Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
1 After some time, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab, and I will send rain.” 2 So Elijah started out.
The famine in Samaria was at its worst, 3 so Ahab called in Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devout worshiper of the Lord, 4 and when Jezebel was killing the Lord's prophets, Obadiah took a hundred of them, hid them in caves in two groups of fifty, and provided them with food and water.) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Let us go and look at every spring and every stream bed in the land to see if we can find enough grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Maybe we won't have to kill any of our animals.” 6 They agreed on which part of the land each one would explore, and set off in different directions.
7 As Obadiah was on his way, he suddenly met Elijah. He recognized him, bowed low before him, and asked, “Is it really you, sir?”
8 “Yes, I'm Elijah,” he answered. “Go and tell your master the king that I am here.”
9 Obadiah answered, “What have I done that you want to put me in danger of being killed by King Ahab? 10 By the living Lord, your God, I swear that the king has made a search for you in every country in the world. Whenever the ruler of a country reported that you were not in his country, Ahab would require that ruler to swear that you could not be found. 11 And now you want me to go and tell him that you are here? 12 What if the spirit of the Lord carries you off to some unknown place as soon as I leave? Then, when I tell Ahab that you are here and he can't find you, he will put me to death. Remember that I have been a devout worshiper of the Lord ever since I was a boy. 13 Haven't you heard that when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord I hid a hundred of them in caves, in two groups of fifty, and supplied them with food and water? 14 So how can you order me to go and tell the king that you are here? He will kill me!”
15 Elijah answered, “By the living Lord Almighty, whom I serve, I promise that I will present myself to the king today.”
16 So Obadiah went to King Ahab and told him, and Ahab set off to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw him, he said, “So there you are—the worst troublemaker in Israel!”
18 “I'm not the troublemaker,” Elijah answered. “You are—you and your father. You are disobeying the Lord's commands and worshiping the idols of Baal. 19 Now order all the people of Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah who are supported by Queen Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and the prophets of Baal to meet at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went up to the people and said, “How much longer will it take you to make up your minds? If the Lord is God, worship him; but if Baal is God, worship him!” But the people didn't say a word. 22 Then Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Lord still left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 23 Bring two bulls; let the prophets of Baal take one, kill it, cut it in pieces, and put it on the wood—but don't light the fire. I will do the same with the other bull. 24 Then let the prophets of Baal pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord, and the one who answers by sending fire—he is God.”
The people shouted their approval.
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since there are so many of you, you take a bull and prepare it first. Pray to your god, but don't set fire to the wood.”
26 They took the bull that was brought to them, prepared it, and prayed to Baal until noon. They shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” and kept dancing around the altar they had built. But no answer came.
27 At noon Elijah started making fun of them: “Pray louder! He is a god! Maybe he is day-dreaming or relieving himself, or perhaps he's gone off on a trip! Or maybe he's sleeping, and you've got to wake him up!” 28 So the prophets prayed louder and cut themselves with knives and daggers, according to their ritual, until blood flowed. 29 They kept on ranting and raving until the middle of the afternoon; but no answer came, not a sound was heard.
30 Then Elijah said to the people, “Come closer to me,” and they all gathered around him. He set about repairing the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one for each of the twelve tribes named for the sons of Jacob, the man to whom the Lord had given the name Israel. 32 With these stones he rebuilt the altar for the worship of the Lord. He dug a trench around it, large enough to hold about four gallons of water. 33 Then he placed the wood on the altar, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the offering and the wood.” They did so, 34 and he said, “Do it again”—and they did. “Do it once more,” he said—and they did. 35 The water ran down around the altar and filled the trench.
36 At the hour of the afternoon sacrifice the prophet Elijah approached the altar and prayed, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove now that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant and have done all this at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you are bringing them back to yourself.”
38 The Lord sent fire down, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones, scorched the earth and dried up the water in the trench. 39 When the people saw this, they threw themselves on the ground and exclaimed, “The Lord is God; the Lord alone is God!”
