1 And it came to pass after 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. 2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so , when Jezebel cut 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.) 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. 6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 ¶ And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? 8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here . 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 10 As the 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. 11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here . 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the 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. 13 Was it not told my lord what 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? 14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. 15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 ¶ And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I 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. 19 Now 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 groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 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: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 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 . 26 And 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, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve 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: 32 And 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. 33 And he 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. 34 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. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at 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. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then 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. 39 And when all the people saw it , they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40 And 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.
41 ¶ And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And 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. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot , and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Elijas vēstījums Ahābam
1 Pēc ilgāka laika, trešajā gadā pār Eliju nāca Kunga vārds: “Ej, stājies Ahāba priekšā, un es došu zemei lietu.” 2 Elija gāja, lai stātos Ahāba priekšā, – Samarijā bija liels bads. 3 Un Ahābs sauca nama pārraugu Obadjāhu. Obadjāhu ļoti bijās Kunga, 4 un, kad Īzebele nokāva Kunga praviešus, Obadjāhu ņēma simts praviešus un tos pa piecdesmit paslēpa alās, un viņš tos apgādāja ar maizi un ūdeni. 5 Ahābs sacīja Obadjāhu: “Apstaigā zemi, visus ūdens avotus un ielejas, varbūt mēs atradīsim zāli un varēsim atstāt zirgus un mūļus dzīvus un mums nebūs jānokauj lopi.” 6 Viņi sadalīja zemi – Ahābs gāja pa vienu ceļu, bet Obadjāhu pa otru.
7 Obadjāhu bija ceļā, un, redzi, Elija nāca tam pretī. Obadjāhu pazina viņu, krita uz sava vaiga un sacīja: “Vai tu esi mans kungs Elija?” 8 Un viņš atbildēja: “Jā, esmu! Ej, saki savam kungam: redzi, Elija!” 9 Bet tas sacīja: “Ko es esmu grēkojis, ka tu nodod savu kalpu Ahāba rokā, lai mani nogalina? 10 Tiešām, Kungs, tavs Dievs, dzīvs! Vai palikusi kaut viena tauta vai valsts, uz kuru mans kungs nebūtu sūtījis tevi meklēt un nebūtu licis zvērēt gan valstij, gan tautai, ka tie tevi nav atraduši! 11 Un tagad tu runā: ej, saki savam kungam: redzi, Elija! 12 Kad es no tevis aiziešu, tad Kunga Gars tevi aiznesīs nezin kur, bet es pastāstīšu Ahābam, un viņš tevi neatradīs un nokaus mani. Taču tavs kalps bīstas Kunga kopš jaunības. 13 Kungs, vai tev nav stāstīts, ko esmu darījis, kad Īzebele nokāva Kunga praviešus? Tad es no Kunga praviešiem simts vīrus paslēpu alā – pa piecdesmit un piecdesmit – un apgādāju tos ar maizi un ūdeni. 14 Un tagad tu runā: ej, saki savam kungam: redzi, Elija! Vai tad mani nenokaus?”
15 Bet Elija atbildēja: “Tiešām, dzīvs ir Pulku Kungs, kura priekšā es stāvu, šodien es redzēšu ķēniņu!” 16 Obadjāhu devās pie Ahāba un pastāstīja to viņam, un Ahābs gāja satikt Eliju. 17 Ieraudzījis Eliju, Ahābs viņam sacīja: “Vai tu esi tas, kas nes postu Israēlam?” 18 Bet viņš atbildēja: “Es neesmu tas, kas nes postu Israēlam, – tas esi tu un tava tēva nams, jo jūs atmetāt Kunga pavēles un sekojāt baāliem. 19 Bet tagad pulcini man visu Israēlu Karmela kalnā, kā arī četri simti piecdesmit Baala praviešus un četri simti Ašēras praviešus, kas ēd pie Īzebeles galda.”
Kungs vai Baals
20 Tad Ahābs lika sasaukt visus Israēla dēlus un sapulcināja praviešus Karmela kalnā. 21 Un Elija pienāca un sacīja visai tautai: “Cik ilgi jūs svārstīsieties starp abām pusēm? Ja Kungs ir Dievs, tad sekojiet viņam, bet, ja Baals – tad sekojiet tam!” Bet tauta viņam neko neatbildēja. 22 Tad Elija sacīja tautai: “Es esmu vienīgais pravietis, kas palicis Kungam, bet Baalam ir četri simti piecdesmit praviešu. 23 Lai mums dod divus vēršus – lai viņi izvēlas vienu vērsi sev, sacērt gabalos un liek uz malkas, bet uguni klāt lai neliek, bet es ņemšu otru vērsi un likšu uz malkas, un uguni klāt nelikšu. 24 Jūs sauciet sava dieva vārdā, un es saukšu Kunga vārdā, un tas dievs, kurš atbildēs ar uguni, ir Dievs!” Un tauta atbildēja: “Labi!”
