1 Raja-raja 18:26

18:26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, ¹  and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped ²  around on the altar they had made. ³ 

1 Raja-raja 18:28

18:28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, ⁴  mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood. ⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.”

² tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21).

³ tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew mss and the ancient versions have the plural form of the verb.

⁴ tn Or “as was their custom.”

⁵ tn Heb “until blood poured out on them.”

sn mutilated…covered with blood. This self-mutilation was a mourning rite designed to facilitate Baal’s return from the underworld.