1 Kings 18:33

33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, "Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood."

1 Kings 18:33 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 18:33

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces,
and laid him on the wood
Just in such manner as sacrifices usually were:

and said, fill four barrels with water;
either from the brook Kishon, or, if that was dried up, from the sea; for both were near this mountain, and so to be had, though a time of drought:

and pour it on the burnt sacrifice;
that which was intended to be one:

and upon the wood:
wherewith it was to be burnt, and so made unfit for it; and which would make the miracle appear the greater, when fire came down and consumed it.

1 Kings 18:33 In-Context

31 Elijah took 12 stones-according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel will be your name"-

32 and he built an altar with the stones in the name of Yahweh. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.

33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, "Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood."

34 Then he said, "A second time!" and they did it a second time. And then he said, "A third time!" and they did it a third time.

35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.