13. Were you not told what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord’s prophets in groups of fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14. And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Elijah is here,” ’ and he will execute me.”
15. Elijah said, “As the Lord of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
16. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17. When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Are you he that troubles Israel?”
18. And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.
19. Now send word out and gather for me all Israel on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20. So Ahab called out all the children of Israel and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21. Elijah came to all the people and said, “How long will you stay between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him.”And the people did not say a word.
22. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets number four hundred and fifty men.
23. Therefore, let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on some wood, but do not light a fire under it, and I will prepare the other bull, lay it on some wood, and not light a fire underneath it.
24. And you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God that answers by fire, let Him be God.”And all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
25. Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but do not light a fire underneath.”
26. They took the bull which was given to them, and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27. By noon, Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry out loud, for he is a god. Either he is talking or is gone away or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”
28. They cried out loud and cut themselves with knives and spears according to their custom until the blood gushed out on them.
29. And as midday passed, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
30. Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.