Elijah and Obadiah
1It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, “Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land.” 2So Elijah went to speak to Ahab.
There wasn’t enough food in Samaria. The people there were very hungry. 3Ahab had sent for Obadiah. He was in charge of Ahab’s palace. Obadiah had great respect for the Lord. 4Ahab’s wife Jezebel had been killing off the Lord’s prophets. So Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in two caves. He had put 50 in each cave. He had supplied them with food and water. 5Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land. Go to all the valleys and springs of water. Maybe we can find some grass there. It will keep the horses and mules alive. Then we won’t have to kill any of our animals.” 6So they decided where each of them would look. Ahab went in one direction. Obadiah went in another.
7As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him. He bowed down to the ground. He said, “My master Elijah! Is it really you?”
8“Yes,” he replied. “Go and tell your master Ahab, ‘Elijah is here.’ ”
9“What have I done wrong?” asked Obadiah. “Why are you handing me over to Ahab to be put to death? 10My master has sent people to look for you everywhere. There isn’t a nation or kingdom where he hasn’t sent someone to look for you. Suppose a nation or kingdom would claim you weren’t there. Then Ahab would make them give their word that they couldn’t find you. And that’s just as sure as the Lord your God is alive. 11But now you are telling me to go to my master. You want me to say, ‘Elijah is here.’ 12But the Spirit of the Lord might carry you away when I leave you. Then I won’t know where you are. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he’ll kill me. But I’ve worshiped the Lord ever since I was young. 13My master, haven’t you heard what I did? Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. But I hid 100 of them in two caves. I put 50 in each cave. I supplied them with food and water. 14And now you are telling me to go to my master Ahab. You want me to say to him, ‘Elijah is here.’ Ahab will kill me!”
15Elijah said, “I serve the Lord who rules over all. You can be sure that he lives. And you can be just as sure that I will speak to Ahab today.”
Elijah on Mount Carmel
16Obadiah went back to Ahab. He told Ahab that Elijah wanted to see him. So Ahab went to where Elijah was. 17When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you? You are always stirring up trouble in Israel.”
18“I haven’t made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have turned away from the Lord’s commands. You have followed gods that are named Baal. 19Now send for people from all over Israel. Tell them to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the 450 prophets of the god named Baal. Also bring the 400 prophets of the female god named Asherah. All of them eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20So Ahab sent that message all through Israel. He gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21Elijah went there and stood in front of the people. He said, “How long will it take you to make up your minds? If the Lord is the one and only God, worship him. But if Baal is the one and only God, worship him.”
The people didn’t say anything.
22Then Elijah said to them, “I’m the only one of the Lord’s prophets left. But Baal has 450 prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves. Let them cut it into pieces. Then let them put it on the wood. But don’t let them set fire to it. I’ll prepare the other bull. I’ll put it on the wood. But I won’t set fire to it. 24Then you pray to your god. And I’ll pray to the Lord. The god who answers by sending fire down is the one and only God.”
Then all the people said, “What you are saying is good.”
25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls. There are many of you. So prepare your bull first. Pray to your god. But don’t light the fire.” 26So they prepared the bull they had been given.
They prayed to Baal from morning until noon. “Baal! Answer us!” they shouted. But there wasn’t any reply. No one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made.
27At noon Elijah began to tease them. “Shout louder!” he said. “I’m sure Baal is a god! Perhaps he has too much to think about. Or maybe he has gone to the toilet. Or perhaps he’s away on a trip. Maybe he’s sleeping. You might have to wake him up.” 28So they shouted louder. They cut themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. That’s what they usually did when things really looked hopeless. 29It was now past noon. The prophets of Baal continued to prophesy with all their might. They did it until the time came to offer the evening sacrifice. But there wasn’t any reply. No one answered. No one paid any attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” So they went to him. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord. It had been torn down. 31Elijah got 12 stones. There was one for each tribe in the family line of Jacob. The Lord’s message had come to Jacob. It had said, “Your name will be Israel.” 32Elijah used the stones to build an altar to honor the Lord. He dug a ditch around it. The ditch was large enough to hold 24 pounds of seeds. 33He arranged the wood for the fire. He cut the bull into pieces. He placed the pieces on the wood. Then he said to some of the people, “Fill four large jars with water. Pour it on the offering and the wood.” So they did.
