1 Kings 18:30-38

18:30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. ¹  18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new ²  name.” ³  18:32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. ⁴  Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs ⁵  of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, ⁶  he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 18:35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, ⁷  Elijah the prophet approached the altar ⁸  and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove ⁹  today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God ¹⁰  and that you are winning back their allegiance.” ¹¹  18:38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky. ¹²  It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench.

[18:30]  ¹ sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people.

[18:31]  ² tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text.

[18:31]  ³ sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10.

[18:32]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the Lord.”

[18:32]  ⁵ tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts.

[18:34]  ⁶ tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[18:36]  ⁷ tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.”

[18:36]  ⁸ tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[18:36]  ⁹ tn Heb “let it be known.”

[18:37]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the God.”

[18:37]  ¹¹ tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”

[18:38]  ¹² tn The words “from the sky” are added for stylistic reasons.