13My master, have you not heard about what I did when Jezebel wanted to kill all of Yahweh's prophets? I hid a hundred of them in two caves and took food and water to them.
14Now, sir, you say, ‘Go and tell your master that Elijah is here.’ But if I do that, and he comes and you are not here, he will kill me!”
15But Elijah replied, “Yahweh, the Almighty One whom I serve IDM, knows that I am telling the truth as I solemnly declare that I will go to meet with Ahab today.”
16So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet with him.
17When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, the one who causes trouble for the people of Israel?”
18Elijah replied, “It is not I who have caused trouble for the people of Israel! You and your family are the ones who have caused trouble! You have refused to obey Yahweh's commands, and you have worshiped the idols of Baal instead.
19So now, command all the Israeli people to come to Carmel Mountain, and be sure to bring all the 450 prophets who worship Baal and the 400 prophets who worship the goddess Asherah, the ones to whom your wife Jezebel brings food and water.”
20So Ahab summoned all his prophets and all the other Israeli people to the top of Carmel Mountain, and Elijah went up there too
21Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How long RHQ are you going to be undecided about who is truly God? If Yahweh is truly God, then worship/serve him. If Baal is truly God, then worship/serve him!” But the people said nothing in reply, because they were afraid of what Jezebel would do to them if they admitted that they worshiped Yahweh.
22Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only true prophet of Yahweh who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23Bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose the one that they want. They must kill it and cut it into pieces and lay the pieces on the wood that is on the altar that they havemade. But they must not light a fire under the wood. I will kill the other bull and cut it in pieces and lay the pieces on the altar that I make.
24Then they must call to their god MTY, and I will call to Yahweh. The god who answers by lighting a fire to the wood that is on that altar is the true God!” Then all the people thought that Elijah's suggestion was good.
25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You call to Baal first, because there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls and prepare it, and then call to your god. But do not light a fire under the wood!”
26So they killed one of the bulls and cut it up and placed the pieces on the altar. Then they called out to Baal all morning. They shouted, “Baal, answer us!” But no one answered. There was no reply at all DOU. Then they danced wildly around the altar that they had made.
27About noontime, Elijah started to make fun of them. He said, “ Surely Baal is a god, so it seems that you must shout louder! Perhaps he is thinking about something, or perhaps he has gone to the toilet. Or perhaps he is traveling somewhere, or perhaps he is asleep and you need to wake him up!”
28So they shouted louder. Then, doing one of the things that they frequently did when they worshiped Baal, they slashed/cut themselves with knives and swords until a lot of blood flowed.
29They continued calling out to Baal all afternoon. But there was no reply, no answer, no god who paid attention.
1 Kings 18
1 Kings 18:13-29