25 Tad Elija sacīja Baala praviešiem: “Ņemiet vienu vērsi un rīkojieties pirmie, jo jūsu ir daudz, sauciet sava dieva vārdā, bet uguni klāt nelieciet!” 26 Viņi ņēma vērsi, kuru viņš tiem deva, un rīkojās. Tad tie sauca Baala vārdā no rīta līdz dienas vidum: “Baal, atbildi mums!” – bet nebija ne balss, ne atbildes, un tie lēkāja ap uzcelto altāri. 27 Dienas vidū Elija sāka tos izsmiet, sacīdams: “Sauciet stiprāk, viņš taču ir dievs – varbūt viņš nogrimis domās vai atvieglo vēderu, vai ir ceļā, varbūt viņš guļ, tad lai mostas!” 28 Un tie sauca stiprā balsī un dūra sev, kā tiem parasts, ar nažiem un šķēpiem, līdz tecēja asinis. 29 Tā pagāja dienas vidus, un viņi pravietoja, līdz tuvojās upura stunda, bet nebija ne balss, ne atbildes, nedz kāds tos uzklausīja.
30 Tad Elija sacīja tautai: “Nāciet pie manis,” – un visa tauta nāca pie viņa. Viņš no jauna sakrāva Kunga altāri, kas bija sagāzts. 31 Elija ņēma divpadsmit akmeņus pēc cilšu skaita, kas bija Jēkabam – par viņu Kungs bija teicis: Israēls būs tavs vārds. 32 No akmeņiem viņš Kunga vārdā uzcēla altāri un visapkārt altārim izraka grāvi, kurā ietilptu divi mēri graudu. 33 Viņš sakrāva malku un sacirta vērsi, lika to uz malkas 34 un sacīja: “Piepildiet četras krūkas ar ūdeni un izlejiet pār sadedzināmo upuri un malku!” Tad viņš sacīja: “Vēlreiz!” – un tie lēja otru reizi, un viņš tiem sacīja: “Trešo reizi!” Un tie lēja trešo reizi. 35 Ūdens tecēja visapkārt altārim, un grāvis pildījās ar ūdeni. 36 Kad pienāca upura stunda, pravietis Elija tuvojās altārim un sacīja: “Kungs, Ābrahāma, Īzaka un Israēla Dievs! Lai šodien top zināms, ka tu esi Dievs Israēlam, ka es esmu tavs kalps un ka visu šo es esmu darījis, kā tu teici! 37 Atbildi man, Kungs, atbildi man, lai šī tauta zina, ka tu, Kungs, esi Dievs un tu esi iemantojis viņu sirdis!” 38 Tad Kunga uguns krita un aprija sadedzināmo upuri, malku un akmeņus kopā ar pīšļiem un izlaizīja ūdeni, kas bija grāvī. 39 Visa tauta to redzēja, krita uz sava vaiga un sauca: “Kungs tiešām ir Dievs! Kungs tiešām ir Dievs!” 40 Un Elija tiem sacīja: “Grābiet Baala praviešus, lai neaizbēg neviens!” Viņi sagrāba tos, un Elija tos noveda Kīšonas gravā un tur nokāva.
Lietus
41 Tad Elija sacīja Ahābam: “Ej, ēd un dzer – lietus jau šalc.” 42 Un Ahābs gāja ēst un dzert, bet Elija uzkāpa Karmela kalna virsotnē, nometās zemē un piespieda vaigu saviem ceļiem. 43 Un viņš sacīja savam puisim: “Pakāpies jel un skaties uz jūras pusi.” Tas gāja, paraudzījās un sacīja: “Nav nekā!” Un tā septiņas reizes. 44 Septītajā reizē tas sacīja: “Redzi, no jūras ceļas mazs mākonītis kā cilvēka plauksta!” Tad viņš sacīja: “Kāp un saki Ahābam, lai jūdz un brauc lejā, ka lietus viņu neaptur.” 45 Tikmēr debess apmācās melniem mākoņiem, un bija vējš un liels lietus. Ahābs brauca un nonāca Jizreēlā. 46 Un Kunga roka bija ar Eliju. Viņš apjozās un skrēja pa priekšu Ahābam, līdz tas nonāca Jizreēlā.