34“Do it again,” he said. So they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered. And they did it the third time. 35The water ran down around the altar. It even filled the ditch.
36When it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward. He prayed, “Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Today let everyone know that you are God in Israel. Let them know I’m your servant. Let them know I’ve done all these things because you commanded me to. 37Answer me. Lord, answer me. Then these people will know that you are the one and only God. They’ll know that you are turning their hearts back to you again.”
38The fire of the Lord came down. It burned up the sacrifice. It burned up the wood and the stones and the soil. It even dried up the water in the ditch.
39All the people saw it. Then they fell down flat with their faces toward the ground. They cried out, “The Lord is the one and only God! The Lord is the one and only God!”
40Then Elijah commanded them, “Grab the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one of them get away!” So they grabbed them. Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley. There he had them put to death.
41Elijah said to Ahab, “Go. Eat and drink. I can hear the sound of a heavy rain.” 42So Ahab went off to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. He bent down toward the ground. Then he put his face between his knees.
43“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. So he went up and looked.
“I don’t see anything there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44The seventh time the servant said, “I see a cloud. It’s as small as a man’s hand. It’s coming up over the sea.”
Elijah said, “Go to Ahab. Tell him, ‘Tie your chariot to your horse. Go down to Jezreel before the rain stops you.’ ”
45Black clouds filled the sky. The wind came up, and a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46The power of the Lord came on Elijah. He tucked his coat into his belt. And he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Gipakita ni Elias nga Tinuod Siya nga Propeta sa Dios
1Tulo ka tuig na nga wala mag-ulan. Ug usa niana ka higayon, miingon ang Ginoo kang Elias, “Lakaw ug pakita kang Ahab, kay paulanon ko na.” 2Busa miadto si Elias kang Ahab.
Grabe na gayod kaayo ang kagutom didto sa Samaria niadtong panahona. 3Busa gipatawag ni Ahab si Obadia nga mao ang nagadumala sa iyang palasyo. (Si Obadia nagatahod gayod sa Ginoo. 4Sa dihang gipamatay ni Jezebel ang mga propeta sa Ginoo, gitagoan ni Obadia ang 100 ka mga propeta sa duha ka langub, 50 sa matag langub, ug gihatagan niya sila ug pagkaon ug tubig.) 5Miingon si Ahab kang Obadia, “Adtoon nato ang tanang mga tuboran ug lugut sa atong nasod, basig may makita pa kitang mga sagbot alang sa atong mga kabayo ug mga mula, aron masalbar nato sila.” 6Busa gibahin nilang duha ang dapit ug nagsabot kon asa nga bahin ang ilang adtoan. Ug unya nanglakaw sila.
7Samtang naglakaw si Obadia, natagboan niya si Elias. Nailhan niya si Elias, busa miyukbo siya agig pagtahod kaniya, ug miingon, “Ikaw ba gayod kana, Sir Elias?” 8Mitubag si Elias, “Oo. Karon lakaw, ug sultihi ang imong agalon nga si Ahab nga ania ako dinhi.” 9Apan miingon si Obadia, “Sir, unsa may akong sala kanimo nga buot mo man akong itugyan kang Ahab aron patyon? 10Sultihan ko ikaw sa tinuod atubangan sa buhi nga Ginoo, nga imong Dios, nga walay nasod o gingharian nga wala padad-i sa akong agalon ug tawo sa pagpangita kanimo. Kon moingon ang mga pangulo niadto nga mga nasod ug mga gingharian nga wala ka sa ilang dapit, papanumpaon sila ni Ahab nga wala ka gayod nila makita. 11Unya karon sugoon mo ako sa pag-adto sa akong agalon aron ingnon siya nga ania ka dinhi? 12Unsa man unyay mahitabo kon sa akong pagbiya dad-on ka sa Espiritu sa Ginoo sa dapit nga wala ko mahibaloi, ug pag-abot ni Ahab wala ka dinhi? Patyon gayod niya ako. Sir, nagaalagad na ako sa Ginoo sukad sa batan-on pa ako. 13Wala mo ba mabalitai ang akong gihimo sa dihang gipamatay ni Jezebel ang mga propeta sa Ginoo? Gitagoan ko ang 100 ka mga propeta sa Ginoo sa duha ka langub, 50 sa matag langub, ug gihatagan ko sila ug pagkaon ug tubig. 14Unya karon sugoon mo ako sa pag-adto sa akong agalon ug sultihan siya nga ania ka dinhi? Patyon niya ako!”
