1 Kings 18 Solomon's Reign and Power

1 Elijah and Obadiah
After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”

2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria,

3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.

4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”

6 So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.

7 As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”

8 “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

9 “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?

10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.

11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’

12 I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth.

13 Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water.

14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”

15 Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”

16 Elijah on Mount Carmel
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.

19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.

21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.

22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.

23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it.

24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”

26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.

29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which was in ruins.

31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”

32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”

34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.

35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.

37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

46 The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

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Analysis of 1 Kings Chapter 18

The 18th chapter of the book of 1 Kings is one of the most dramatic and theologically rich sections of the Old Testament. It recounts the narrative of the prophet Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The chapter is significant for its bold demonstration of Yahweh’s power over the Canaanite deity Baal, a pivotal turning point in Israelite religious history.

Context and Background

Before delving into the analysis, it is crucial to place this chapter within its broader context. The Kingdom of Israel, under the rule of King Ahab, had fallen into idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, under the influence of Jezebel, Ahab’s Phoenician queen. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets in the Hebrew Bible, is portrayed as Yahweh’s chosen emissary to challenge this idolatry and call Israel back to covenant faithfulness.

Verses 1-2: Divine Command and Famine

The chapter begins with Yahweh’s command to Elijah:

(1) After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”

(2) So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria,

Here, God’s command marks the end of a three-year drought, a divine judgment on Israel for its idolatry. This sets the stage for the unfolding confrontation. Elijah’s obedience exemplifies his role as a faithful prophet, carrying out God’s will even in the face of potential danger.

Verses 3-16: Obadiah’s Loyalty

These verses introduce Obadiah, a devout believer working in Ahab’s court who had hidden 100 prophets of Yahweh from Jezebel’s wrath:

(3) And Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD.)

(4) While Jezebel was killing off the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.

This section highlights Obadiah’s faithfulness and moral courage in contrast to Ahab’s apostasy. This contrast between Ahab and Obadiah also reinforces the main theme of loyalty to Yahweh versus allegiance to Baal.

Verses 17-19: The Confrontation Begins

Elijah’s first encounter with Ahab is fraught with tension:

(17) When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

(18) “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals.”

Ahab accuses Elijah of causing Israel’s troubles, but Elijah redirects the blame to Ahab’s idolatry, framing the true cause of the nation’s suffering as spiritual infidelity rather than Elijah’s actions. Elijah then proposes a contest on Mount Carmel involving 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah.

Verses 20-24: The Challenge on Mount Carmel

Ahab calls all Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel at Elijah’s behest:

(21) Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

Elijah’s challenge to the people highlights the need for a decisive commitment to Yahweh. The silence of the people underscores their indecision and spiritual malaise. Elijah sets the rules for the contest: two bulls for sacrifice, one for Baal’s prophets and one for himself, with the true God to be revealed by fire from heaven.

Verses 25-29: The Prophets of Baal

The prophets of Baal begin their ritualistic invocations:

(26) So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

This scene vividly illustrates the futility of idolatry. Despite their elaborate and desperate efforts, Baal remains silent. Elijah’s mocking taunts in verse 27 heighten the dramatic tension and underscore the impotence of Baal.

Verses 30-38: Elijah’s Prayer and God’s Response

Elijah repairs Yahweh’s altar, using twelve stones to symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, and soaks the sacrifice with water:

(36) At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.”

(38) Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

Elijah’s prayer is a model of prophetic intercession, seeking not only a miraculous demonstration but also the spiritual renewal of Israel. The immediate response by fire from heaven unequivocally affirms Yahweh’s sovereignty and power.

Verses 39-40: The People’s Reaction and the Prophets’ Fate

The people’s reaction is immediate and profound:

(39) When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

This declaration signifies a return to covenant loyalty. Elijah’s subsequent execution of Baal’s prophets (v. 40) reflects the severity of idolatry’s offense and the need to purge the community of falsehood.

Verses 41-46: The End of the Drought

The chapter concludes with Elijah predicting the end of the drought, accompanied by fervent prayer:

(45) Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

Elijah’s servant sees a small cloud, which grows into a heavy rainstorm, symbolizing the restoration of divine favor. The chapter ends with Elijah’s extraordinary physical endurance as he runs ahead of Ahab’s chariot.

Theological Themes

Several key theological themes emerge from 1 Kings 18:

Monotheism and Idolatry: The contest on Mount Carmel dramatically affirms Yahweh’s unrivaled divinity and exposes the futility of idolatry.
Prophetic Authority: Elijah’s actions and success underscore the critical role of prophets in guiding and correcting the covenant community.
Covenant Faithfulness: The call to decisiveness in worship (v. 21) and the people’s eventual declaration of Yahweh’s sovereignty symbolize a return to covenant faithfulness.
Divine Power: The miraculous fire and the end of the drought are powerful demonstrations of Yahweh’s control over nature, contrasting with Baal’s impotence.

Practical Application

For contemporary readers, 1 Kings 18 offers several practical insights:

Commitment to God: Like the Israelites, believers are called to unequivocal loyalty to God, shunning all forms of modern-day idolatry.
Prayer’s Power: Elijah’s effective prayer (v. 36) sets an example of fervent, faith-filled prayer, trusting in God’s power and timing.
Moral Courage: Both Elijah and Obadiah demonstrate the importance of standing up for righteousness, even at great personal risk.
God’s Faithfulness: The chapter reassures believers of God’s unwavering faithfulness and His ability to intervene powerfully in human affairs.

In conclusion, 1 Kings Chapter 18 is a compelling narrative that underscores the exclusive sovereignty of Yahweh, the impotence of idolatry, and the transformative power of prophetic ministry. The dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel is more than an ancient story; it serves as a clarion call to unwavering faith and covenant fidelity, resonating through the ages to instruct and inspire today’s believers.

Understanding the Key Messages in 1 Kings 18: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, we read about the wealth, wisdom, and power of King Solomon during his reign. Solomon built the temple of the Lord and made treaties with other nations. He had a vast army and established justice throughout the land. However, his accumulation of horses and chariots, as well as his alliances with foreign wives, eventually led him astray from following God wholeheartedly.

Notes

Solomon's reign is characterized by both accomplishments and failures. While he achieved much, he also made decisions that went against God's commands, which had consequences for him and the nation of Israel.