1 Raja-raja 18:1--20:21
Konteks18:1 Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the Lord told Elijah, 1 “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” 18:2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 2 18:3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord. 3 18:4 When Jezebel was killing 4 the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) 18:5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas 5 so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill 6 some of the animals.” 18:6 They divided up the land between them; Ahab went 7 one way and Obadiah went the other.
18:7 As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. 8 When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” 18:8 He replied, “Yes, 9 go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’” 10 18:9 Obadiah 11 said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution? 12 18:10 As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them 13 swear an oath that they could not find you. 18:11 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’ 14 18:12 But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. 15 If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. 16 That would not be fair, 17 because your servant has been a loyal follower of 18 the Lord from my youth. 18:13 Certainly my master is aware of what I did 19 when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. 18:14 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’ 20 but he will kill me.” 18:15 But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord who rules over all 21 lives (whom I serve), 22 I will make an appearance before him today.”
18:16 When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah. 23 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he 24 said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster 25 on Israel?” 18:18 Elijah 26 replied, “I have not brought disaster 27 on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals. 18:19 Now send out messengers 28 and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports. 29
18:20 Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel. 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? 30 If the Lord is the true God, 31 then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word. 18:22 Elijah said to them: 32 “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 18:23 Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire. 18:24 Then you 33 will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” 34 All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.” 35
18:25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.” 36 18:26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, 37 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 38 around on the altar they had made. 39 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” 40 18:28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, 41 mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood. 42 18:29 Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, 43 but there was no sound, no answer, and no response. 44
18:30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 45 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new 46 name.” 47 18:32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. 48 Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs 49 of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, 50 he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 18:35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, 51 Elijah the prophet approached the altar 52 and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove 53 today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God 54 and that you are winning back their allegiance.” 55 18:38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky. 56 It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. 18:39 When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God! 57 The Lord is the true God!” 18:40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed 58 them there.
18:41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.” 59 18:42 So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees. 18:43 He told his servant, “Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” 60 Seven times Elijah sent him to look. 61 18:44 The seventh time the servant 62 said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah 63 then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’” 64 18:45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward 65 Jezreel. 18:46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power; 66 he tucked his robe into his belt 67 and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 19:2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, 68 “May the gods judge me severely 69 if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!” 70
19:3 Elijah was afraid, 71 so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 19:4 while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub 72 and asked the Lord to take his life: 73 “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.” 74 19:5 He stretched out 75 and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messenger 76 touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 19:6 He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more. 77 19:7 The Lord’s angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.” 78 19:8 So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
19:9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 79 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 80 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 81 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 82 19:11 The Lord 83 said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, 84 but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 19:12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. 85 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden 86 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 87 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 88 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 89 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 90 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 19:16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 19:17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 19:18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” 91
19:19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. 19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah 92 said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 93 went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. 94 He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
20:1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria 95 and besieged and attacked it. 96 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 97 20:3 He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’” 20:4 The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”
20:5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 20:6 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.” 98 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders 99 of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. 100 Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 20:8 All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.” 101 20:9 So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’” 102 So the messengers went back and gave their report.
20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely 103 if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 104 20:11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.” 105 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, 106 he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. 107 He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.
20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? 108 Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” 109 He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab 110 asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
20:15 So Ahab 111 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 112 20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 113 in their quarters. 114 20:17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 115 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 116 20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20:20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; 117 the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 20:21 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated 118 Syria.
[18:1] 1 tn Heb “the word of the
[18:2] 2 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[18:3] 3 tn Heb “now Obadiah greatly feared the
[18:4] 4 tn Heb “cutting off.”
[18:6] 7 tn The Hebrew text has “alone” here and again in reference to Obadiah toward the end of the verse.
[18:7] 8 tn Heb “look, Elijah [came] to meet him.”
[18:8] 10 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:9] 11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Obadiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:9] 12 tn Heb “to kill me.”
[18:10] 13 tn Heb “he makes the kingdom or the nation swear an oath.”
[18:11] 14 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:12] 15 tn Heb “to [a place] which I do not know.”
[18:12] 16 tn Heb “and I will go to inform Ahab and he will not find you and he will kill me.”
[18:12] 17 tn The words “that would not be fair” are added to clarify the logic of Obadiah’s argument.
[18:12] 18 tn Heb “has feared the
[18:13] 19 tn Heb “Has it not been told to my master what I did…?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “Of course it has!”
[18:14] 20 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:15] 21 tn Traditionally, “the
[18:15] 22 tn Heb “(before whom I stand).”
[18:16] 23 tn Heb “Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.”
[18:18] 26 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:19] 28 tn The word “messengers” is supplied in the translation both here and in v. 20 for clarification.
