1 Reyes 18

Bible in Basic English

1Now after a long time, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go and let Ahab see you, so that I may send rain on the earth.

2So Elijah went to let Ahab see him. Now there was no food to be had in Samaria.

3And Ahab sent for Obadiah, the controller of the king's house. (Now Obadiah had the fear of the Lord before him greatly;

4For when Jezebel was cutting off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred of them, and kept them secretly in a hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread and water.)

5And Ahab said to Obadiah, Come, let us go through all the country, to all the fountains of water and all the rivers, and see if there is any grass to be had for the horses and the transport beasts, so that we may be able to keep some of the beasts from destruction.

6So they went through all the country, covering it between them; Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another by himself.

7And while Obadiah was on his way, he came face to face with Elijah; and seeing who it was, he went down on his face and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?

8And Elijah in answer said, It is I; now go and say to your lord, Elijah is here.

9And he said, What sin have I done, that you would give up your servant into the hand of Ahab, and be the cause of my death?

10By the life of the Lord your God, there is not a nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent in search of you; and when they said, He is not here; he made them take an oath that they had not seen you.

11And now you say, Go, say to your lord, Elijah is here.

12And straight away, when I have gone from you, the spirit of the Lord will take you away, I have no idea where, so that when I come and give word to Ahab, and he sees you not, he will put me to death: though I, your servant, have been a worshipper of the Lord from my earliest years.

13Has my lord not had word of what I did when Jezebel was putting the Lord's prophets to death? how I kept a hundred of them in a secret hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread and water?

14And now you say, Go and say to your Lord, Elijah is here; and he will put me to death.

15And Elijah said, By the life of the Lord of armies, whose servant I am, I will certainly let him see me today.

16So Obadiah went to Ahab and gave him the news; and Ahab went to see Elijah.

17And when he saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel?

18Then he said in answer, I have not been troubling Israel, but you and your family; because, turning away from the orders of the Lord, you have gone after the Baals.

19Now send, and get Israel together before me at Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal who get their food at Jezebel's table.

20So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and got the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go on balancing between two opinions? if the Lord is God, then give worship to him; but if Baal, give worship to him. And the people said not a word in answer.

22Then Elijah said to the people, I, even I, am the only living prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23Now, let them give us two oxen; and let them take one for themselves, and have it cut up, and put it on the wood, but put no fire under it; I will get the other ox ready, and put it on the wood, and put no fire under it.

24And do you make prayers to your god, and I will make a prayer to the Lord: and it will be clear that the one who gives an answer by fire is God. And all the people in answer said, It is well said.

25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Take one ox for yourselves and get it ready first, for there are more of you; and make your prayers to your god, but put no fire under.

26So they took the ox which was given them, and made it ready, crying out to Baal from morning till the middle of the day, and saying, O Baal, give ear to us. But there was no voice and no answer. And they were jumping up and down before the altar they had made.

27And in the middle of the day, Elijah made sport of them, saying, Give louder cries, for he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or he may have gone away for some purpose, or he may be on a journey, or by chance he is sleeping and has to be made awake.

28So they gave loud cries, cutting themselves with knives and swords, as was their way, till the blood came streaming out all over them.

29And from the middle of the day they went on with their prayers till the time of the offering; but there was no voice, or any answer, or any who gave attention to them.

30Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near. And he put up again the altar of the Lord which had been broken down.

31And Elijah took twelve stones, the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, Israel will be your name:

32And with the stones he made an altar to the name of the Lord; and he made a deep drain all round the altar, great enough to take two measures of seed.

33And he put the wood in order, and, cutting up the ox, put it on the wood. Then he said, Get four vessels full of water and put it on the burned offering and on the wood. And he said, Do it a second time, and they did it a second time;

34And he said, Do it a third time, and they did it a third time.

35And the water went all round the altar, till the drain was full.

36Then at the time of the offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be seen this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things by your order.

37Give me an answer, O Lord, give me an answer, so that this people may see that you are God, and that you have made their hearts come back again.

38Then the fire of the Lord came down, burning up the offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and drinking up the water in the drain.

39And when the people saw it, they all went down on their faces, and said, The Lord, he is God, the Lord, he is God.

40And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal, let not one of them get away. So they took them, and Elijah made them go down to the stream Kishon, and put them to death there.

41Then Elijah said to Ahab, Up! take food and drink, for there is a sound of much rain.

42So Ahab went up to have food and drink, while Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he went down on the earth, putting his face between his knees.

43And he said to his servant, Go now, and take a look in the direction of the sea. And he went up, and after looking said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times; and he went seven times.

44And the seventh time he said, I see a cloud coming up out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. Then he said, Go up and say to Ahab, Get your carriage ready and go down or the rain will keep you back.

