Elijah and Obadiah
1After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. 4While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 5Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.” 6So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.
7As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”
8“Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ ”
9“What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ 12I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. 13Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”
15Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”
Elijah on Mount Carmel
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.
22Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs18:32 That is, probably about 24 pounds or about 11 kilograms of seed. 33He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
34“Do it again,” he said, and 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 and even filled the trench.
36At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
40Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
41And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
45Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Karmel Bepɔ So Akansie
1Mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi, Awurade asɛm baa Elia nkyɛn sɛ, “Fa wo ho kɔkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab na ka kyerɛ no sɛ ɛnkyɛre biara, mɛma osuo atɔ asase no so.” 2Elia de ne ho kɔkyerɛɛ ɔhene Ahab.
Na ɛkɔm no ano yɛɛ den yie wɔ Samaria. 3Ahab frɛɛ Obadia a na ɔhwɛ nʼahemfie so no. Na Obadia gye Awurade di yie. 4Ɛberɛ a na Isebel rekunkum Awurade adiyifoɔ no, Obadia faa adiyifoɔ no ɔha de wɔn kɔsiee abodan mmienu mu a, wɔn mu aduonum biara da ɔbodan baako mu. Na ɔmaa wɔn aduane ne nsuo. 5Ahab ka kyerɛɛ Obadia sɛ, “Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛhwehwɛ asase no so nsuwa ne bɔnhwa nyinaa sɛ ebia yɛbɛnya ɛserɛ ama apɔnkɔ ne mfunumu yi awe sɛdeɛ wɔrenwu.” 6Enti, wɔkyɛɛ asase no mu maa wɔn ho. Ahab faa ɛfa na Obadia nso faa ɛfa.
7Obadia nam, nam no, Elia hyiaa no. Obadia hunuu no, kaee no enti, ɔkotoo no wɔ fam kaa sɛ, “Enti, wo nie, me wura Elia?”
8Elia buaa sɛ, “Aane, kɔka kyerɛ wo wura sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’ ”
9Obadia bisaa sɛ, “Me wura, ɛdeɛn bɔne na mayɛ a enti woresoma me Ahab nkyɛn ama wɔakum me? 10Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn te ase yi, ɔman anaa ahemman biara nni hɔ a me wura nsomaa obi wɔ so sɛ ɔnhwehwɛ wo. Na ɔman anaa ahemman biara a wɔbɛka sɛ wonni soɔ no, ɔma wɔka ntam, ka sɛ wɔanhunu wo. 11Na afei, woka kyerɛ me sɛ menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha.’ 12Mennim baabi a sɛ megya wo hɔ kɔ a, Awurade honhom bɛpagya wo akɔsi. Sɛ mekɔka kyerɛ Ahab, na wanhunu wo a, ɔbɛkum me. Nanso, me, wo ɔsomfoɔ, masom Awurade firi me mmɔfraase. 13Me wura, wontee deɛ meyɛɛ ɛberɛ a na Isebel rekunkum Awurade adiyifoɔ no anaa? Mede Awurade adiyifoɔ no ɔha siee abodan mmienu mu a, na wɔn mu aduonum wɔ ɔbodan baako biara mu. Memaa wɔn aduane ne nsuo nso. 14Na afei, woka kyerɛ me sɛ menkɔ me wura nkyɛn nkɔka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Elia wɔ ha!’ Ɔbɛkum me!”
15Elia kaa sɛ, “Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade a mesom no te ase yi, deɛ ɛbɛyɛ biara, mede me ho bɛma Ahab ɛnnɛ.”
16Enti, Obadia kɔhyiaa Ahab, ka kyerɛɛ no, na Ahab kɔhyiaa Elia. 17Ɔhunuu Elia no, ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Wo nie, wo a woha Israelfoɔ?”
