1Kings:16-18

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha , saying , * Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust , and made thee prince over my people Israel ; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam , and hast made my people Israel to sin , to provoke me to anger with their sins ; * Behold , I will take away the posterity of Baasha , and the posterity of his house ; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat . * Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat ; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat . * Now the rest of the acts of Baasha , and what he did , and his might , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? * So Baasha slept with his fathers , and was buried in Tirzah : and Elah his son reigned in his stead . * And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha , and against his house , even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD , in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands , in being like the house of Jeroboam ; and because he killed him . * In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah , two years . * And his servant Zimri , captain of half his chariots , conspired against him , as he was in Tirzah , drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah . * And Zimri went in and smote him , and killed him , in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah , and reigned in his stead . * And it came to pass , when he began to reign , as soon as he sat on his throne , that he slew all the house of Baasha : he left him not one that pisseth against a wall , neither of his kinsfolks , nor of his friends . * Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet , * For all the sins of Baasha , and the sins of Elah his son , by which they sinned , and by which they made Israel to sin , in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities . * Now the rest of the acts of Elah , and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? * In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah . And the people were encamped against Gibbethon , which belonged to the Philistines . * And the people that were encamped heard say , Zimri hath conspired , and hath also slain the king : wherefore all Israel made Omri , the captain of the host , king over Israel that day in the camp . * And Omri went up from Gibbethon , and all Israel with him , and they besieged Tirzah . * And it came to pass , when Zimri saw that the city was taken , that he went into the palace of the king 's house , and burnt the king 's house over him with fire , and died , * For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD , in walking in the way of Jeroboam , and in his sin which he did , to make Israel to sin . * Now the rest of the acts of Zimri , and his treason that he wrought , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? * Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts : half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath , to make him king ; and half followed Omri . * But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath : so Tibni died , and Omri reigned . * In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel , twelve years : six years reigned he in Tirzah . * And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver , and built on the hill , and called the name of the city which he built , after the name of Shemer , owner of the hill , Samaria . * But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD , and did worse than all that were before him . * For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin , to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities . * Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did , and his might that he shewed , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? * So Omri slept with his fathers , and was buried in Samaria : and Ahab his son reigned in his stead . * And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel : and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years . * And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him . * And it came to pass , as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians , and went and served Baal , and worshipped him . * And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal , which he had built in Samaria . * And Ahab made a grove ; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him . * In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho : he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn , and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun . * And Elijah the Tishbite , who was of the inhabitants of Gilead , said unto Ahab , As the LORD God of Israel liveth , before whom I stand , there shall not be dew nor rain these years , but according to my word . * And the word of the LORD came unto him , saying , * Get thee hence , and turn thee eastward , and hide thyself by the brook Cherith , that is before Jordan . * And it shall be , that thou shalt drink of the brook ; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there . * So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD : for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith , that is before Jordan . * And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning , and bread and flesh in the evening ; and he drank of the brook . * And it came to pass after a while , that the brook dried up , because there had been no rain in the land . * And the word of the LORD came unto him , saying , * Arise , get thee to Zarephath , which belongeth to Zidon , and dwell there : behold , I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee . * So he arose and went to Zarephath . And when he came to the gate of the city , behold , the widow woman was there gathering of sticks : and he called to her , and said , Fetch me , I pray thee , a little water in a vessel , that I may drink . * And as she was going to fetch it , he called to her , and said , Bring me , I pray thee , a morsel of bread in thine hand . * And she said , As the LORD thy God liveth , I have not a cake , but an handful of meal in a barrel , and a little oil in a cruse : and , behold , I am gathering two sticks , that I may go in and dress it for me and my son , that we may eat it , and die . * And Elijah said unto her , Fear not ; go and do as thou hast said : but make me thereof a little cake first , and bring it unto me , and after make for thee and for thy son . * For thus saith the LORD God of Israel , The barrel of meal shall not waste , neither shall the cruse of oil fail , until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth . * And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah : and she , and he , and her house , did eat many days . * And the barrel of meal wasted not , neither did the cruse of oil fail , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by Elijah . * And it came to pass after these things , that the son of the woman , the mistress of the house , fell sick ; and his sickness was so sore , that there was no breath left in him . * And she said unto Elijah , What have I to do with thee , O thou man of God ? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance , and to slay my son ? * And he said unto her , Give me thy son . And he took him out of her bosom , and carried him up into a loft , where he abode , and laid him upon his own bed . * And he cried unto the LORD , and said , O LORD my God , hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn , by slaying her son ? * And he stretched himself upon the child three times , and cried unto the LORD , and said , O LORD my God , I pray thee , let this child 's soul come into him again . * And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah ; and the soul of the child came into him again , and he revived . * And Elijah took the child , and brought him down out of the chamber into the house , and delivered him unto his mother : and Elijah said , See , thy son liveth . * And the woman said to Elijah , Now by this I know that thou art a man of God , and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth . * And 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 . * And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab . And there was a sore famine in Samaria . * And Ahab called Obadiah , which was the governor of his house . (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly : * For 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 .) * And 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 . * So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it : Ahab went one way by himself , and Obadiah went another way by himself . * And 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 ? * And he answered him , I am : go , tell thy lord , Behold , Elijah is here . * And he said , What have I sinned , that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab , to slay me ? * As 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 . * And now thou sayest , Go , tell thy lord , Behold , Elijah is here . * And 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 . * Was 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 ? * And now thou sayest , Go , tell thy lord , Behold , Elijah is here : and he shall slay me . * And Elijah said , As the LORD of hosts liveth , before whom I stand , I will surely shew myself unto him to day . * So Obadiah went to meet Ahab , and told him : and Ahab went to meet Elijah . * And it came to pass , when Ahab saw Elijah , that Ahab said unto him , Art thou he that troubleth Israel ? * And 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 . * Now 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 . * So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel , and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel . * And 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 . * Then 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 . * Let 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 : * And 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 . * And 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 . * And 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 . * And 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 . * And they cried aloud , and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets , till the blood gushed out upon them . * And 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 . * And 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 . * And 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 : * And 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 . * And 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 . * And 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 . * And the water ran round about the altar ; and he filled the trench also with water . * And 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 . * Hear 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 . * 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 that was in the trench . * And 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 . * And 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 . * And Elijah said unto Ahab , Get thee up , eat and drink ; for there is a sound of abundance of rain . * So 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 , * And 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 . * And 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 . * And 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 . * And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah ; and he girded up his loins , and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel . * And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done , and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword .

---