1 Kings 18:34

34 and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” ^[a] “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.

1 Kings 18:34 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 18:34

And he said, do it the second time, and they did it the second
time
That is, poured four barrels of water more upon the wood:

and he said, do it the third time, and they did it the third time;
so that there were in all twelve barrels of water poured on the wood, agreeably to the number of the twelve stones the altar was built with, and may have respect to the same as they.

1 Kings 18:34 In-Context

32 And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,

34 and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.

35 So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

36 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.

Footnotes

• [a] Some texts continue verse 33 to this point.