“How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”

1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)

The story

When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? Elijah refused the charge and turned it around: 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. Then he gave his instruction: gather all Israel unto mount Carmel, with the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. Ahab did it. 1 Kings 18:17-20

Elijah came unto all the people and asked, 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. Their silence was the problem: they wanted both. Elijah pointed out the odds, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men, and then proposed a test. Two bullocks, each laid on wood with no fire under it. 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. The people said, It is well spoken. 1 Kings 18:21-24

The prophets of Baal went first, since they were many. They called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us, and leaped upon the altar. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. At noon Elijah mocked them, telling them to cry aloud, since perhaps their god was talking, or pursuing, or on a journey, or asleep and needing to be awakened. They cried louder and cut themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed out. They kept on until the time of the evening sacrifice, and there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 1 Kings 18:25-29

Then Elijah called the people near and repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down, taking twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. He made a trench around it, laid the wood and the bullock in order, and had four barrels of water poured over everything three separate times, until the water ran round about the altar and filled the trench. Then he prayed a short prayer, asking that this people may know that thou art the LORD God. Then 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. The people fell on their faces and said, The LORD, he is the God. Later Elijah told Ahab there was a sound of abundance of rain, and after his servant looked seven times, a little cloud like a man's hand rose out of the sea. 1 Kings 18:30-44

Quiz

1. How did Elijah answer Ahab's accusation?

   • He apologised
   • He said Ahab and his father's house had troubled Israel
   • He said nothing
   • He blamed Jezebel only

2. How many prophets of the groves were also to be gathered?

   • Four hundred
   • Four hundred and fifty
   • Two hundred
   • Eighty

3. Where did the prophets of the groves eat?

   • At the king's gate
   • In the temple of Baal
   • At Jezebel's table
   • In the fields of Carmel

4. How many prophets of the LORD did Elijah say remained?

   • Only himself
   • Seven
   • A hundred
   • Twelve

5. What were both sides forbidden to do to their sacrifice?

   • Cut it in pieces
   • Put no fire under it
   • Wash it
   • Lay it on wood

6. How long did the prophets of Baal call before Elijah mocked them?

   • From morning even until noon
   • For three days
   • For one hour
   • Until evening

7. What did the prophets of Baal do to themselves?

   • They fasted
   • They tore their clothes
   • They cut themselves with knives and lancets
   • They lay on the ground

8. Why did Elijah use twelve stones?

   • For the twelve months
   • According to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob
   • For the twelve prophets
   • To make the altar tall

9. How many times was water poured over the sacrifice?

   • Once
   • Twice
   • Three times
   • Seven times

10. What did the servant finally see at the seventh time?

    • A little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand
    • A great storm
    • A ship
    • Nothing at all