1 Kings 18

1 After [a long period of time, many days] a long time, in the third [ordinal number, indicating sequence] year of the drought [a period of severe dryness, famine], the word [a message, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came to Elijah [my God is Jehovah, a prophet]: “Go [to walk, move] and present [show, appear] yourself to Ahab [a king of Israel], and I will send [to give, provide] rain [water from the sky, a blessing] upon [on, above] the face [presence, surface] of the earth [land, ground].” word study 2 So Elijah [my God is Jehovah, a prophet of God] went to present [show, appear before] himself to Ahab [a king of Israel, married to Jezebel]. The famine [a severe lack of food, hunger] was severe [strong, grievous] in Samaria [the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, watch mountain], word study 3 and Ahab [the king of Israel] summoned Obadiah [the governor of his house, in charge of the palace], who was in charge of the palace [the king’s household]. (Now Obadiah [a devout follower] greatly feared [revered, stood in awe of] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God, the one true God, Creator of all], word study 4 for when Jezebel [the wicked queen] had slaughtered [cut off, destroyed] the prophets [spokespersons, messengers] of the LORD [Yehovah, the divine King], Obadiah [a faithful servant] had taken [rescued, saved] a hundred [a large group] prophets and hidden [concealed, protected] them, fifty men [faithful individuals] per cave [a secret, hidden place], providing [sustaining, supporting] them with food [nourishment, bread] and water [refreshment, hydration].) word study 5 Then Ahab [the king of Israel, a wicked ruler] said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land [the entire region, every territory] to every spring [fountain, source of water] and every valley [brook, low-lying area]. Perhaps [if not, it may be] we will find grass [hay, vegetation] to keep the horses [swallow, chariot horses] and mules [the offspring of a horse and a donkey] alive [to live, have life] so that we will not have to destroy [cut off, utterly perish] any livestock [animals, beasts].” word study 6 So they divided [to separate, apportion] the land [territory, region] to explore [pass through, traverse]. Ahab [the king of Israel] went one way [direction, path] by himself [alone, solitary], and Obadiah [the prophet] went the other way [different direction, separate path] by himself [alone, unaccompanied]. word study 7 Now as Obadiah [the prophet, a servant of God] went on his way [journey, path of life], Elijah [my God is Jehovah, a prophet of the Lord] suddenly met him [encountered, came face to face with]. When Obadiah recognized [knew, acknowledged] him, he fell [prostrated, bowed down] facedown [on his face, in reverence] and said, “Is it you [are you the one, is this really you], my lord [master, one in authority] Elijah [the prophet, God’s messenger]?” word study 8 “It is I [I am, I exist, the one speaking],” he answered [said, spoke, declared]. “Go [walk, proceed, depart] tell your [the one in authority over you] master, ‘Elijah [my God is Jehovah, the prophet] is here [present, among you, arrived]!’” word study 9 But Obadiah replied, “How [in what way, wherein] have I sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong], that you are handing [giving, putting] your servant [one who serves, a slave] over to Ahab [the king of Israel] to put me to death [slay, kill me]? word study 10 As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] lives [is alive, has life], there is no nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew] or kingdom [dominion, territory] where my lord [master, ruler] has not sent [dispatched, commissioned] someone to search [seek, look for] for you. When they said, ‘He is not [does not exist, is absent] here [in this place],’ he made that kingdom [domain, realm] or nation [Gentile, people] swear [take an oath, make a vow] that they had not [did not, were unable to] found [discover, find] you. word study 11 And now [at this moment, in this present time] you [as an individual, personally] say [command, speak], ‘Go [walk, proceed] tell [inform, announce] your [possessive, belonging to you] master [the one in authority over you] that Elijah [my God is Jehovah, the prophet] is here [present, in this place]!’ word study 12 I do not know [am unaware, have no idea] where the Spirit [the divine breath] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] may carry you off [lift you up, transport you] when I leave you [depart from your presence]. Then when I go [walk, travel] and tell Ahab [the wicked king] and he does not find you [cannot discover your location], he will kill me [slay, put to death]. But I, your servant [slave, bondservant], have feared [revered, stood in awe] the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty] from my youth [young age, early years]. word study 13 Was it not reported [told, declared] to my lord [master, ruler] what I did when Jezebel [the wife of King Ahab, a queen of Israel] slaughtered [killed, slew] the prophets [spokespersons, messengers] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]? I hid [concealed, protected] a hundred [a large number, many] prophets of the LORD, fifty men [individuals, persons] per cave [a hidden place, a den], and I provided [sustained, supported] them with food [bread, nourishment] and water [refreshment, sustenance]. word study 14 And now [at this moment, currently] you [as an individual, personally] say, ‘Go [walk, proceed] tell [inform, announce] your [possessive, belonging to you] lord [master, ruler] that Elijah [my God is Jehovah, the prophet] is here [present, in this place]!’ He will [is going to, intends to] kill [slay, destroy, with intent] me [the speaker, personally]!” word study 15 Then Elijah [the prophet, my God is Jehovah] said, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [the army of heaven, a large group of people or things] lives [is alive, has life], before whom [in whose presence, before the face of] I stand [am stationed, in a strong sense], I will present [show, appear] myself to Ahab [the king of Israel] today [on this day, in this time].” word study 16 So Obadiah [a faithful prophet] went to inform [tell, declare] Ahab [the king of Israel], who went [to walk, to move] to meet [encounter, befall] Elijah [my God is Jehovah, a mighty prophet]. word study 17 When Ahab [the king of Israel] saw Elijah [my God is Jehovah, the prophet], he said to him, “Is that you [the one who causes trouble], O [you who are] troubler [causing problems or affliction] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]?” word study 18 “I have not [in no way] troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you [as the responsible leader] and your father’s house [your family and ancestral lineage] have, for you have forsaken [abandoned, turned away from] the commandments [divine laws and instructions] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and have followed [walked after, pursued] the Baals [false gods, idols]. word study 19 Now [at this time] summon all Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] to meet me on Mount Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field, a spiritual high point], along with the four hundred and fifty prophets [speakers for God, spokespersons] of Baal [the Phoenician deity, a false god] and the four hundred prophets [speakers for a false god, false spokespersons] of Asherah [a Canaanite goddess, often represented by a tree or pole] who eat [devour, consume] at Jezebel’s [the wife of King Ahab, a queen of Israel, known for her evil deeds] table [a place of communion].” word study 20 So Ahab [the wicked king of Israel] summoned [sent unto, gathered] all [every single one, the entire nation] the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] and assembled [gathered together, collected] the prophets [spokesmen for God, messengers] on [toward, unto] Mount Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field, a spiritual high point]. word study 21 Then Elijah [the prophet, my God is Jehovah] approached all the people and said, “How long [until when, for how much time] will you waver [halt, limp, be undecided] between two opinions [divided mind, mixed sentiments]? If the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] is God [Elohim, the supreme God], follow Him [walk after, obey]. But if Baal [the Phoenician deity] is God, follow him [go after, worship].” But the people did not answer [respond, give an answer] a word [anything, a single thing]. word study 22 Then Elijah [the prophet, my God is Jehovah] said to the people, “I [alone, by myself] am the only remaining [left, still present] prophet [spokesperson, messenger] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], but Baal [the false god, idol] has four hundred and fifty [a large multitude of] prophets [false spokesmen, claimants]. word study 23 Get two [a pair of] bulls [young oxen, used for sacrifice] for us. Let the prophets of Baal [idolatrous priests] choose one [a single] bull for themselves, cut it into pieces [disjoint and lay out], and place it on the wood [tree, wooden structure] but not light the fire [kindle the flames]. And I will prepare the other bull [young ox, for sacrifice] and place it on the wood [tree, wooden structure] but not light the fire [ignite the flames]. word study 