40 Elijah ordered, “Seize the prophets of Baal; don't let any of them get away!” The people seized them all, and Elijah led them down to Kishon Brook and killed them.
The End of the Drought
41 Then Elijah said to King Ahab, “Now, go and eat. I hear the roar of rain approaching.” 42 While Ahab went to eat, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed down to the ground, with his head between his knees. 43 He said to his servant, “Go and look toward the sea.”
The servant went and returned, saying, “I didn't see a thing.” Seven times in all Elijah told him to go and look. 44 The seventh time he returned and said, “I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man's hand, coming up from the sea.”
Elijah ordered his servant, “Go to King Ahab and tell him to get in his chariot and go back home before the rain stops him.”
45 In a little while the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind began to blow, and a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah; he fastened his clothes tight around his waist and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Elija ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale
1 Shule kwe tjibaka tjilefu, mu gole le butatu kuli bhamba, dama la Yahwe likazha kuna Elija liti, “Yenda unozwilakidza kuna Ahabu, ngono ndowonisa vula mu shango.” 2 Ndizo Elija kayenda kunozwilakidza kuna Ahabu.
Ipapo bhamba lakabe lakula kwazo mu Samariya. 3 Ngono Ahabu kadana Obhadiya wakabe ali nlauli we ng'umba ye bushe. (Obhadiya wakabe etja Yahwe kwazo. 4 Kwakati Jezebele ebulaya balebesambeli ba Yahwe, Obhadiya katola balebesambeli bali zana (100) kabathubukanya nge makupo mabili, kabasumbika mu makuwu mabili, guwu limwe ne limwe bali makumi mashanu (50), kabapila zojiwa ne vula ko.) 5 Ahabu kadwa Obhadiya kati, “Ngati palame shango tiyende mu misenya yose ne mikuku yose, pamwe tingawanila mbizi ne moulo dzedu fulo, kuti tisitongodwa tifigwa nge zwimwe zwithuwo zwedu.” 6 Ndizo bakazwikoba nge shango bubili gwabo kuipalama, Ahabu kayenda ega ku imwe mbizho, Obhadiya katolabo imwe mbizho ali egabo.
7 Kwakati Obhadiya atji mu zila, kashangana na Elija, ngono Obhadiya kanziba, kathigama kakotamisa nsholo kambhuzwa kati, “Apa ndimwi tetshi wangu Elija kene?” 8 Elija kan'dabila eti, “Ee ndimi. Yenda unobudza tetshi uwo mambo kuti ndi ipapa.”
9 Obhadiya kabe eti, “Apa ndakatjinyani kwaungadza ukandilonga mu maboko a Mambo Ahabu kuti ndibulawe? 10 Ndotuna na Yahwe, Ndzimu wenyu banotjila, akuna itjaba kene mbuso nakuto bali tetshi wangu kwabasakatongo mutumila bathu kunomushaka. Ngono ha bezha beti, ‘Amutoboneka,’ Mambo Ahabu kakumbila mbuso kene itjaba itjetjo kuti batune, kuti amuzowang'wa. 11 Apa ngwenu mondidwa muti, ‘Yenda unobudza tetshi uwo uti, “Bonani, Elija upano.” ’ 12 Apa ha kungati ndidwa pamuli Meya ya Yahwe ibe imutola imuyisa kwandisingazibe, ndibe ndizha ndimushaya ngono ndabudza Mambo Ahabu kuti mu ipapa, ebe ezha emushaya, unondibulaya. Zibani kuti imi nlanda wenyu, kudwa mu butjetjana gwangu ndotja Yahwe. 13 Apa tetshi wangu amuzohwa tjandakathama mu tjibaka Jezebele tjaakabe ebulaya balebesambeli ba Yahwe kene? Ndakasumbika balebesambeli ba Yahwe bali zana mu makuhwu mabili, limwe ne limwe lina bali makumi mashanu (50), ndibuya ndibapa tjiwunga ne vula. 14 Apa mungandidwa muti ndiyende ndinobudza tetshi wangu nditi, ‘Elija uipapa kene?’ Unowondibulaya!” 15 Ngono Elija kadabila eti, “Ndotuna na Yahwe Masimbawose banotjila, bandimile mbeli kwabo, nasi tjoselele ndowonozwiyisa mbeli kwa Mambo Ahabu.”