[18:19] 29 tn Heb “who eat at the table of Jezebel.”
[18:21] 30 tn Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?” (see HALOT 762 s.v. סְעִפִּים). In context this idiomatic expression refers to indecision rather than physical disability.
[18:22] 32 tn Heb “to the people.”
[18:24] 33 tn Elijah now directly addresses the prophets.
[18:24] 35 tn Heb “The matter [i.e., proposal] is good [i.e., acceptable].”
[18:25] 36 tc The last sentence of v. 25 is absent in the Syriac Peshitta.
[18:26] 37 tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.”
[18:26] 38 tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21).
[18:26] 39 tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew
[18:27] 40 sn Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets.
[18:28] 41 tn Or “as was their custom.”
[18:28] 42 tn Heb “until blood poured out on them.”
[18:28] sn mutilated…covered with blood. This self-mutilation was a mourning rite designed to facilitate Baal’s return from the underworld.
[18:29] 43 tn Heb “when noon passed they prophesied until the offering up of the offering.”
[18:29] 44 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta include the following words here: “When it was time to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Tishbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations: ‘Stand aside for the time being, and I will offer my burnt offering.’ So they stood aside and departed.”
[18:29] sn In 2 Kgs 4:31 the words “there was no sound and there was no response” are used to describe a dead boy. Similar words are used here to describe the god Baal as dead and therefore unresponsive.
[18:30] 45 sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people.
[18:31] 46 tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text.
[18:31] 47 sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10.
[18:32] 48 tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the
[18:32] 49 tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts.
[18:34] 50 tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[18:36] 51 tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.”
[18:36] 52 tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[18:36] 53 tn Heb “let it be known.”
[18:37] 55 tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”
[18:38] 56 tn The words “from the sky” are added for stylistic reasons.
[18:39] 57 tn Heb “the God” (the phrase occurs twice in this verse).
[18:40] 58 tn Or “slaughtered.”
[18:41] 59 tn Heb “for [there is] the sound of the roar of the rain.”
[18:43] 60 sn So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Several times in this chapter those addressed by Elijah obey his orders. In vv. 20 and 42 Ahab does as instructed, in vv. 26 and 28 the prophets follow Elijah’s advice, and in vv. 30, 34, 40 and 43 the people and servants do as they are told. By juxtaposing Elijah’s commands with accounts of those commands being obeyed, the narrator emphasizes the authority of the
[18:43] 61 tn Heb “He said, ‘Return,’ seven times.”
[18:44] 62 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:44] 63 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:44] 64 tn Heb “so that the rain won’t restrain you.”
[18:45] 65 tn Heb “rode and went to.”
[18:46] 66 tn Heb “and the hand of the
[18:46] 67 tn Heb “and girded up his loins.” The idea is that of gathering up the robes and tucking them into the sash or belt so that they do not get in the way of the legs when running (or working or fighting).
[19:2] 69 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[19:2] 70 tn Heb “I do not make your life like the life of one of them.”
[19:3] 71 tc The MT has “and he saw,” but some medieval Hebrew
[19:4] 72 tn Or “broom tree” (also in v. 5).
[19:4] 73 tn Heb “and asked with respect to his life to die.”
[19:5] 76 tn Heb “Look, a messenger.”
[19:6] 77 tn Heb “and again lay down”
[19:7] 78 tn Heb “for the journey is too great for you.”
[19:10] 79 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
[19:10] 80 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
[19:10] 81 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
[19:10] 82 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
[19:11] 83 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[19:11] 84 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
[19:12] 85 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
[19:14] 87 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
[19:14] 88 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
[19:14] 89 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
[19:14] 90 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
[19:18] 91 tn Heb “I have kept in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and all the mouths that have not kissed him.”
[19:20] 92 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 93 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 94 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”
[20:1] 95 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:1] 96 tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”
[20:2] 97 tn Heb “to the city.”
[20:6] 98 tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.”
[20:7] 100 tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.”
[20:8] 101 tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.”
[20:9] 102 tn Heb “all which you sent to your servant in the beginning I will do, but this thing I am unable to do.”
[20:10] 103 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[20:10] 104 tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”
[20:11] 105 sn The point of the saying is that someone who is still preparing for a battle should not boast as if he has already won the battle. A modern parallel would be, “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
[20:12] 106 tn Heb “When he heard this word.”
[20:12] 107 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:13] 108 tn Heb “this great horde.”
[20:14] 109 tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[20:14] 110 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 111 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 112 tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
[20:16] 113 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
[20:16] 114 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:17] 115 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:18] 116 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
[20:20] 117 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
[20:21] 118 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
