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.
Elijah Proves He Is the Lord's Prophet
1-2 For three years no rain fell in Samaria, and there was almost nothing to eat anywhere. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go and meet with King Ahab. I will soon make it rain.” So Elijah went to see Ahab.
3-4 At that time Obadiah was in charge of Ahab's palace, but he faithfully worshiped the Lord. In fact, when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord's prophets, Obadiah hid 100 of them in two caves and gave them food and water.
Ahab sent for Obadiah 5 and said, “We have to find something for our horses and mules to eat. If we don't, we will have to kill them. Let's look around every creek and spring in the country for some grass. 6 You go one way, and I'll go the other.” Then they left in separate directions.
7 As Obadiah was walking along, he met Elijah. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down, and asked, “Elijah, is it really you?”
8 “Yes. Go tell Ahab I'm here.”
9 Obadiah replied:
King Ahab would kill me if I told him that. And I haven't even done anything wrong. 10 I swear to you in the name of the living Lord your God that the king has looked everywhere for you. He sent people to look in every country, and when they couldn't find you, he made the leader of each country swear that you were not in that country. 11 Do you really want me to tell him you're here?
12 What if the Lord's Spirit takes you away as soon as I leave? When Ahab comes to get you, he won't find you. Then he will surely kill me.
I have worshiped the Lord since I was a boy. 13 I even hid 100 of the Lord's prophets in caves when Jezebel was trying to kill them. I also gave them food and water. 14 Do you really want me to tell Ahab you're here? He will kill me!
15 Elijah said, “I'm a servant of the living Lord All-Powerful, and I swear in his name that I will meet with Ahab today.”
16 Obadiah left and told Ahab where to find Elijah.
Ahab went to meet Elijah, 17 and when he saw him, Ahab shouted, “There you are, the biggest troublemaker in Israel!”
18 Elijah answered:
You're the troublemaker—not me! You and your family have disobeyed the Lord's commands by worshiping Baal.
19 Call together everyone from Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. Be sure to bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.
20 Ahab got everyone together, then they went to meet Elijah on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the Lord is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!”
The people did not say a word.
22 Then Elijah continued:
I am the Lord's only prophet, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23 Bring us two bulls. Baal's prophets can take one of them, kill it, and cut it into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. I will do the same thing with the other bull, and I won't light a fire under it either.
24 The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord. The one who answers by starting the fire is God.
“That's a good idea,” everyone agreed.
25 Elijah said to Baal's prophets, “There are more of you, so you go first. Pick out a bull and get it ready, but don't light the fire. Then pray to your god.”
26 They chose their bull, then they got it ready and prayed to Baal all morning, asking him to start the fire. They danced around the altar and shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” But there was no answer.
27 At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. “Pray louder!” he said. “Baal must be a god. Maybe he's daydreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up.”
28 The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. This was the way they worshiped, 29 and they kept it up until time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no answer of any kind.
30 Elijah told everyone to gather around him while he repaired the Lord's altar. 31-32 Then he used twelve stones to build an altar in honor of the Lord. Each stone stood for one of the tribes of Israel, which was the name the Lord had given to their ancestor Jacob. Elijah dug a ditch around the altar, large enough to hold about 14 liters. 33 He placed the wood on the altar, then they cut the bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood.
He told the people, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and the wood.” After they did this, 34 he told them to do it two more times. They did exactly as he said 35 until finally, the water ran down the altar and filled the ditch.
36 When it was time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed:
Our Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Now, prove that you are the God of this nation, and that I, your servant, have done this at your command. 37 Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you.
38 The Lord immediately sent fire, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones. It scorched the ground everywhere around the altar and dried up every drop of water in the ditch. 39 When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”
40 Just then, Elijah said, “Grab the prophets of Baal! Don't let any of them get away.”
So the people captured the prophets and took them to Kishon River, where Elijah killed every one of them.
It Starts To Rain
41 Elijah told Ahab, “Get something to eat and drink. I hear a heavy rain coming.”
42 Ahab left, but Elijah climbed back to the top of Mount Carmel. Then he stooped down with his face almost to the ground 43 and said to his servant, “Look toward the sea.”
The servant left. And when he came back, he said, “I looked, but I didn't see anything.” Elijah told him to look seven more times.
44 After the seventh time the servant replied, “I see a small cloud coming this way. But it's no bigger than a fist.”
Elijah told him, “Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.”
45-46 A few minutes later, it got very cloudy and windy, and rain started pouring down. So Elijah wrapped his coat around himself, and the Lord gave him strength to run all the way to Jezreel. Ahab followed in his chariot.