45And after a very little time, the heaven became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab went in his carriage to Jezreel.

46And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he made himself strong, and went running before Ahab till they came to Jezreel.

Reina-Valera 1909

1PASADOS muchos días, fué palabra de Jehová á Elías en el tercer año, diciendo: Ve, muéstrate á Achâb, y yo daré lluvia sobre la haz de la tierra.

2Fué pues Elías á mostrarse á Achâb. Había á la sazón grande hambre en Samaria.

3Y Achâb llamó á Abdías su mayordomo, el cual Abdías era en grande manera temeroso de Jehová;

4Porque cuando Jezabel destruía á los profetas de Jehová, Abdías tomó cien profetas, los cuales escondió de cincuenta en cincuenta por cuevas, y sustentólos á pan y agua.

5Y dijo Achâb á Abdías: Ve por el país á todas las fuentes de aguas, y á todos los arroyos; que acaso hallaremos grama con que conservemos la vida á los caballos y á las acémilas, para que no nos quedemos sin bestias.

6Y partieron entre sí el país para recorrerlo: Achâb fué de por sí por un camino, y Abdías fué separadamente por otro.

7Y yendo Abdías por el camino, topóse con Elías; y como le conoció, postróse sobre su rostro, y dijo: ¿No eres tú mi señor Elías?

8Y él respondió: Yo soy; ve, di á tu amo: He aquí Elías.

9Pero él dijo: ¿En qué he pecado, para que tú entregues tu siervo en mano de Achâb para que me mate?

10Vive Jehová tu Dios, que no ha habido nación ni reino donde mi señor no haya enviado á buscarte; y respondiendo ellos, No está aquí, él ha conjurado á reinos y naciones si no te han hallado.

11¿Y ahora tú dices: Ve, di á tu amo: Aquí está Elías?

12Y acontecerá que, luego que yo me haya partido de ti, el espíritu de Jehová te llevará donde yo no sepa; y viniendo yo, y dando las nuevas á Achâb, y no hallándote él, me matará; y tu siervo teme á Jehová desde su mocedad.

13¿No ha sido dicho á mi señor lo que hice, cuando Jezabel mataba á los profetas de Jehová: que escondí cien varones de los profetas de Jehová de cincuenta en cincuenta en cuevas, y los mantuve á pan y agua?

14¿Y ahora dices tú: Ve, di á tu amo: Aquí está Elías: para que él me mate?

15Y díjole Elías: Vive Jehová de los ejércitos, delante del cual estoy, que hoy me mostraré á él.

16Entonces Abdías fué á encontrarse con Achâb, y dióle el aviso; y Achâb vino á encontrarse con Elías.

17Y como Achâb vió á Elías, díjole Achâb: ¿Eres tú el que alborotas á Israel?

18Y él respondió: Yo no he alborotado á Israel, sino tú y la casa de tu padre, dejando los mandamientos de Jehová, y siguiendo á los Baales.

19Envía pues ahora y júntame á todo Israel en el monte de Carmelo, y los cuatrocientos y cincuenta profetas de Baal, y los cuatrocientos profetas de los bosques, que comen de la mesa de Jezabel.

20Entonces Achâb envió á todos los hijos de Israel, y juntó los profetas en el monte de Carmelo.

21Y acercándose Elías á todo el pueblo, dijo: ¿Hasta cuándo claudicaréis vosotros entre dos pensamientos? Si Jehová es Dios, seguidle; y si Baal, id en pos de él. Y el pueblo no respondió palabra.

22Y Elías tornó á decir al pueblo: Sólo yo he quedado profeta de Jehová; mas de los profetas de Baal hay cuatrocientos y cincuenta hombres.

23Dénsenos pues dos bueyes, y escójanse ellos el uno, y córtenlo en pedazos, y pónganlo sobre leña, mas no pongan fuego debajo; y yo aprestaré el otro buey, y pondrélo sobre leña, y ningún fuego pondré debajo.

24Invocad luego vosotros en el nombre de vuestros dioses, y yo invocaré en el nombre de Jehová: y el Dios que respondiere por fuego, ése sea Dios. Y todo el pueblo respondió, diciendo: Bien dicho.

25Entonces Elías dijo á los profetas de Baal: Escogeos el un buey, y haced primero, pues que vosotros sois los más: é invocad en el nombre de vuestros dioses, mas no pongáis fuego debajo.

26Y ellos tomaron el buey que les fué dado, y aprestáronlo, é invocaron en el nombre de Baal desde la mañana hasta el medio día, diciendo: ¡Baal, respóndenos! Mas no había voz, ni quien respondiese; entre tanto, ellos andaban saltando cerca del altar que habían hecho.

27Y aconteció al medio día, que Elías se burlaba de ellos, diciendo: Gritad en alta voz, que dios es: quizá está conversando, ó tiene algún empeño, ó va de camino; acaso duerme, y despertará.

