1 Kings 18:20-29

Names of God Bible

²⁰ Ahab sent word to all the Israelites and brought the prophets together on Mount Carmel. ²¹ Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, “How long will you try to have it both ways? If Yahweh is Elohim, follow him; if Baal is Elohim, follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.

²² So Elijah told the people, “I’m the only surviving prophet of Yahweh, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. ²³ Give us two bulls. Let the prophets of Baal choose one for themselves, cut it into pieces, lay it on the wood, but not set it on fire. I’ll do the same with the other bull.

²⁴ “You call on the name of your gods, but I will call on the name of Yahweh. The god who answers by fire is the real Elohim.”

All the people answered, “That’s fine.”

²⁵ Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves. Prepare yours first, because there are more of you. Call on the name of your god, but don’t set the wood on fire.”

²⁶ They took the bull he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They said, “Baal, answer us!” But there wasn’t a sound or an answer. So they danced around the altar they had made. ²⁷ At noon Elijah started to make fun of them. “Shout louder, since he is a god. Maybe he’s thinking, relieving himself, or traveling! Maybe he’s sleeping, and you have to wake him!”

²⁸ So they shouted louder. They also cut themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. (This is what their ritual called for.) ²⁹ In the afternoon they continued to rant and rave until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no sound, no answer, no attention given to them.