1 Un pēc kāda ilgāka laika Tā Kunga Vārds atkal nāca pār Eliju trešajā gadā, sacīdams: "Ej parādies Ahabam, un Es gribu likt lietum līt pār zemi." 2 Un Elija aizgāja parādīties Ahabam, bet bads bija bargs Samarijā. 3 Un Ahabs ataicināja Obadju, kas bija nama pārvaldnieks, bet Obadja ļoti bijās To Kungu, 4 jo, kad Izebele iznīcināja Tā Kunga praviešus, tad Obadja bija paņēmis simts praviešus un bija tos pa piecdesmit paslēpis kādās alās, un bija tos apgādājis ar maizi un ūdeni. 5 Un Ahabs sacīja Obadjam: "Noej šinī zemē pie visiem ūdens avotiem un pie visām upēm: var jau būt, ka atrodam zaļu zāli un varam saglabāt zirgus un mūļus dzīvus, lai mēs nezaudējam lopus." 6 Un tā viņi savā starpā sadalīja zemi, lai to pārstaigātu: Ahabs viens pats gāja savu ceļu, un arī Obadja viens pats gāja savu ceļu. 7 Un, kad Obadja vēl bija ceļā, redzi, tam pretī nāca Elija. Un viņš to pazina un krita tā priekšā uz sava vaiga, un sacīja: "Vai tu neesi mans pavēlnieks Elija?" 8 Un viņš sacīja: "Tas es esmu! Ej un saki savam kungam: Elija ir šeit!" 9 Bet tas sacīja: "Ko tad es būtu nogrēkojies, ka tu savu kalpu nodod Ahaba rokā? Vai lai tas mani nonāvē? 10 Tik tiešām, ka Tas Kungs, tavs Dievs, ir dzīvs, nav nevienas citas tautas, nedz valsts, kurp mans kungs nebūtu sūtījis, lai tevi tur sameklētu. Bet, kad sacīja: viņa nav, - tad viņš tai tautai un ķēniņa valstij lika ar zvērestu apliecināt, ka viņi tevi nav atraduši. 11 Un tu tagad saki: ej un saki savam kungam, ka te, lūk, ir Elija! 12 Var notikt, ka es, aiziedams no tevis, tevi vairs neatrastu, kad Tā Kunga Gars tevi paceltu nezin kur projām. Un, ja es aizietu, lai to Ahabam paziņotu, bet viņš pats tevi neatrastu, tad tas mani nokautu. Bet tavs kalps bīstas To Kungu no pašas jaunības. 13 Vai tad nav paziņots manam pavēlniekam, ko es esmu darījis tolaik, kad Ahabs nogalināja Tā Kunga praviešus, ka no praviešu skaita es esmu paslēpis simts vīru, pa piecdesmit un atkal pa piecdesmit, alās un ka es tos esmu apgādājis ar maizi un ar ūdeni? 14 Un tagad tu mani skubini, lai es ejot un sakot savam kungam, ka te ir Elija. Vai lai viņš mani nokauj?" 15 Tad Elija sacīja: "Tik tiešām, ka Tas Kungs Cebaots ir dzīvs, kā priekšā es te stāvu, - es vēl šodien rādīšos viņa priekšā!" 16 Un Obadja aizgāja, lai satiktu Ahabu. Un viņš tam pateica to. Bet Ahabs devās Elijam pretī. 17 Un, kad Ahabs ieraudzīja Eliju, viņš tam sacīja: "Vai tu esi tas, kas Israēlu ieved nelaimē?" 18 Bet tas atbildēja: "Es gan neievedu Israēlu nelaimē, bet tas esi tu pats un tava tēva nams, jo jūs esat atmetuši Tā Kunga baušļus un jūs esat sekojuši baaliem. 19 Bet tagad liec sapulcināt man visu Israēlu Karmela kalnā un tos četri simti piecdesmit Baala priesterus, kas ēd pie Izebeles galda." 20 Un Ahabs deva ziņu visiem Israēla bērniem un sapulcināja arī praviešus Karmela kalnā. 21 Tad Elija pienāca visai tautai klāt un sacīja: "Cik ilgi jūs klibosit uz abām pusēm? Ja Tas Kungs ir Dievs, tad sekojiet Viņam! Bet, ja Baals ir dievs, tad sekojiet tam!" Bet tauta viņam neatbildēja ne vārda. 22 Un Elija sacīja tautai: "Es esmu vienīgais Tā Kunga pravietis atlicies. Bet Baala praviešu ir četri simti piecdesmit vīru. 23 Lai mums tagad nodod divi vēršus. Un viņi lai izvēlas sev vienu vērsi, lai sacērt to gabalos un lai sakārto to uz malkas, bet uguni lai nepieliek. Tad es arī sagatavošu otru vērsi - es to uzlikšu uz malkas, bet uguni es nepielikšu. 