into the hands of the king." And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, said unto him, "See, the words of the Prophets speak good unto the king with one voice: let thy words, I pray thee, be like the words of one of them, and speak that is good." And Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, what the LORD putteth in my mouth, that will I speak." And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall we be still?" And he said unto him, "Go and prosper, the LORD deliver it unto the hands of the king." And the king said unto him, "How often shall I adjure thee, that thou tell me nothing but truth, in the name of the LORD?" Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have no shepherds. And the LORD said, 'Those have no master; let them return, every man to his house in peace.'" Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would prophesy no good unto me, but evil?" And Micaiah said, "Hear therefore the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit on his seat and all his company of heaven standing about him, on his righthand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab that he may go and be slain at Ramoth in Gilead?' And one said on this manner and another on that. Then came forth a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will deceive him.' And the LORD said, 'Wherewith?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a false spirit in the mouths of all Prophets.' And the LORD said, 'Thou shalt deceive him and also prevail, go forth and do even so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets: when in very deed the LORD hath spoken evil toward thee." Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "How is the spirit of the LORD gone from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee." And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back again into Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joab the king's son, and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'" Then Micaiah said, "If thou come safe again, the LORD hath not spoken in me." And he said moreover, "Hearken to the people every one of you." And so the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth in Gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to war: but put on thine own apparel." And the king of Israel changed himself, and went to battle also. But the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, of which he had thirty two, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, save with the king of Israel only." And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he had been the king of Israel, and therefore turned to him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out. And when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him. And a certain man drew a bow ignorantly and smote the king of Israel between the ribs of his harness. Wherefore the king said unto the driver of his chariot, "Turn thy hand and carry me out of the host, for I am hurt." And the battle increased that day, and the king continued in his chariot before the Syrians, and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. And there went a proclamation throughout the host after the sun was down, saying, "Every man to his city and to his own country." And when the king of Israel was dead, they came to Samaria and buried him there. And while they washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood, and harlots washed him according to the word of the LORD which he spake. The rest of the deeds of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and the cities that he built, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And when Ahab was laid to rest with his fathers, Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
Prayer » Importunity in » Elijah
Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." read more.
Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'"
Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Then Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up and eat and drink, for there is a sound of much rain." And when Ahab went up to eat and to drink, Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; and bowed himself to the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and said, "Here is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'"
Prayer » Prayer test proposed by elijah
And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. read more.
And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God."
And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God."
Revivals » Instances of » Elijah
And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal. But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table. read more.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty. Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God." Then said Elijah unto them, "Lay hands on the Prophets of Baal - let not one of them escape." And when they had taken them, Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there.