16 Ndizo Obhadiya kayenda kanobudza Ahabu, ngono Ahabu kamilika kanoshangana na Elija. 17 Kukati Ahabu ebona Elija, kandwa kati, “Apa ndiwe dumbu, iwe unodziyidza Iziraela?”
18 Ngono Elija kan'dabila eti, “Imi andizotongo dziyidza Iziraela, koga iwe ne nsha wa tate babo ndimwi badziyidzi be Iziraela, ngobe makalasha milayo ya Yahwe mukatobela ya bo Bhaale. 19 Ndizo ngwenu tjituma bathu banodana Baiziraela bose banoshangana nami ku Dombo le Karimeli ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna (400) ne bali zwiwulu zwili zwinna (400) be ndzimukadzi Ashera, banoja na Mambokadzi Jezebele pa tafuli.”
20 Ipapo Ahabu kadana Baiziraela bose ne balebesambeli ba Bhaale kunoshangana nabo ku Dombo le Karimeli. 21 Ngono Elija kasedzela ku Baiziraela kabadwa kati, “Apa kowodza kukabe lini mudzungayila muli pakati kwe mikumbulo mibili kene? Ha Yahwe bali Ndzimu, mubatobele, koga ha Ndzimu ali Bhaale, muntobele!” Koga Baiziraela bakashaya dama labangadabila Elija ndilo. 22 Ndizo Elija kadwa Baiziraela kati, “Ndimi ndoga nlebesambeli wa Yahwe wakasala, koga balebesambeli ba Bhaale ba mazana ali manna ana makumi mashanu (450). 23 Ndokumbila kuti tipiwe mikono mibili, ibo bazwishalulile ng'ompela baubhaye bautjekelele nge mitezho baubige pezhugwi kwe hwuni, koga basitongo ulonga moto. Ngono imi ndowobhaya mmwe awutjekelela awubiga pezhugwi kwe hwuni, ngono anditowoulonga moto. 24 Ngono mudwe balebesambeli ba Bhaale batembezele ndzimu wabo, imi ndowotembezela Yahwe, ngono Ndzimu unowodabila nge kutuma moto, ndiwo Ndzimu.”
Bathu bose bakadabila beti, “Waleba zubuyanana.” 25 Ndizo Elija kadwa balebesambeli ba Bhaale kati, “Muzwishalulile nkono nng'ompela muubhaye imwi kutanga, ngoti mubanjinji, mube mudana zina le ndzimu wenyu, koga musitongo longa moto muuli.”
26 Balebesambeli ba Bhaale bakatola nkono wabapiwa, bakaubhaya bakautjekelela bakadana zina la Bhaale kudwa mangwanana kunoti masikati beti, “Imwi Bhaale, mutidabile!” Koga kukasibe ne hwi, kene dabilo ing'ompela. Ngono bakazana bepoteleka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjabakabe bathama. Koga kukasibe ne dabilo.
27 Kukati kwabe masikati makulu, Elija katangisa kubadadila eti, “Tembezelani nge mahwi apezhugwi, ngoti ndzimu. Pamwe utjaalakana zwimwe kene kuna kwaayenda. Pamwe watola gwendo, pamwe akayizelazwe, makafanila kuumusa.” 28 Bakatembezela nge mahwi apezhugwi, bakazwitjeka bezwipalulanya, kuyendidzana ne tjilenje tjabo, kudzina malopa ewunga edwa mubali. 29 Ngono kukati kwabe masikati e mateuko, bakaleba ngodzadzanya beleba dama yeli beletja, kudzina kuswika tjibaka tjekuyisa tjibhayilo tje madekwana. Koga kusina hwi linohwika kene dabilo yabanowana.