15Miingon si Elias, “Ipanumpa ko sa buhi nga Ginoo nga Makagagahom, nga akong ginaalagaran, nga magpakita ako kang Ahab karon gayong adlawa.”
16Busa miadto si Obadia kang Ahab ug gisultihan niya kini nga anaa si Elias, ug milakaw si Ahab sa pagpakigkita kang Elias. 17Sa dihang nakita ni Ahab si Elias, miingon siya, “Ikaw ba gayod kana, tigdalag kasamok sa Israel?” 18Mitubag si Elias, “Dili ako ang gadala ug kasamok sa Israel, kondili ikaw ug ang pamilya sa imong amahan. Tungod kay gisalikway ninyo ang mga sugo sa Ginoo ug gisimba ninyo ang mga imahen ni Baal. 19Karon, tigoma didto sa Bukid sa Carmel ang tanang katawhan sa Israel. Ug paadtoa usab ang 450 ka mga propeta ni Baal ug ang 400 ka mga propeta ni Ashera, nga ginapakaon ni Jezebel.”
20Busa gitigom ni Ahab didto sa Bukid sa Carmel ang tanang katawhan sa Israel ug ang mga propeta. 21Miduol si Elias sa mga tawo ug miingon, “Hangtod kanus-a ba kamong magsunod sa duha ka tinuohan? Kon ang Ginoo mao ang Dios, sunda ninyo siya, apan kon si Baal mao ang Dios, sunda ninyo siya.” Apan wala motubag ang mga tawo.
22Miingon pag-usab si Elias kanila, “Ako na lang ang nahibilin sa mga propeta sa Ginoo, apan si Baal may 450 pa ka mga propeta. 23Karon dad-i ninyo kami ug duha ka torong baka. Unya papilia ang mga propeta ni Baal ug usa nga ilang ihawon ug unya ipapatong sa sugnod, apan kinahanglan dili nila kini halingan. Mao usab ang himuon ko sa usa ka baka; ipatong ko usab kini sa sugnod ug dili ko usab kini halingan. 24Unya pag-ampo kamo sa inyong dios, ug ako mag-ampo usab sa Ginoo. Ang motubag pinaagi sa kalayo mao ang tinuod nga Dios.” Ug miuyon ang mga tawo.
25Unya miingon si Elias sa mga propeta ni Baal, “Kamoy una kay daghan kamo. Pagpili kamo ug usa ka torong baka ug andama ninyo kini. Unya pag-ampo kamo sa inyong dios, apan ayaw ninyo kini halingi.” 26Busa gikuha sa mga propeta ni Baal ang torong baka nga gidala kanila, ug giandam nila kini. Unya nagaampo sila kang Baal gikan sa buntag hangtod sa udto. Misinggit sila, “O Baal, tubaga kami!” Nagsayaw-sayaw sila libot sa halaran nga ilang gihimo. Apan walay mitubag.
27Sa dihang udto na, gibiaybiay na sila ni Elias nga nagaingon, “Sige, kusgi pa ninyog singgit, kay dios man kaha siya! Tingalig namalandong lang siya, o gapahulay,18:27 gapahulay: o, nalibang. o may giadtoan, o nakatulog ug kinahanglan nga pukawon.” 28Busa misinggit pa gayod sila ug kusog ug gisamad-samaran nila ang ilang mga lawas pinaagi sa sundang ug espada, sumala sa ilang nabatasan, hangtod nga nagkadugo sila. 29Milabay na ang kaudtohon ug padayon pa gihapon silang nanawag hangtod nga misobra na ang ilang oras sa paghalad,18:29 hangtod nga misobra… paghalad: sa literal, hangtod sa paghalad sa halad. Ginahimo kini sa pagsalop sa adlaw. apan wala gayoy mitubag kanila.
