1 Kings · Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
1 Kings 18 Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And it came to pass [after] many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
1 After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”
2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And [there was] a grievous famine in Samaria.
2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah who [was] the governor of [his] house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly;
4 For it was [so] , when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
4 for when Jezebel cut off Yahweh’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land, to all fountains of water, and to all brooks: it may be we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.”
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, [Art] thou that my lord Elijah?
7 As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 And he answered him, I [am] : go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here] .
8 He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab to slay me?
9 He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
10 [As] the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation nor kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, [He is] not [there] ; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
10 As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here] .
11 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’
12 And it will come to pass, [as soon as] I have gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD will carry thee whither I know not; and [so] when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he will slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
12 It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that Yahweh’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
13 Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed Yahweh’s prophets, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here] : and he will slay me.
14 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”
15 And Elijah said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him to-day.
15 Elijah said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel?
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
18 He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken Yahweh’s commandments and you have followed the Baals.
19 Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets to mount Carmel.
20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [is] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
21 Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.
22 Then said Elijah to the people, I [even] I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophet's [are] four hundred and fifty men.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under] : and I will dress the other bullock, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under] :
23 Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
24 You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25 And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under] .
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it] , and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
26 They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, [or] perhaps he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
27 At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
28 They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
29 And it came to pass, when mid-day was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
29 When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.
30 And Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken down.
30 Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired Yahweh’s altar that had been thrown down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
32 With the stones he built an altar in Yahweh’s name. He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid [him] on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour [it] on the burnt-sacrifice, and on the wood.
33 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
34 And he said, Do [it] the second time. And they did [it] the second time. And he said, Do [it] the third time. And they did [it] the third time.
34 He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran around the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
35 The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.
36 At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again.
37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench.
38 Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw [it] , they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he [is] the God; the LORD, he [is] the God.
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”
40 And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
40 Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink; for [there is] a sound of abundance of rain.
41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look towards the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
43 He said to his servant, “Go up now and look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot] , and go down, that the rain may not hinder thee.
44 On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
45 In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
46 Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ahab
Son of Omri, who reigned twenty-two years in Samaria, married Jezebel and served Baal, took Naboth's vineyard, fought Ben-hadad of Aram, and died of an arrow wound at…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 16:29; 1 Kings 16:30; 1 Kings 18:17
