1 Kings 18:18

18 "I haven't made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have turned away from the LORD's commands. You have followed the gods that are named after Baal.

1 Kings 18:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 18:18

And he answered
That is, Elijah, with great boldness and undaunted courage, not fearing the face of the king, being sent to show himself to him in the name of the King of kings:

I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house;
they, by their sins, were the cause of all the troubles, those sore evil and sad calamities that were upon them:

in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord:
to have no other gods before him, and not to make images, and worship them, which they had done:

and thou hast followed Baalim;
the several Baals, the Sun, moon, and stars, the whole host of heaven, worshipped under this name; or, not content with the Phoenician Baal, or Baal of the Zidonians, followed others, see ( Judges 2:11 ) .

1 Kings 18:18 In-Context

16 Obadiah went back to Ahab. He told Ahab that Elijah wanted to see him. So Ahab went to where Elijah was.

17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you? You are always stirring up trouble in Israel."

18 "I haven't made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have turned away from the LORD's commands. You have followed the gods that are named after Baal.

19 "Now send for people from all over Israel. Tell them to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the 450 prophets of the god Baal. Also bring the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah. All of them eat at Jezebel's table."

20 So Ahab sent that message all through Israel. He gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.