30Miingon si Elias sa tanang mga tawo, “Duol kamo kanako.” Ug miduol ang mga tawo kaniya. Unya giayo niya ang halaran sa Ginoo nga naguba. 31Nagkuha siya ug 12 ka bato nga nagrepresentar sa 12 ka tribo sa mga anak ni Jacob, ang tawo nga ginganlan sa Ginoo ug Israel. 32Gihimo niya ang mga bato nga halaran alang sa Ginoo, ug gikanalan niya ang palibot sa halaran. Ang kanal nga iyang gihimo mahimong butangan ug tulo ka galon nga binhi. 33Giayo niya pagplastar ang sugnod sa halaran ug gihiwa-hiwa ang baka ug gipatong kini sa sugnod. Unya miingon siya sa mga tawo, “Buboi ninyo ug upat ka banga nga tubig ang halad ug sugnod.” Human nila kini mahimo, 34miingon si Elias, “Buboi ninyo pag-usab.” Pagkahuman nila ug bubo, miingon pa gayod si Elias, “Buboi pa gayod ninyo sa ikatulo nga higayon.” Gituman nila ang giingon ni Elias, 35ug nagabanaw ang tubig libot sa halaran ug napuno usab ang kanal.
36Sa pag-abot sa oras sa paghalad sa panggabii nga halad, miduol si Propeta Elias sa halaran ug nagaampo. Miingon siya, “Ginoo, Dios ni Abraham, ni Isaac, ug ni Jacob,18:36 Jacob: sa Hebreo, Israel. pamatud-i karong adlawa nga ikaw ang Dios sa Israel ug ako imong alagad, ug gihimo ko kining tanan sumala sa imong sugo. 37Tubaga ako, Ginoo, aron mahibaloan niining mga tawo nga ikaw Ginoo ang Dios, ug ginapabalik mo sila kanimo.”
38Ug miabot ang kalayo gikan sa Ginoo, ug gisunog niini ang halad, ang sugnod, ang mga bato ug ang abog, ug nauga ang kanal. 39Sa dihang nakita kini sa tanang mga tawo, miyukbo sila ug miingon, “Ang Ginoo mao ang Dios! Ang Ginoo mao ang Dios!” 40Unya gimandoan ni Elias ang mga tawo, “Dakpa ninyo ang mga propeta ni Baal. Kinahanglan walay makaikyas kanila!” Busa gidakop sa mga tawo ang mga propeta ni Baal ug gidala sila ni Elias sa Lugut sa Kishon ug gipamatay.
41Miingon si Elias kang Ahab, “Lakaw, kaon ug inom kay naay umaabot nga kusog nga ulan.” 42Busa milakaw si Ahab aron mokaon ug moinom, apan si Elias mitungas sa tumoy sa Carmel ug nagaampo, nga nagaluhod ug nagayuko sa yuta. 43Unya miingon siya sa iyang sulugoon, “Tungas ug tan-aw dapit sa dagat.” Gituman kini sa sulugoon.
Pagbalik niya kang Elias, miingon siya, “Wala akoy nakita.” Kapito siyang gipabalik-balik ni Elias sa pagtan-aw. 44Sa ikapitong balik, miingon siya kang Elias, “May nakita akong dag-om nga daw palad sa tawo ka gamay, nga mipaibabaw gikan sa lawod.” Busa miingon si Elias, “Lakaw, ug ingna si Ahab nga mosakay sa iyang karwahe ug mopauli aron dili siya maabtan sa ulan.”
45Pagkataudtaod mingitngit ang langit tungod sa mga dag-om. Mihangin ug miulan ug kusog, ug misakay si Ahab sa karwahe ug miadto sa Jezreel. 46Unya, gigamhan sa Ginoo si Elias. Gibira niya pataas ang iyang bisti ug gibaksan, unya midagan siya pag-una kang Ahab paingon sa Jezreel.