24 Pēc tam piesauciet jūs sava dieva vārdu. Un arī es piesaukšu Tā Kunga Vārdu. Un tad lai notiek tā: kura dievs atbildēs ar uguni, tas lai ir Dievs!" Un tauta teica: "Tā ir labi." 25 Tad Elija sacīja Baala priesteriem: "Izraugaities vienu vērsi un rīkojieties pirmie, jo jūsu ir daudz, un piesauciet sava dieva vārdu, bet uguni nepielieciet." 26 Tad viņi paņēma vērsi, kuru viņš viņiem bija devis, un tie to sagatavoja. Un viņi piesauca Baala vārdu no rīta līdz dienvidum, sacīdami: "Ak, Baal, atbildi mums!" Bet tur nebija nevienas balss, nedz arī kāda, kas atbild. Un tie kliboja apkārt altārim, kas bija uzcelts. 27 Un ap dienas vidu Elija tos apsmēja un sacīja: "Sauciet stiprā balsī, jo viņš taču ir dievs; varbūt viņš iegrimis domās vai aizņemts darīšanās, vai atrodas ceļā, varbūt viņš guļ, un viņam būtu jāmostas!" 28 Un tie sauca stiprā balsī un ievainoja sevi pēc sava ieraduma ar nažiem un īleniem, tiekāms tiem asinis tecēja. 29 Bet, kad pusdienlaiks bija pagājis, tad tie pravietoja līdz pat dāvinājuma upura stundai, taču tur nebija nedz balss, nedz atbildes, nedz uzklausīšanas. 30 Tad Elija sacīja visai tautai: "Pienāciet klāt pie manis!" Un visa tauta pienāca klāt. Un viņš izlaboja altāri, kas bija salauzts. 31 Un Elija paņēma divpadsmit akmeņus pēc Jēkaba bērnu cilšu skaita, kurām kādreiz Tā Kunga vārds bija noteicis: Israēls lai ir tavs vārds! 32 Un viņš Tā Kunga Vārdā uzcēla no akmeņiem altāri un izraka visapkārt altārim grāvi, kas aptvēra ar diviem mēriem labības apsējamu laukumu. 33 Tad viņš sakārtoja malku, sadalīja vērsi un uzlika to uz malkas. 34 Un viņš sacīja: "Piepildiet četrus traukus ar ūdeni un slakiet to pāri dedzināmam upurim un arī pāri malkai!" Un viņš sacīja: "Vēl otru reizi dariet tā!" Un tie darīja tā vēl otru reizi. Un viņš sacīja: "Atkārtojiet to trešo reizi!" Un tie darīja tā trešo reizi. 35 Un ūdens tecēja altārim visapkārt, un arī grāvis piepildījās ar ūdeni. 36 Un tanī brīdī, kad dāvinājuma upuri mēdz nest, pravietis Elija piegāja un sacīja: "Kungs, Ābrahāma, Īzāka un Israēla Dievs, šodien dari Sevi zināmu, ka Tu esi Dievs Israēlā un ka es esmu Tavs kalps, un ka es pēc Tava vārda visu šo esmu darījis. 37 Atbildi man, Kungs, atbildi man, lai šī tauta zina, ka Tu, Kungs, esi Dievs un ka Tu pats viņu sirdīm esi licis atgriezties!" 38 Tad Tā Kunga uguns nokrita, un tā aprija gan dedzināmo upuri, gan malku, gan akmeņus, gan pelnus, gan ūdeni tā uzsūca, kas bija grāvī. 39 Un visa tauta to redzēja, un tie krita uz sava vaiga un sacīja: "Tas Kungs ir Dievs, Tas Kungs ir Dievs!" 40 Bet Elija sacīja: "Satveriet Baala praviešus, lai neviens pats no to pulka neizbēg!" Un tie tos sagrāba ciet, un Elija viņus noveda Kisona upes līcī, un viņš tos tur nokāva. 41 Bet Elija sacīja Ahabam: "Ej, ēd un dzer, jo lielas lietusgāzes švīkoņa ir dzirdama." 42 Un Ahabs devās kalnup, lai ēstu un dzertu, bet Elija devās uz Karmela virsotni. Viņš noliecās līdz pat zemei un lika savu vaigu starp saviem ceļiem, 43 un sacīja savam puisim: "Ej, lūdzu, un skaties uz jūras pusi." Un tas nogāja kalnup un raudzījās, un sacīja: "Tur nav nekā." Bet viņš sacīja: "Griezies turp atpakaļ septiņas reizes!" 44 Un notika, ka septītajā reizē tas sacīja: "Tur ir mākonītis, tik niecīgs kā cilvēka delna, tas paceļas no jūras puses!" Un viņš sacīja tam: "Ej paziņo Ahabam: liec aizjūgt un dodies lejup, ka lietus tevi nepārsteidz!" 45 Un notika, tanī laikā debesis aptumšojās ar mākoņiem un sacēlās vētra, un sāka lietus gāzt, bet Ahabs sēdās ratos un brauca uz Jezreēlu. 46 Un Tā Kunga roka nāca pār Eliju: viņš apjoza savus gurnus un skrēja Ahabam pa priekšu līdz Jezreēlas pievārtei.