18Elia buaa sɛ, “Menhaa Israel ɛkwan biara so. Na mmom, wo ne wʼagya fiefoɔ na moaha Israel. Moagyae Awurade mmara so die, akɔdi Baal akyi. 19Enti, frɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wɔmmɛhyia me Karmel bepɔ so. Na fa Baal adiyifoɔ ahanan aduonum ne Asera adiyifoɔ ahanan a wɔdidi Isebel didipono so no nso bra.”
20Na Ahab soma kɔɔ Israel nyinaa kɔboaboaa adiyifoɔ no ano wɔ Karmel bepɔ so. 21Elia dii nnipa no anim kaa sɛ, “Moadwene bɛyɛ ntanta wɔ saa asɛm yi ho akɔsi da bɛn? Sɛ Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn a, monni nʼakyi, na sɛ Baal nso yɛ Onyankopɔn a, monni nʼakyi.” Nanso, nnipa no yɛɛ dinn.
22Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔman no sɛ, “Me nko ara ne Awurade odiyifoɔ a maka, nanso Baal wɔ adiyifoɔ ahanan aduonum. 23Momma yɛn anantwinini mmienu. Momma wɔnyi mu baako, na wɔntwitwa no asinasini mfa ngu gyenyina so, nsɔ wɔn mu ogya. Nantwinini baako a aka no, mɛyɛ ne ho adwuma, de agu gyenyina so a merento mu ogya. 24Na mobɛfrɛ mo nyame na me nso mafrɛ Awurade. Onyame a ɔnam ogya so gye so no, ɔno ne Onyankopɔn.”
Ɔmanfoɔ no nyinaa penee so.
25Elia ka kyerɛɛ Baal adiyifoɔ no sɛ, “Momfa anantwinini no baako, na monni ɛkan nsiesie no, ɛfiri sɛ, mo dɔɔso. Momfrɛ mo nyame a monnto mu ogya.” 26Enti, wɔfaa nantwinini a wɔkaa sɛ wɔmfa no no, siesiee no too afɔrebukyia no so. Afei, wɔfrɛɛ Baal, frɛɛ no, frɛɛ no firi anɔpa mu nyinaa sɛ, “Ao, Baal! Tie yɛn oo!” Wɔteateaam saa ara, nanso wɔannya mmuaeɛ biara! Afei wɔde anibereɛ sa faa afɔrebukyia a wɔasi no ho hyiaeɛ.
27Ɛduruu owigyinaeɛ no, Elia dii wɔn ho fɛ sɛ, “Monteateam den! Ɔyɛ onyame! Ebia, ɔredwene biribi ho dendeenden anaa ɔregye nʼahome, ɔnnyaa adagyeɛ anaa watu ɛkwan. Ebi nso a, wada a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔnyane no.” 28Enti, wɔteateaam den, de asekan twitwaa wɔn ho wɔn ho, wowɔɔ wɔn ho wɔn ho pea sɛdeɛ wɔn amanneɛ teɛ, maa mogya pram wɔn. 29Owigyinaeɛ no twaa mu mpo no wɔtoaa wɔn nkɔmhyɛ no so, kɔsii anwummerɛ afɔrebɔ berɛ no mu. Nanso, mmuaeɛ biara amma. Wɔante obiara nne na obiara annye wɔn so.
30Afei, Elia ka kyerɛɛ ɔmanfoɔ no nyinaa sɛ, “Mommra me nkyɛn ha.” Wɔkɔɔ ne nkyɛn, na ɔsiesiee Awurade afɔrebukyia a na abubuo no. 31Elia faa aboɔ dumienu a baako biara gyina hɔ ma Israel abusuakuo baako, 32na ɔde aboɔ no sane sii Awurade afɔrebukyia no. Na ɔtwaa amena a ne tɛtrɛtɛ bɛyɛ anammɔn mmiɛnsa faa afɔrebukyia no ho hyiaeɛ. 33Ɔde nnyensin guu afɔrebukyia no so, twitwaa nantwinini no asinasini guu so. Afei, ɔkaa sɛ, “Monhyɛ pɔre akɛseɛ no nsuo ma ma, na monhwie ngu afɔrebɔdeɛ no ne nnyensin no so.”
