The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Kings 18

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

1 Kings chapter 18 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of HaShem came to Elijah, in the third year, saying: 'Go, show thyself unto Ahab,…” — the complete text of all 46 verses is below, free to read online.

1And it came to pass after many days, that the word of HaShem came to Elijah, in the third year, saying: 'Go, show thyself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the land.'

2And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And the famine was sore in Samaria.

3And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. --Now Obadiah feared HaShem greatly;

4for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of HaShem, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.--

5And Ahab said unto Obadiah: 'Go through the land, unto all the springs of water, and unto all the brooks; peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.'

6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him; and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said: 'Is it thou, my lord Elijah?'

8And he answered him: 'It is I; go, tell thy lord: Behold, Elijah is here.'

9And he said: 'Wherein have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10As HaShem thy G-d liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee; and when they said: He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

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

12And it will come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the spirit of HaShem will carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he will slay me; but I thy servant fear HaShem from my youth.

13Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of HaShem, how I hid a hundred men of HaShem'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14And now thou sayest: Go, tell thy lord: Behold, Elijah is here; and he will slay me.'

15And Elijah said: 'As HaShem of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to-day.'

16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him: 'Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?'

18And be answered: 'I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of HaShem, and thou hast followed the Baalim.

19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, that eat at Jezebel's table.'

20And Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said: 'How long halt ye between two opinions? if HaShem be G-d, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' And the people answered him not a word.

22Then said Elijah unto the people: 'I, even I only, am left a prophet of HaShem; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

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

24And call ye on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of HaShem; and the G-d that answereth by fire, let him be G-d.' And all the people answered and said: 'It is well spoken.'

25And 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 god, but put no fire under.'

26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying: 'O Baal, answer us.' But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they danced in halting wise about the altar which was made.

27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said: 'Cry aloud; for he is a god; either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.'

28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with swords and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29And it was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening offering; but their was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

30And Elijah said unto all the people: 'Come near unto me'; and all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of HaShem that was thrown down.

31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of HaShem came, saying: 'Israel shall be thy name.'

32And with the stones he built an altar in the name of HaShem; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid it on the wood.

34And he said: 'Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt-offering, and on the wood.' And he said: 'Do 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.

35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said: 'O HaShem, the G-d of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art G-d in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word.

37Hear me, O HaShem, hear me, that this people may know that Thou, HaShem, art G-d, for Thou didst turn their heart backward.'

38Then the fire of HaShem fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said: 'The HaShem, He is G-d; HaShem, He is G-d.'

40And Elijah said unto them: 'Take 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.

41And Elijah said unto Ahab: 'Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.'

42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees.

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

44And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said: 'Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand.' And he said: 'Go up, say unto Ahab: Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.'

45And it came to pass in a little while, that the heaven grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46And the hand of HaShem was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

46 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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