Study Desk

But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread. I only have enough flour in the jar to fill a hand, and a little oil in the jar. See, I am gathering a few sticks so I may go in and make it ready for me and my son. Then we will eat it and die."

So she went and did what Elijah said. And she and he and those of her house ate for many days.

After this the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. His sickness was so bad that there was no breath left in him.

So the woman said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to have my sin be remembered, and to kill my son!"

So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the time without food was very hard in Samaria.

So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went one way by himself. And Obadiah went another way by himself.

And after I have left you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you where I do not know. So I will go and tell Ahab, and he will not be able to find you. Then he will kill me. But I your servant have honored the Lord since I was young.

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

So now call together all Israel to me at Mount Carmel. And gather together 450 men who speak for Baal and 400 men who speak for the false goddess Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

So Ahab sent news among all the people of Israel. And he brought the men who speak for the false gods together at Mount Carmel.

So Elijah said to the men who spoke for Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and make it ready first. For there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it."

So they took the bull which was given to them and made it ready. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us." But there was no voice. No one answered. They jumped and danced around the altar they had made.

So they cried with a loud voice. They cut themselves as they had done in the past, with swords and spears until blood poured out on them.

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he built again the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.

Answer me, O Lord. Answer me so these people may know that You, O Lord, are God. Turn their hearts to You again."

Then Elijah said to them, "Take hold of the men who speak for Baal. Do not let one of them get away." So they took hold of them. And Elijah brought them down to the river Kishon, and killed them there.

So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. He got down on the ground and put his face between his knees.

And he said to his servant, "Go up now and look toward the sea." So he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." Seven times Elijah said, "Go again."

The seventh time, he said, "I see a cloud as small as a man's hand coming up from the sea." Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, ‘Make your war-wagon ready and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.'"

Then Jezebel sent news to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."