And Elijah answered, "It is thou and thy father's house that have
troubled Israel, because ye have forsaken the Lord's commandments and
have worshipped Baal!"
Then he told Ahab to gather together the people, and all the four
hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of
the grove, who sat down daily at Jezebel's table, and to take them to
Mount Carmel, and meet him there.
So a number of the people, and all the prophets of Baal, came together
to Mount Carmel.
And Elijah came to the people, and he said, "How long do you mean to
halt between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow Him! but if Baal,
then follow him."
[Illustration: Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt
sacrifice.]
And the people did not answer a word.
Then Elijah said, "I am the only Prophet of the Lord, and Baal's
prophets are four hundred and fifty. Let them therefore give us two
bullocks, and let them choose one for themselves and slay it, and dress
it, and put it on the altar, with no fire under."
"And I will slay and dress the other bullock, and put it on the altar,
and put no fire under. And the God that answereth by fire, let Him be
God!"
So the priests of Baal took their bullock and did as Elijah had said;
and they cried unto the name of their god from morning 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.
Then Elijah mocked them, and told them to cry aloud, as their god was
talking, or on a journey, or asleep, and must be awaked! And they cried
aloud, and cut themselves with knives. And thus they went on till the
time of the evening sacrifice. But there was neither voice, nor any to
answer, nor any that regarded.