1 Kings 18:19-44

19Now then send and gather to me all Israel at 1Mount Carmel, 2together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of 3the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21Elijah came near to all the people and said, “4How long will you 5hesitate between two opinions? 6If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I 7alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 8450 men. 23Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. 24Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and 9the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “10That is a good idea.”

25So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26Then they took the ox which 11was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was 12no voice and no one answered. And they 13leaped about the altar which 14they made. 27It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.” 28So they cried with a loud voice and 15cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. 29When midday was past, they 16raved 17until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no 18one paid attention.

30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And 19he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 31Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “20Israel shall be your name.” 32So with the stones he built an altar in 21the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two 22measures of seed. 3323Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. 34And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water. 3624At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “25O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that 26You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and 27I have done all these things at Your word. 37Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” 38Then the 28fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “29The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.” 40Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to 30the brook Kishon, 31and slew them there.

41Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” 42So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of 32Carmel; and he 33crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times. 44It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, 34a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘35Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”