Elijah the Tishbite
A prophet among the settlers of Gilead who announced a drought to Ahab, was fed by ravens, revived the widow's son at Zarephath, defeated Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel, heard…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Kings 19:9
Jezebel
Daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians and wife of Ahab, who slaughtered the LORD's prophets, threatened Elijah, had Naboth stoned on false testimony, and was thrown down from…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 16:31; 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 19:2
Obadiah
The man in charge of Ahab's palace who greatly feared the LORD, hid a hundred prophets in caves when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD's prophets, and brought Elijah's message to Ahab.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 18:3; 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:7
Cross references (43)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 4:25; James 5:17; 1 Kings 18:15–40; Deuteronomy 28:12; 1 Kings 17:1
- 2 Joel 1:15–20; Leviticus 26:26; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 51:4; Isaiah 51:12
- 3 Nehemiah 7:2; 1 Kings 16:9; Matthew 10:28; Malachi 3:16; Genesis 41:40
- 4 1 Kings 18:13; Matthew 10:40–42; Matthew 25:35; Revelation 17:4–6; Matthew 21:35
- 5 Jeremiah 14:5–6; Joel 1:18; Joel 2:22; Habakkuk 3:17; Romans 8:20–22
- 6 Jeremiah 14:3
- 7 2 Kings 1:6–8; Isaiah 60:14; Genesis 44:16; Matthew 11:8; Genesis 50:18
- 8 1 Kings 18:3; Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:17–18
- 9 Exodus 5:21; 1 Kings 17:18; 1 Kings 18:12
- 10 1 Kings 17:1; Psalm 10:2; 1 Kings 18:15; 1 Samuel 29:6; 1 Kings 17:9
- 11 1 Kings 18:8; 1 Kings 18:14
- 12 Acts 8:39; 2 Kings 2:16; Ezekiel 8:3; Ezekiel 11:24; Ezekiel 40:1–2
- 13 1 Kings 18:4; Matthew 25:35; Acts 20:34; Matthew 10:41–42; Genesis 20:4–5
- 14 Matthew 10:28
- 15 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:10; Job 25:3; Psalm 148:2–3; Jeremiah 8:2
- 17 Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 21:20; Acts 16:20; Acts 17:6; Amos 7:10
- 18 2 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Kings 9:9; 1 Kings 16:31; Jeremiah 2:19; 1 Kings 21:25
- 19 Joshua 19:26; 1 Kings 16:33; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Kings 2:25; 1 Samuel 15:12
- 20 1 Kings 22:9
- 21 Matthew 6:24; Joshua 24:15; 1 Corinthians 10:21–22; 2 Corinthians 6:14–16; 1 Samuel 7:3
- 22 1 Kings 19:10; 1 Kings 19:14; 1 Kings 20:13; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 Peter 2:1–3
- 24 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; Leviticus 9:24; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 2 Chronicles 7:1
- 26 Jeremiah 10:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Matthew 6:7; 1 Corinthians 12:2; Isaiah 44:17
- 27 Isaiah 41:23; Psalm 78:65–66; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Mark 4:38–39; 2 Chronicles 25:8
- 28 Leviticus 19:28; Deuteronomy 14:1; Mark 5:5; Mark 9:22; Micah 6:7
- 29 1 Kings 22:10; Exodus 29:39; 1 Corinthians 11:4–5; 1 Samuel 18:10; Galatians 4:8
- 30 2 Chronicles 33:16; 1 Kings 19:14; 1 Kings 19:10; Romans 11:3
- 31 2 Kings 17:34; Genesis 35:10; Genesis 32:28; Joshua 4:3–4; Joshua 4:20
- 32 Colossians 3:17; Exodus 20:24–25; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Judges 21:4; 1 Samuel 7:17
- 33 Genesis 22:9; Judges 6:20; John 11:39–40; Daniel 3:25; Daniel 3:19
- 34 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 8:21
- 35 1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:38
- 36 1 Kings 18:29; 2 Kings 19:19; Exodus 3:6; 1 Kings 8:43; Matthew 22:32
- 37 Daniel 9:17–19; Luke 1:16–17; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Malachi 4:5–6; 1 Kings 18:24
- 38 Leviticus 9:24; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:24
- 39 1 Kings 18:24; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 1 Kings 18:21; Judges 13:20; 1 Chronicles 21:16
- 40 Judges 4:7; Deuteronomy 18:20; Deuteronomy 13:5; Zechariah 13:2–3; Judges 5:21
- 41 1 Kings 18:1; Ecclesiastes 9:7; 1 Kings 17:1; Acts 27:34
- 42 Luke 6:12; 1 Kings 19:13; Genesis 24:52; 1 Kings 18:19–20; Ezra 9:6
- 43 Habakkuk 2:3; Luke 18:1; Luke 18:7; Genesis 32:26; Ephesians 6:18
- 44 Luke 12:54; Job 8:7; Micah 1:13; Zechariah 4:10; 1 Samuel 6:10
- 45 2 Kings 9:16; 1 Kings 21:23; 1 Kings 18:39–40; 2 Samuel 21:14; 1 Kings 21:1
- 46 Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 1:3; 2 Kings 3:15; 2 Kings 9:1; Matthew 22:21
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… foot of the mountain, --the same number which was placed by Joshua in the river, and again, on the other side, the bearers of the ark of the covenant, --those stones which were set up by Elijah when the heifer was offered as a burnt-offering; the number, too, of the apostles; and, in fine, every event which embraces in it …
… is not lawful for thee to have thy brother Philip's wife;" such as he was possessed of, who before him was like him, and after him shall be so again; who said to Ahab, "I do not trouble Israel, but thou, and thy father's house;" such as the prophets had, such as all the apostles.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Elias, too, when all Israel was assembled at Mount Carmel, wishing to turn them from idolatry, says to them, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him." And again, at the burnt-offering, he thus addresses the idolatrous priests: "Ye shall call upon the name of your gods, and I will call on the name …
… directed them to that God upon whom he believed, and who was truly God; whom invoking, he exclaimed, "Lord God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, hear me to-day, and let all this people know that Thou art the God of Israel."