1 Kings 18:12-22

12 But here's what will happen: As soon as I leave you, the LORD's spirit will carry you off somewhere—I don't know where—then I'll report to Ahab, but he won't be able to find you. Then he will kill me! But your servant has feared the LORD from my youth.
13 Wasn't my master told what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD's prophets? I hid one hundred of the LORD's prophets, fifty each in two caves. I also supplied them with food and water.
14 But even after all that, you tell me, ‘Say to your master, 'Elijah is here!'' Ahab will kill me!"
15 Elijah said, "As surely as the LORD of heavenly forces lives, the one I serve, I will appear before Ahab today."
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab. He told him what had happened. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is that you, the one who troubles Israel?"
18 Elijah answered, "I haven't troubled Israel; you and your father's house have! You did as much when you deserted the LORD's commands and followed the Baals.
19 Now send a message and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel. Gather the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table."
20 Ahab sent the message to all the Israelites. He gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel.
21 Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow God. If Baal is God, follow Baal." The people gave no answer.
22 Elijah said to the people, "I am the last of the LORD's prophets, but Baal's prophets number four hundred fifty.

1 Kings 18:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 18

In this chapter Elijah has an order from the Lord to show himself to Ahab, who, going first, and meeting with a servant of his, Obadiah, charges him to tell his master where he was, that he might meet him, 1Ki 18:1-16, and, upon meeting him, desires that all Israel, and the prophets of Baal, might be convened, which was accordingly done, 1Ki 18:17-20, when he expostulated with the people of Israel for their idolatry, mocked and confounded the prophets of Baal, and gave the strongest proofs, to the conviction of the people, that Jehovah is the true God, 1Ki 18:21-39, on which all the prophets of Baal were slain, 1Ki 18:40, and rain in great abundance was given at the prayer of the prophet, 1Ki 18:41-46.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The contrast between the LORD’s divine name (YHWH) and Baal’s name is crucial throughout this passage.
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