1 Kings 18:17-40

17When Ahab saw Elijah, 1Ahab said to him, “Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?” 18He said, “I have not brought disaster to Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because 2you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and 3you have followed the Baals. 19Now then, send orders and gather to me all Israel at 4Mount Carmel, 5together with 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of 67the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20So Ahab sent orders among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “8How long are you going to 9struggle with the two choices? 10If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I 11alone am left as a prophet of the Lord, while Baal’s prophets are 12450 men. 23Now have them give us two oxen; and have them choose the 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 13the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people replied, “14That is a good idea.”

25So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose the one ox for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the ox.” 26Then they took the ox which 15was given them and they prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was 16no voice and no one answered. And they 17limped about the altar which 18they had made. 27And at noon Elijah ridiculed them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, since he is a god; undoubtedly he is attending to business, or is on the way, or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep, and will awaken.” 28So they cried out with a loud voice, and 19cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until blood gushed out on them. 29When midday was past, they raved 20until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and 21no one paid attention.

30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come forward to me.” So all the people came forward to him. And 22he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 31Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “23Israel shall be your name.” 32And with the stones he built an altar in 24the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two 25measures of seed. 3326Then he laid out the wood, and he cut the ox in pieces and placed it on the wood. 34And he said, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” so they did it a second time. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” so they did it a third time. 35The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water. 36Then 27at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached and said, “28Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that 29You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that 30I have done all these things at Your word. 37Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.” 38Then the 31fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39When all the people saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, “32The 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 33the brook Kishon, 34and slaughtered them there.