24 Then you may call [invoke, pray to] on the name [identity, character] of your god, and I will call [invoke, pray to] on the name [identity, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. The God [Elohim, the supreme God] who answers [responds, gives a sign] by fire [burning, flame], He is God [the one true God, having all authority].” And all [every single one] the people answered, “What you say [propose, suggest] is good [pleasant, beneficial, wise].” word study 25 Then Elijah [the prophet of God] said to the prophets of Baal [the false deity], “Since you are so numerous [many, a multitude], choose for yourselves one bull [a young ox, a sacrifice] and prepare it first [before the others, in the lead]. Then call on the name [the character, the reputation] of your god [the idol, the false deity], but do not light the fire [the flame, the spark].” word study 26 And they took [received, accepted] the bull [young ox, sacrifice] that was given them, prepared [dressed, made ready] it, and called [cried out, invoked] on the name [identity, character] of Baal [the Phoenician deity, false god] from morning [dawn, break of day] until noon [midday, when the sun is highest], shouting [saying, crying out], “O Baal [the Lord, master], answer [respond, hear] us!” But there was no sound [voice, noise], and no one answered [responded, replied] as they leaped [hopped, danced] around the altar [place of sacrifice, worship] they had made [constructed, prepared]. word study 27 At noon [midday, when the sun is highest] Elijah began to taunt [mock, ridicule] them, saying, “Shout louder [with a louder voice, cry aloud], for he is a god [a deity, having divine power]! Perhaps [if not, it may be] he is deep in thought [meditating, in a state of contemplation], or occupied [pursuing his enemies, on a journey], or on a journey [traveling, away from his throne]. Perhaps [it may be] he is sleeping [asleep, in a state of unconsciousness] and must be awakened [roused from his slumber, made aware]!” word study 28 So they shouted [with a loud voice, cried aloud] louder and cut [gashed, slashed] themselves with knives [swords, cutting instruments] and lances [spears, javelins], as was their custom [manner, usual way], until the blood [life-giving fluid] gushed [poured, flowed] over them [upon, on top of]. word study 29 Midday [noon, the middle of the day] passed, and they kept on raving [prophesying, speaking under the influence of the divine spirit] until the time of the evening sacrifice [offering, gift to God]. But there was no response [voice, sound]; no one answered [responded, gave a reply], no one paid attention [was attentive, regarded with care]. word study 30 Then Elijah [my God is Jehovah, a prophet of the Lord] said to all [every single one] the people, “Come near [draw close, approach] to me.” So all [the entire crowd] the people approached [came near, gathered around] him, and he repaired [restored, mended] the altar [a place of sacrifice] of the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] that had been [previously, at an earlier time] torn down [overthrown, broken]. word study 31 And Elijah [the prophet, my God is Jehovah] took twelve stones [according to the number of the tribes], one for each tribe [a clan or family group] of the sons [descendants or offspring] of Jacob [Israel, the father of the twelve tribes], to whom the word [a message or command] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had come and said, “Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] shall be your name [identity, honor, and character].” word study 32 And with the stones [hewn rocks, building materials], Elijah built [constructed, established] an altar [place of sacrifice, worship] in the name [identity, reputation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. Then he dug [excavated, made] a trench [channel, conduit] around the altar [surrounding, encircling] large enough to hold [contain, receive] two seahs [measures, volumes] of seed [grain, offspring]. word study 33 Next, he arranged [in order, laid out] the wood [tree, wooden plank], cut up [divided, hewed] the bull [young ox, sacrifice], placed [set, laid] it on [upon, above] the wood [tree, wooden plank], word study 34 and said, “Fill [completely satisfy] four waterpots [jars, containers] and pour [liberally bestow] the water on the offering [burnt offering, a gift to God] and on the wood [a tree, timber, a plank].” “Do it [repeat the action] a second time [again, once more],” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it [fulfill the command] a third time [to complete or perfect],” he said, and they did it a third time. word study 35 So the water [liquid refreshment] ran down around the