1Kings 17-19 - Prayer Tents

1Kings 17

Elijah Fed by Ravens

17Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, "As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!"H452H8664H8453H1568H559H256H3068H430H3478H2416H6440H5975H2919H4306H8141H6310H16972Then the LORD said to Elijah,H1697H3068H5593"Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.H3212H6437H6924H5641H5158H3747H6440H33834Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food."H8354H5158H6680H6158H35575So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.H3212H6213H1697H3068H3212H3427H5158H3747H6440H33836The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.H6158H935H3899H1320H1242H3899H1320H6153H8354H51587But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.H7093H3117H5158H3001H1653H776

The Widow at Zarephath

8Then the LORD said to Elijah,H1697H3068H5599"Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you."H6965H3212H6886H6721H3427H6680H490H802H355710So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?"H6965H3212H6886H935H6607H5892H490H802H7197H6086H7121H559H3947H4592H4325H3627H835411As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too."H3212H3947H7121H559H3947H6595H3899H302712But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die."H559H3068H430H2416H3426H4580H4393H3709H7058H3537H4592H8081H6835H7197H8147H6086H935H6213H1121H398H419113But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you've said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what's left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.H452H559H3372H935H6213H1697H6213H8033H6996H5692H7223H3318H314H6213H112114For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!"H559H3068H430H3478H3537H7058H3615H6835H8081H2637H3117H3068H5414H1653H6440H12715So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.H3212H6213H1697H452H1004H398H311716There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.H3537H7058H3615H6835H8081H2638H1697H3068H1696H3027H45217Some time later the woman's son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.H310H1697H1121H802H1172H1004H2470H2483H3966H2389H5397H349818Then she said to Elijah, "O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?"H559H452H376H430H935H2142H5771H2142H4191H112119But Elijah replied, "Give me your son." And he took the child's body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.H559H5414H1121H3947H2436H5927H5944H3427H7901H429620Then Elijah cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?"H7121H3068H559H3068H430H7489H490H1481H4191H112121And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, please let this child's life return to him."H4058H3206H7969H6471H7121H3068H559H3068H430H3206H5315H7725H7130H772522The LORD heard Elijah's prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!H3068H8085H6963H452H5315H3206H7725H7130H7725H242123Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. "Look!" he said. "Your son is alive!"H452H3947H3206H3381H5944H1004H5414H517H452H559H7200H1121H241624Then the woman told Elijah, "Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the LORD truly speaks through you."H802H559H452H2088H3045H376H430H1697H3068H6310H571

1Kings 18

The Contest on Mount Carmel

18Later on, in the third year of the drought, the LORD said to Elijah, "Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!"H7227H3117H1697H3068H452H7992H8141H559H3212H7200H256H5414H4306H6440H1272So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria.H452H3212H7200H256H2389H7458H81113So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the LORD.H256H7121H5662H1004H5662H3373H3068H39664Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.)H348H3772H5030H3068H5662H3947H3967H5030H2244H376H2572H4631H3557H3899H43255Ahab said to Obadiah, "We must check every spring and valley in the land to see if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules."H256H559H5662H3212H776H4599H4325H5158H194H4672H2682H2421H5483H6505H2421H3772H9296So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.H2505H776H5674H256H1980H259H1870H5662H1980H259H18707As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?" he asked.H5662H1870H452H7125H5234H5307H6440H559H113H4528"Yes, it is," Elijah replied. "Now go and tell your master, 'Elijah is here.'"H559H3212H559H113H4529"Oh, sir," Obadiah protested, "what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab?H559H2398H5414H5650H3027H256H419110For I swear by the LORD your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, 'Elijah isn't here,' King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.H3068H430H2416H3426H1471H4467H834H113H7971H1245H559H7650H4467H1471H467211And now you say, 'Go and tell your master, "Elijah is here."'H559H3212H559H113H45212But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the LORD all my life.H3212H7307H3068H5375H3045H935H5046H256H4672H2026H5650H3372H3068H527113Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the LORD's prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water.H5046H113H6213H348H2026H5030H3068H2244H3967H376H3068H5030H2572H4631H3557H3899H432514And now you say, 'Go and tell your master, "Elijah is here."' Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me."H559H3212H559H113H452H202615But Elijah said, "I swear by the LORD Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day."H452H559H3068H6635H2416H6440H5975H7200H311716So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah.H5662H3212H7125H256H5046H256H3212H7125H45217When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, "So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?"H256H7200H452H256H559H5916H347818"I have made no trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the LORD and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.H559H5916H3478H1H1004H5800H4687H3068H3212H310H116819Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel

."H7971H6908H3478H2022H3760H5030H1168H702H3967H2572H5030H842H702H3967H398H348H797920So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.H256H7971H1121H3478H6908H5030H6908H2022H376021Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely silent.H452H5066H5971H559H5921H6452H8147H5587H3068H430H1168H3212H310H5971H6030H169722Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only prophet of the LORD who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.H559H452H5971H3498H5030H3068H1168H5030H702H3967H2572H37623Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.H5414H8147H6499H977H259H6499H5408H7760H6086H7760H784H6213H259H6499H5414H6086H7760H78424Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!" And all the people agreed.H7121H8034H430H7121H8034H3068H430H6030H784H430H5971H6030H559H2896H169725Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood."H452H559H5030H1168H977H259H6499H6213H7223H7227H7121H8034H430H7760H78426So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.H3947H6499H5414H6213H7121H8034H1168H1242H6672H559H1168H6030H369H6963H6030H6452H4196H621327About noontime Elijah began mocking them. "You'll have to shout louder," he scoffed, "for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself

. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!"H6672H452H2048H559H7121H1419H6963H430H7879H7873H1870H194H3463H336428So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.H7121H6963H1419H1413H4941H2719H7420H1818H821029They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.H6672H5674H5012H5927H4503H6963H6030H718230Then Elijah called to the people, "Come over here!" They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.H452H559H5971H5066H5971H5066H7495H4196H3068H204031He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel

,H452H3947H8147H6240H68H4557H7626H1121H3290H1697H3068H559H3478H803432and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons

.H68H1129H4196H8034H3068H6213H8585H5439H4196H1004H5429H223333He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, "Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood."H6186H6086H6186H5408H6499H7760H6086H559H4390H702H3537H4325H3332H5930H608634After they had done this, he said, "Do the same thing again!" And when they were finished, he said, "Now do it a third time!" So they did as he said,H559H8138H8138H559H8027H802735and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.H4325H3212H5439H4196H4390H8585H432536At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.H5927H4503H452H5030H5066H559H3068H430H85H3327H3478H3045H3117H430H3478H5650H6213H169737O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself."H6030H3068H6030H5971H3045H3068H430H5437H3820H5437H32238Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!H784H3068H5307H398H5930H6086H68H6083H3897H4325H858539And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, "The LORD—he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!"H5971H7200H5307H6440H559H3068H430H3068H43040Then Elijah commanded, "Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don't let a single one escape!" So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.H452H559H8610H5030H1168H376H4422H8610H452H3381H5158H7028H7819

Elijah Prays for Rain

41Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!"H452H559H256H5927H398H8354H6963H1995H165342So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.H256H5927H398H8354H452H5927H7218H3760H1457H776H7760H6440H129043Then he said to his servant, "Go and look out toward the sea." The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, "I didn't see anything." Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.H559H5288H5927H5027H1870H3220H5927H5027H559H3972H559H7725H7651H647144Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, "I saw a little cloud about the size of a man's hand rising from the sea." Then Elijah shouted, "Hurry to Ahab and tell him, 'Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don't hurry, the rain will stop you!'"H7637H559H5927H6996H5645H3220H376H3709H559H5927H559H256H631H3381H1653H611345And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.H3541H8064H6937H5645H7307H1419H1653H256H7392H3212H315746Then the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt

and ran ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.H3027H3068H452H8151H4975H7323H6440H256H935H3157

1Kings 19

Elijah Flees to Sinai

19When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.H256H5046H348H452H6213H2026H5030H27192So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them."H348H7971H4397H452H559H430H6213H3254H7760H5315H5315H259H4279H62563Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.H7200H6965H3212H5315H935H884H3063H3240H52884Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died."H1980H3117H1870H4057H935H3427H259H7574H7592H5315H4191H559H7227H3068H3947H5315H2896H15Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!"H7901H3462H259H7574H4397H5060H559H6965H3986He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.H5027H5692H7529H6835H4325H4763H398H8354H7901H77257Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you."H4397H3068H7725H8145H5060H559H6965H398H1870H72278So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai

, the mountain of God.H6965H398H8354H3212H3581H396H705H3117H705H3915H2722H2022H430

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

9There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"H935H4631H3885H1697H3068H559H45210Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."H559H7065H7065H3068H430H6635H1121H3478H5800H1285H2040H4196H2026H5030H2719H3498H1245H5315H394711"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.H559H3318H5975H2022H6440H3068H3068H5674H1419H2389H7307H6561H2022H7665H5553H6440H3068H3068H7307H310H7307H7494H3068H749412And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.H310H7494H784H3068H784H310H784H1827H1851H696313When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"H452H8085H3874H6440H155H3318H5975H6607H4631H6963H559H45214He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."H559H7065H7065H3068H430H6635H1121H3478H5800H1285H2040H4196H2026H5030H2719H3498H1245H5315H394715Then the LORD told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.H3068H559H3212H7725H1870H4057H1834H935H4886H2371H4428H75816Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi

to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.H3058H1121H5250H4886H4428H3478H477H1121H8202H65H4886H503017Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!H4422H2719H2371H3058H4191H4422H2719H3058H477H419118Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"H7604H7651H505H3478H1290H3766H1168H6310H5401

The Call of Elisha

19So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away.H3212H4672H477H1121H8202H2790H8147H6240H6776H6440H8147H6240H452H5674H7993H15520Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!" Elijah replied, "Go on back, but think about what I have done to you."H5800H1241H7323H310H452H559H5401H1H517H3212H310H559H3212H7725H621321So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.H7725H310H3947H6776H1241H2076H1310H1320H3627H1241H5414H5971H398H6965H3212H310H452H8334