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
1 After some time, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab, and I will send rain.” 2 So Elijah started out.
The famine in Samaria was at its worst, 3 so Ahab called in Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devout worshiper of the Lord, 4 and when Jezebel was killing the Lord's prophets, Obadiah took a hundred of them, hid them in caves in two groups of fifty, and provided them with food and water.) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Let us go and look at every spring and every stream bed in the land to see if we can find enough grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Maybe we won't have to kill any of our animals.” 6 They agreed on which part of the land each one would explore, and set off in different directions.
7 As Obadiah was on his way, he suddenly met Elijah. He recognized him, bowed low before him, and asked, “Is it really you, sir?”
8 “Yes, I'm Elijah,” he answered. “Go and tell your master the king that I am here.”
9 Obadiah answered, “What have I done that you want to put me in danger of being killed by King Ahab? 10 By the living Lord, your God, I swear that the king has made a search for you in every country in the world. Whenever the ruler of a country reported that you were not in his country, Ahab would require that ruler to swear that you could not be found. 11 And now you want me to go and tell him that you are here? 12 What if the spirit of the Lord carries you off to some unknown place as soon as I leave? Then, when I tell Ahab that you are here and he can't find you, he will put me to death. Remember that I have been a devout worshiper of the Lord ever since I was a boy. 13 Haven't you heard that when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord I hid a hundred of them in caves, in two groups of fifty, and supplied them with food and water? 14 So how can you order me to go and tell the king that you are here? He will kill me!”
15 Elijah answered, “By the living Lord Almighty, whom I serve, I promise that I will present myself to the king today.”
16 So Obadiah went to King Ahab and told him, and Ahab set off to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw him, he said, “So there you are—the worst troublemaker in Israel!”
18 “I'm not the troublemaker,” Elijah answered. “You are—you and your father. You are disobeying the Lord's commands and worshiping the idols of Baal. 19 Now order all the people of Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah who are supported by Queen Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and the prophets of Baal to meet at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went up to the people and said, “How much longer will it take you to make up your minds? If the Lord is God, worship him; but if Baal is God, worship him!” But the people didn't say a word. 22 Then Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Lord still left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 23 Bring two bulls; let the prophets of Baal take one, kill it, cut it in pieces, and put it on the wood—but don't light the fire. I will do the same with the other bull. 24 Then let the prophets of Baal pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord, and the one who answers by sending fire—he is God.”
The people shouted their approval.
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since there are so many of you, you take a bull and prepare it first. Pray to your god, but don't set fire to the wood.”
26 They took the bull that was brought to them, prepared it, and prayed to Baal until noon. They shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” and kept dancing around the altar they had built. But no answer came.
27 At noon Elijah started making fun of them: “Pray louder! He is a god! Maybe he is day-dreaming or relieving himself, or perhaps he's gone off on a trip! Or maybe he's sleeping, and you've got to wake him up!” 28 So the prophets prayed louder and cut themselves with knives and daggers, according to their ritual, until blood flowed. 29 They kept on ranting and raving until the middle of the afternoon; but no answer came, not a sound was heard.
30 Then Elijah said to the people, “Come closer to me,” and they all gathered around him. He set about repairing the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one for each of the twelve tribes named for the sons of Jacob, the man to whom the Lord had given the name Israel. 32 With these stones he rebuilt the altar for the worship of the Lord. He dug a trench around it, large enough to hold about four gallons of water. 33 Then he placed the wood on the altar, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the offering and the wood.” They did so, 34 and he said, “Do it again”—and they did. “Do it once more,” he said—and they did. 35 The water ran down around the altar and filled the trench.
36 At the hour of the afternoon sacrifice the prophet Elijah approached the altar and prayed, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove now that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant and have done all this at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you are bringing them back to yourself.”
38 The Lord sent fire down, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones, scorched the earth and dried up the water in the trench. 39 When the people saw this, they threw themselves on the ground and exclaimed, “The Lord is God; the Lord alone is God!”
40 Elijah ordered, “Seize the prophets of Baal; don't let any of them get away!” The people seized them all, and Elijah led them down to Kishon Brook and killed them.
The End of the Drought
41 Then Elijah said to King Ahab, “Now, go and eat. I hear the roar of rain approaching.” 42 While Ahab went to eat, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed down to the ground, with his head between his knees. 43 He said to his servant, “Go and look toward the sea.”
The servant went and returned, saying, “I didn't see a thing.” Seven times in all Elijah told him to go and look. 44 The seventh time he returned and said, “I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man's hand, coming up from the sea.”
Elijah ordered his servant, “Go to King Ahab and tell him to get in his chariot and go back home before the rain stops him.”
45 In a little while the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind began to blow, and a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah; he fastened his clothes tight around his waist and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