altar [place of sacrifice] and even [also] filled the trench [conduit, channel] [completely overflowing, like a healing process, to fill]. word study 36 At the time of the evening sacrifice [offering, oblation], Elijah [my God is Jehovah] the prophet [one who speaks for God] approached [drew near, came close to] the altar and said, “O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Abraham [the father of faith], Isaac [he laughs], and Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob], let it be known [ascertain, perceive] this day [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time] that You are God [the one supreme God] in Israel [the descendants of Jacob] and that I am Your servant [one who serves, a slave] and have done all these things [events, affairs] at Your command [word, thing, affair]. word study 37 Answer me, O [Yehovah, the Lord God] LORD! Answer me, so that this people [nation, community] will know [perceive, understand] that You, the LORD [Yehovah, God of covenant], are God [Elohim, the supreme God], and that You have turned [to turn, surround] their hearts [inner being, will] back again [in reverse, to a previous state].” word study 38 Then the fire [divine, refining] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] fell and consumed [devoured, ate up] the sacrifice [burnt offering], the wood [trees, wooden planks], the stones [rocks, weights], and the dust [dry earth, clay], and it licked up [drank, sucked up] the water [liquid, source of refreshment] in the trench [conduit, channel for water]. word study 39 When all [every single one] the people [Amaw, a nation or tribe] saw [perceived, understood] this, they fell [prostrated themselves, bowed down] facedown [on their faces, in reverence] and said, “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], He [the one true God] is God [Elohim, the supreme deity]! The LORD, He is God!” word study 40 Then Elijah [the prophet of God] ordered them, “Seize [capture, take hold of] the prophets [spokesmen, messengers] of Baal [the false deity]! Do not let [none shall] a single one [any, none] escape [slip away, be delivered].” So they seized [caught, took] them, and Elijah [my God is Jehovah] brought them down [descended, led] to the Kishon Valley [brook, river] and slaughtered [killed, put to death] them there [in that place, at that time]. word study 41 And Elijah [the prophet of God] said to Ahab, “Go up [ascend, rise], eat [partake, devour] and drink [refresh, feast], for there is the sound [voice, noise] of a heavy [abundant, plentiful] rain [shower, downpour].” word study 42 So Ahab [the king of Israel] went up to eat [partake of food] and drink [refresh himself]. But Elijah [my God is Jehovah, the prophet] climbed to the summit [the top, the highest point] of Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field], bent down [prostrated himself, bowed] on the ground [the earth, the land], and put his face [his presence, his being] between [in the midst of] his knees [a sign of respect, humility]. word study 43 “Go [up now, ascend] and look [attentively, with care] toward the sea [the Mediterranean, the west],” he said [spoke, commanded] to his servant [young man, attendant]. So the servant went and looked [regarded carefully], and he said, “There is nothing [no sign of rain, nothing at all, no indication] there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back [return, turn back again].” word study 44 On the seventh [at the seventh instance] time the servant reported, “There is a cloud [a small cloud, like a man’s hand] as small as a man’s [an individual, a person] hand rising from the sea [the Mediterranean, the west].” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab [the king of Israel, a wicked ruler], ‘Prepare [make ready, bind] your chariot and go down [descend, come down] before the rain [a shower, the rainstorm] stops [restrains, hinders] you.’” word study 45 Meanwhile [in a little while, very quickly], the sky [heaven, the visible universe] grew dark [became black, was filled with clouds] with clouds [thick clouds, a sign of God’s presence] and wind [a blast of air], and a heavy [great, abundant] rain [shower, refreshing downpour] began to fall. So Ahab [the king of Israel, a wicked ruler] rode away [got into his chariot, started to return] and went to Jezreel [the city of God’s nurturing, a place of growth]. word study 46 And the hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came upon Elijah [my God is Jehovah], and he tucked his cloak into his belt [to gird up his loins, preparing for action] and ran [with haste, swiftly] ahead of Ahab [the king of Israel] all the way to Jezreel [the city where God sows or nurtures growth]. word study