Wɔyɛɛ deɛ ɔkaeɛ no wieeɛ no, 34ɔkaa sɛ, “Monyɛ saa ara bio!”
Na wɔyɛɛ saa wieeɛ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Monyɛ saa ne mprɛnsa so.” Wɔyɛɛ sɛdeɛ ɔkaeɛ no, 35maa nsuo no tene faa afɔrebukyia no ho, maa mpo, ɛbu faa amena no so.
36Ɛduruu ɛberɛ a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔbɔ anwummerɛ afɔdeɛ, sɛdeɛ wɔn amanneɛ kyerɛ no, odiyifoɔ Elia kɔɔ afɔrebukyia no so, bɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao, Awurade, Abraham, Isak ne Yakob Onyankopɔn, kyerɛ ɛnnɛ sɛ woyɛ Onyankopɔn wɔ Israel, na meyɛ wo ɔsomfoɔ. Kyerɛ sɛ, deɛ mereyɛ yi nyinaa firi wo. 37Ao, Awurade, tie me! Tie me na saa nnipa yi nyinaa nhunu sɛ, Ao, Awurade, woyɛ Onyankopɔn a woatwe wɔn asane aba wo nkyɛn.”
38Nʼano siiɛ pɛ, na ogya a ɛfiri Awurade nkyɛn te firii soro bɛhyee nantwinini ba no, nnyensin no, aboɔ no ne mfuturo no. Mpo, ɛwee amena no mu nsuo no nyinaa.
39Nnipa no hunuiɛ no, wɔde wɔn anim butubutuu fam, teateaam sɛ, “Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn! Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn!”
40Na Elia hyɛɛ sɛ, “Monkyere Baal adiyifoɔ no nyinaa. Mommma wɔn mu baako koraa nnwane.” Enti, ɔmanfoɔ no kyekyeree wɔn nyinaa. Na Elia de wɔn kɔɔ Kison bɔnhwa mu kɔkunkumm wɔn wɔ hɔ.
Elia Bɔ Osutɔ Ho Mpaeɛ
41Elia ka kyerɛɛ Ahab sɛ, “Kɔ na kɔdi aduane pa, ma wo ho ntɔ wo! Na mate sɛ osu kɛseɛ bi rebɛtɔ.” 42Enti, Ahab too ɛpono. Na Elia foro kɔɔ Karmel bepɔ atifi, kɔbutuu fam, bɔɔ mpaeɛ.
43Na ɔka kyerɛɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ sɛ, “Kɔ na fa wʼani kyerɛ ɛpo so.”
Ɔsomfoɔ no kɔ kɔhwɛɛ hɔ, na ɔba bɛka kyerɛɛ Elia sɛ, “Manhunu hwee.”
Elia kaa saa kyerɛɛ no mprɛnson sɛ ɔmfa nʼani nkɔkyerɛ hɔ. Ɔno nso kɔɔ mprɛnson.
44Ne mprɛnson so no, ne ɔsomfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Mehunuu omununkum bi a ɛte sɛ onipa abasa a, apue afiri ɛpo no so reforo.”
Ɛhɔ ara na Elia teaam sɛ, “Ntɛm! Kɔ Ahab nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛ no. ‘Foro wo teaseɛnam no, na sane kɔ efie. Sɛ woanka wo ho a, osuo no bɛsi wo ɛkwan.’ ”
45Ankyɛre biara na osuo munaa tumm. Osuframa bɔeɛ, na osu kɛseɛ tɔeɛ, na ntɛm so, Ahab kɔɔ Yesreel. 46Afei, Awurade maa Elia ahoɔden sononko bi. Ɔkekaa nʼatadeɛ hyɛɛ nʼabɔsoɔ mu, na ɔdii Ahab teaseɛnam no ɛkan ara kɔsii Yesreel ɛkwan ano.