28Y ellos clamaban á grandes voces, y sajábanse con cuchillos y con lancetas conforme á su costumbre, hasta chorrear la sangre sobre ellos.

29Y como pasó el medio día, y ellos profetizaran hasta el tiempo del sacrificio del presente, y no había voz, ni quien respondiese ni escuchase;

30Elías dijo entonces á todo el pueblo: Acercaos á mí. Y todo el pueblo se llegó á él: y él reparó el altar de Jehová que estaba arruinado.

31Y tomando Elías doce piedras, conforme al número de las tribus de los hijos de Jacob, al cual había sido palabra de Jehová, diciendo, Israel será tu nombre;

32Edificó con las piedras un altar en el nombre de Jehová: después hizo una reguera alrededor del altar, cuanto cupieran dos satos de simiente.

33Compuso luego la leña, y cortó el buey en pedazos, y púsolo sobre la leña.

34Y dijo: Henchid cuatro cántaros de agua, y derramadla sobre el holocausto y sobre la leña. Y dijo: Hacedlo otra vez; y otra vez lo hicieron. Dijo aún: Hacedlo la tercera vez; é hiciéronlo la tercera vez.

35De manera que las aguas corrían alrededor del altar; y había también henchido de agua la reguera.

36Y como llegó la hora de ofrecerse el holocausto, llegóse el profeta Elías, y dijo: Jehová Dios de Abraham, de Isaac, y de Israel, sea hoy manifiesto que tú eres Dios en Israel, y que yo soy tu siervo, y que por mandato tuyo he hecho todas estas cosas.

37Respóndeme, Jehová, respóndeme; para que conozca este pueblo que tú, oh Jehová, eres el Dios, y que tú volviste atrás el corazón de ellos.

38Entonces cayó fuego de Jehová, el cual consumió el holocausto, y la leña, y las piedras, y el polvo, y aun lamió las aguas que estaban en la reguera.

39Y viéndolo todo el pueblo, cayeron sobre sus rostros, y dijeron: ¡Jehová es el Dios! ¡Jehová es el Dios!

40Y díjoles Elías: Prended á los profetas de Baal, que no escape ninguno. Y ellos los prendieron; y llevólos Elías al arroyo de Cisón, y allí los degolló.

41Y entonces Elías dijo á Achâb: Sube, come y bebe; porque una grande lluvia suena.

42Y Achâb subió á comer y á beber. Y Elías subió á la cumbre del Carmelo; y postrándose en tierra, puso su rostro entre las rodillas.

43Y dijo á su criado: Sube ahora, y mira hacia la mar. Y él subió, y miró, y dijo: No hay nada. Y él le volvió á decir: Vuelve siete veces.

44Y á la séptima vez dijo: Yo veo una pequeña nube como la palma de la mano de un hombre, que sube de la mar. Y él dijo: Ve, y di á Achâb: Unce y desciende, porque la lluvia no te ataje.

45Y aconteció, estando en esto, que los cielos se oscurecieron con nubes y viento; y hubo una gran lluvia. Y subiendo Achâb, vino á Jezreel.

46Y la mano de Jehová fué sobre Elías, el cual ciñó sus lomos, y vino corriendo delante de Achâb hasta llegar á Jezreel.

King James Version

1And 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.

2And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

3And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

4For 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.)

5And 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.

6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7And 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?

8And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10As 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.

11And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12And 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.

13Was 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?

14And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

15And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18And 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.

19Now 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.

20So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21And 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.

22Then 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.

23Let 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:

24And 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.

25And 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.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29And 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.

30And 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.

31And 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:

32And 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.

33And 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.

34And 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.

35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36And 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.

37Hear 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.

38Then 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.

39And 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.

40And 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.

41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42So 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,

43And 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.

44And 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.

45And 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.

46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

World English Bible

1After many days, the LORD’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”

2Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.

3Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly;

4for when Jezebel cut off the LORD’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

5Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.”

6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

8He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”

9He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?

10As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you.

11Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’

12It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that the LORD’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.

13Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD’s prophets, how I hid one hundred men of the LORD’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”

15Elijah said, “As the LORD of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”

16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

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

18He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the LORD’s commandments and you have followed the Baals.

19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.

21Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.

22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.

23Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.

24You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the LORD’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.”

25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”

26They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.

27At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”

28They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.

29When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.

30Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the LORD’s altar that had been thrown down.

31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the LORD’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”

32With the stones he built an altar in the LORD’s name. He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seed.

33He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”

34He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time.

35The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.

36At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

37Hear me, LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”

38Then the LORD’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!”

40Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.

41Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”

42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.

43He said to his servant, “Go up now and look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.

44On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”

45In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46The LORD’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.