1 Kings 18:36-38

36 At 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.

37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38 Then 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.

1 Kings 18:36-38 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 18

In this chapter Elijah has an order from the Lord to show himself to Ahab, who, going first, and meeting with a servant of his, Obadiah, charges him to tell his master where he was, that he might meet him, 1Ki 18:1-16, and, upon meeting him, desires that all Israel, and the prophets of Baal, might be convened, which was accordingly done, 1Ki 18:17-20, when he expostulated with the people of Israel for their idolatry, mocked and confounded the prophets of Baal, and gave the strongest proofs, to the conviction of the people, that Jehovah is the true God, 1Ki 18:21-39, on which all the prophets of Baal were slain, 1Ki 18:40, and rain in great abundance was given at the prayer of the prophet, 1Ki 18:41-46.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 29:39,41
• 2. S Genesis 24:12; S Exodus 4:5; Exodus 3:6; Matthew 22:32
• 3. S Joshua 4:24; S 1 Samuel 17:46; S Psalms 46:10; 1 Kings 8:43; 2 Kings 19:19
• 4. Numbers 16:28
• 5. S Joshua 4:24
• 6. ver 24; S Exodus 19:18; S Leviticus 9:24; Judges 6:21; 2 Kings 1:10; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Job 1:16