1 Kings — Chapter 18

📖 1 Kings — Chapter 18 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

1 Kings 18:1 And it came to pass ^Rafter many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

1 Kings 18:2 And Elijah ^Rwent to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

1 Kings 18:3 And Ahab called ^TObadiah, which was ^Tthe governor of his house. (Now Obadiah ^Rfeared the LORD greatly:

1 Kings 18:4 For it was so, when ^TJezebel ^Rcut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

1 Kings 18:5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find ^Rgrass to save the horses and mules alive, ^Tthat we lose not all the beasts.

1 Kings 18:6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: ^RAhab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

1 Kings 18:7 And as Obadiah ^Rwas in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

1 Kings 18:8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell ^Rthy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

1 Kings 18:9 And he said, ^RWhat have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

1 Kings 18:10 As ^Rthe LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

1 Kings 18:11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

1 Kings 18:12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that ^Rthe Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.

1 Kings 18:13 Was it not told my lord ^Rwhat I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

1 Kings 18:14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: ^Rand he shall slay me.

1 Kings 18:15 And Elijah said, ^RAs the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

1 Kings 18:16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

1 Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou ^Rhe that troubleth Israel?

1 Kings 18:18 And he answered, ^RI have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto ^Rmount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

1 Kings 18:20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and ^Rgathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, ^RHow long halt ye between two ^Topinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

1 Kings 18:22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even ^RI only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

1 Kings 18:23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

1 Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that ^Ranswereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, ^TIt is well spoken.

1 Kings 18:25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

1 Kings 18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal ^Rfrom morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, ^Thear us. But there was no voice, nor any that ^Tanswered. And they ^Tleaped upon the altar which was made.

1 Kings 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that ^RElijah mocked them, and said, Cry ^Taloud: for he is a god; either ^The is talking, or he ^Tis pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

1 Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and ^Rcut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till ^Tthe blood gushed out upon them.

1 Kings 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they ^Rprophesied until the time of the ^Toffering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any ^Tthat regarded.

1 Kings 18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And ^Rhe repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

1 Kings 18:31 And Elijah took ^Rtwelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

1 Kings 18:32 ^RAnd with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

1 Kings 18:33 And ^Rhe put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

1 Kings 18:34 And he said, ^RDo it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

1 Kings 18:35 And the water ^Tran round about the altar; and he filled ^Rthe trench also with water.

1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass ^Rat the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

1 Kings 18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that ^Rthou hast turned their heart back again.

1 Kings 18:38 ^RThen the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

1 Kings 18:39 And when all the people saw it, ^Rthey fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

1 Kings 18:40 And Elijah said unto them, ^RTTake the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

1 Kings 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, ^RGet thee up, eat and drink; for there is ^Ta sound of abundance of rain.

1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And ^RElijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

1 Kings 18:43 And said to his servant, ^RGo up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

1 Kings 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth ^Ra little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, ^TPrepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.

1 Kings 18:45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and ^Rthere was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

1 Kings 18:46 And ^Rthe hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab ^Tto the entrance of Jezreel.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

1 Kings 18:1–19 — Elijah returns and Obadiah’s courage is recalled

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

God sends Elijah to Ahab with a promise of rain. Obadiah has protected prophets while serving in the royal household and fears the danger of carrying Elijah’s message. Elijah reassures him and confronts Ahab’s blame, naming the king’s abandonment of God’s commandments.

Key Truth: Faithfulness can take different forms, including quiet protection of others.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

1 Kings 18:20–40 — The LORD answers on Carmel

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Elijah calls Israel to a clear choice. Baal’s prophets receive no answer, while Elijah repairs the LORD’s altar, drenches the sacrifice, and prays that the people will know God. Fire falls and the people confess the LORD as God. The subsequent execution belongs to this ancient covenant confrontation, not an authorization for believers to attack people of other religions.

Key Truth: Faithfulness to God must not become private religious violence.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

1 Kings 18:41–46 — Rain returns after persistent watching

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Elijah prays on Carmel and repeatedly sends his servant to look toward the sea. A small cloud appears, followed by heavy rain. Ahab travels to Jezreel, and the LORD strengthens Elijah to run ahead. The promise comes to fulfillment through a period of watchful waiting.

Key Truth: Wait attentively without treating a small beginning as insignificant.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

James 5:18 — This passage recalls Elijah’s prayer and the return of rain.

James 5:18 (KJV) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

Where do you need patient prayer and steady faithfulness? Think also of someone who serves quietly and could use encouragement.

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