30 Ndizo Elija kadwa bathu bose kati, “Sedzelani kundili,” ngono bakasedzela bose bakampoteleka. Elija katangisa ngomusa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe tjakabe tjaligigwa pasi. 31 Ipapo Elija katola mabgwe ali gumi lina mabili, kuyenda nge njudzi dze bakololo ba Jakubo, wakazhigwa nge dama la Yahwe lin'dwa liti, “Zina lilo lowodang'wa Iziraela.” 32 Kabakila Yahwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo nge mabgwe iyawo, kathama ngolo ingabhata vula ingabe tjilizanyo tje dzilitha dzili gumi lina dzili nna (14) kutjipoteleka. 33 Kayilikanya hwuni pezhugwi kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo, katjekelela nkono nge mitezho kaibiga pezhugwi kwe hwuni. Kadwa bathu kati, “Zhadzani hali dzili nna nge vula muidile mu tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa ne mu hwuni.” 34 Kabadwa kakale kati, “Thamani kakale gwe bubili.” Bakathama gwe bubili. Kabadwa kakale kati, “Thamani kakale gwe butatu.” Bakathama kakale gwe butatu. 35 Vula ikazhala ngolo ikawunga kupoteleka tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo.
36 Kukati kuswika tjibaka tje kupisa tjibhayilo, nlebesambeli Elija kasedzela pa tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo katembezela eti, “Imwi Yahwe, Ndzimu wa Abhurahama na Isaki na Jakubo, thamani kuti kuzibgwe nasi mu zhuba ileli kuti mu Ndzimu mu Iziraela ne kuti kuzibgwe kuti ndi nlanda wenyu ndothama zwithu zose izwezwi nge ndaulo yenyu. 37 Mundidabile, imwi Yahwe, mundidabile, kuti ndizo bathu ibaba bazibe kuti imwe Yahwe mu Ndzimu, mushandulile moyo ye bathu ibaba kumuli.”
38 Ndizo Yahwe bakadelusa moto ukapisa tjibhayilo ne hwuni ne mabgwe, ukawomesa pasi ubuya upkhwisa vula mu ngolo. 39 Kukati bathu bose bebona tjashingikala, bakawila pasi bakakotamisa misholo bemimila beti, “Yahwe, ba Ndzimu dumbu, Yahwe ndibo Ndzimu!”
40 Elija kadwa bathu kati, “Bhatani balebesambeli ba Bhaale, kushaye ne nng'ompela wapudzumuka.” Bathu bakababhata bose, Elija kabe eti bayisiwe ku Nkuku we Kishoni, banobulayigwa ko.
Bupelo gwe bhamba
41 Ngono Elija kadwa Mambo Ahabu kati, “Yendani munoja mung'we, ngoti ndohwa nsindo, kwaswika vula isishoma.” 42 Ipapo kukati Ahabu etathila kunoja ebuya eng'wa. Elija katatha Dombo le Karimeli kanogala pasi, akakotamisa nsholo uwe uli pakati kwe makumbo awe. 43 Ngono kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Yenda unolinga ku gungwa.”
Kayenda kanolinga kanshaka kazha eti, “Akuna tjandabona.” Elija kadwa nlanda katendeka eti, “Bgwilila unolinga.” 44 Ngono nlanda kati ebuya gwe butendeka kadwa Elija kati, “Bonani, kuna gojana lingapa tjiazha tje nthu linomilika lidwa mu gungwa.”
Elija kadwa nlanda uwe kati, “Yenda unodwa Mambo Ahabu alibilidze alulwamise koloyi iye ayende, ngoti vula ingadwa indziba.” 45 Tjinyolotjo makole kashanduka kabe matema ne phepo ikawuwudza, kukana vula isishoma. Ngono Ahabu kangina mu koloyi iye kayenda ku Jezirele. 46 Simba la Yahwe likazha muna Elija kazwisunga thunji nge zwiambalo zwizwe, kalabuka ali mbeli kwa Ahabu kudzina enongina ku Jezirele.