1 Kings 18:20

1 Kings 18:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
• New International Version (NIV)So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

Context of 1 Kings 18:20

18Elijah answered, “I haven’t troubled Israel. You and your father’s family have done it by disobeying the Lord’s commands and following the various Baal gods. 19Order all Israel to gather around me on Mount Carmel. And bring the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.” Ahab sent word to all the Israelites and brought the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, “How long will you try to have it both ways? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal is God, follow him.” The people didn’t say a word. 22So Elijah told the people, “I’m the only surviving prophet of the Lord, but there are 450 prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 18:20 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אַחְאָ֖ב בְּכָל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּקְבֹּ֥ץ אֶת־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים אֶל־הַ֥ר הַכַּרְמֶֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So Ahabאַחְאָב'ach'âb 'echâb · AhabH256
• sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• unto all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and gatheredקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
• the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• unto mountהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
• Carmelכַּרְמֶלkarmel · (Mount) CarmelH3760

Cross-references for 1 Kings 18:20

• 1 Kings 22:9The king of Israel called for an officer and said, “Quick! ⌞Get⌟ Micaiah, son of Imlah!”

Commentaries on 1 Kings 18:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Local tradition places the site of Elijah‘s sacrifice, not on the highest point of the mountain (1,728 ft.), but at the southeastern extremity (1,600 ft.) of the ridge, where a shapeless ruin, composed of great hewn stones, and standing amid thick bushes of dwarf-oak, in the near vicinity of a perennial spring, is known to the Arabs as “El-Maharrakah,” “the burning,” or “the sacrifice.” All the circumstances of the locality adapt it for the scene of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 17-20 One may guess how people stand affected to God, by observing how they stand affected to his people and ministers. It has been the lot of the best and most useful men, like Elijah, to be called and counted the troublers of the land. But those who cause God's judgments do the mischief, not he that foretells them, and warns the nation to repent.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20Mount Carmel is on a ridge that separates the coastal plain of Palestine. The site was famous for Canaanite idol worship, and an altar to the Lord was also built there earlier (1 Kings 18:30). It was a natural place for the contest with Baal. The Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament) might suggest that the prophets of Asherah were present at the contest on Mount Carmel, but the Hebrew text does not confirm this (compare 1 Kings 18:22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. mount Carmel--is a bold, bluff promontory, which extends from the western coast of Palestine, at the bay of Acre, for many miles eastward, to the central hills of Samaria. It is a long range, presenting many summits, and intersected by a number of small ravines. The spot where the contest took place is situated at the eastern extremity, which is also the highest point of the whole ridge. It is called El-Mohhraka, "the Burning," or "the Burnt Place."…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 18:20

• Ahab
• Carmel
• Elijah
• Reproof
• Revivals

In the dictionaries

• Ahab
• Carmel
• Israel
• Children of Israel
• Answer
• Cut
• Either
• Follow
• Halt
• Lord

Commentaries on 1 Kings 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings