1 Kings 18 19

1 Kings 18:19 kjv

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

1 Kings 18:19 nkjv

Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

1 Kings 18:19 niv

Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

1 Kings 18:19 esv

Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

1 Kings 18:19 nlt

Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel. "

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 19 Meaning

This verse is Elijah's command to King Ahab, setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel. It instructs Ahab to assemble representatives of the entire nation of Israel, along with the numerous state-sponsored prophets of the pagan deities Baal and Asherah, who benefited from royal patronage under Queen Jezebel. The purpose is to determine who the true God of Israel is—Yahweh or the foreign idols.

1 Kings 18 19 Context

The events of 1 Kings 18 unfold during a period of severe spiritual decline in the Northern Kingdom of Israel under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, vehemently promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah, establishing their altars and maintaining a large retinue of prophets at royal expense. This blatant idolatry led to the Lord's judgment, specifically a prolonged drought (as prophesied by Elijah in 1 Kgs 17:1), symbolizing the spiritual barrenness of the land. After three and a half years of famine, God commands Elijah to present himself to Ahab. This verse, 1 Kings 18:19, comes immediately after Elijah's bold directive to Ahab, urging him to summon all of Israel and the numerous false prophets to Mount Carmel. It sets the stage for a climactic showdown, intended to expose the impotence of Baal and Asherah and dramatically reaffirm Yahweh as the one true God of Israel, challenging the widespread apostasy and the religious policies of the monarchy.

1 Kings 18 19 Word analysis

• Now therefore: This serves as a strong transition and a declaration of immediate action. It signals a shift from previous discussion (Elijah's meeting with Ahab and his complaint about trouble in Israel) to Elijah's decisive and God-ordained directive, demanding obedience from the king.
• send: From the Hebrew verb shalach (שָׁלַח), meaning "to send forth," "to dispatch," or "to command." This word highlights Elijah's authority, even over the king. He is not requesting but commanding Ahab to use his royal power and infrastructure to summon the assembly.
• and gather: From the Hebrew verb qabats (קָבַץ), meaning "to assemble," "to collect," or "to bring together." This implies a deliberate and large-scale convocation. The goal is a national gathering, signifying the public nature of the upcoming test.
• to me: This prepositional phrase emphasizes Elijah's central role as God's representative. It signifies that the entire gathering is ultimately under Elijah's, and thus God's, authority, rather than merely Ahab's command.
• all Israel: kol Yisrael (כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל). This refers to the entire northern kingdom. It signifies the national scope of the spiritual crisis and the need for a comprehensive demonstration of God's power. It implies that every Israelite is implicated in the decision between Yahweh and Baal and will witness the divine intervention.
• at Mount Carmel: Har Carmel (הַר כַּרְמֶל). A prominent mountain range known for its lushness, a symbol of fertility, and historically considered a sacred site for various deities. Its elevation makes it a suitable location for a grand public display. By choosing Carmel, Elijah implicitly challenged Baal, a god associated with storms and fertility, on what might have been considered his own "territory" by some pagans.
• and the 450 prophets of Baal: nᵊḇîʾê habBa‘al (נְבִיאֵי הַבַּעַל). Baal was the chief male god of the Canaanite pantheon, a storm and fertility deity, believed to bring rain and good harvests. The number 450 is specific and substantial, indicating a well-organized and numerous priesthood under royal patronage. These were professional cultic leaders who advocated for Baal worship.
• and the 400 prophets of Asherah: nᵊḇîʾôṯ hāʾašêrāh (נְבִיאֹות הָאֲשֵׁרָה). Asherah was a prominent Canaanite goddess, consort of El or Baal, often associated with fertility, motherhood, and the sea. The 400, though not explicitly stated to be at Carmel, are clearly linked with Baal's prophets and state patronage, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the idolatry. Their potential absence at Carmel (implied by the later narrative focusing solely on Baal's prophets) may be due to Jezebel's reluctance to expose them directly, or perhaps the narrative focuses on Baal due to his direct connection with rain.
• who eat at Jezebel's table: This phrase describes the deep institutional and financial entanglement of these false prophets with the royal court. It indicates that they were not merely local practitioners but official state employees, directly fed and supported by the queen. This patronage solidified their loyalty to the idol worship, guaranteed their status, and reflected Jezebel's intense dedication to promoting these pagan cults in Israel, posing a direct challenge to the worship of Yahweh. It emphasizes their dependence on worldly power rather than divine truth.

1 Kings 18 19 Bonus section

• Polemics against Canaanite Deities: The entire encounter on Mount Carmel, initiated by this verse, serves as a direct polemic against the Canaanite pantheon, specifically Baal and Asherah. Baal, as the storm god (Adad/Hadad in wider ancient Near Eastern cultures) and fertility deity, was believed to control rain, thunder, and agriculture. Asherah was a fertility goddess. By commanding a drought (1 Kgs 17:1) and then calling for a rain-bringing contest on Mount Carmel, Elijah (representing Yahweh) directly challenges Baal's supposed domain. The subsequent events prove Baal's utter impotence in producing fire or rain, starkly demonstrating Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty over creation and life, contrasting the vibrant, living God of Israel with lifeless idols dependent on human sustenance.
• Elijah's Authority: While King Ahab held the political power, this verse strikingly portrays Elijah, a prophet of Yahweh, as exercising greater spiritual authority. He gives a direct, non-negotiable command to the king, highlighting that God's authority transcends even royal decree. Ahab, despite his idolatrous tendencies, is compelled to obey Elijah's instruction, indicating the perceived spiritual weight behind Elijah's words, perhaps even a residual fear of Yahweh's power demonstrated through the drought.
• Mount Carmel's Significance: Mount Carmel, often translated as "God's vineyard," was indeed lush, a natural paradox during the drought. It likely had existing altars or cultic sites for Baal and Asherah, making it a perfect stage to publicly expose their weakness right where their adherents felt their gods might be most potent. Its prominence ensures that "all Israel" could potentially witness or at least hear about the profound events taking place.

1 Kings 18 19 Commentary

1 Kings 18:19 encapsulates the pivotal moment leading to one of the Bible's most dramatic divine encounters. Elijah's firm directive to King Ahab demonstrates God's sovereign control even over unrighteous rulers. The instruction to "gather all Israel" signifies the national crisis and God's desire for a public, undeniable demonstration to reclaim His people from rampant apostasy. The focus on Mount Carmel is strategic, choosing a prominent, often sacred, location for the contest. Crucially, the inclusion of "450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah" highlights the immense scale of organized idolatry that had gripped Israel, supported by Jezebel's zealous promotion and royal resources, indicated by their eating "at Jezebel's table." This command initiates a direct confrontation between the sole prophet of Yahweh and the massed forces of false religion, asserting God's claim as the one true deity, superior to all fabricated idols, and revealing the true source of power and blessing. The challenge set forth by Elijah was not merely theological but a practical test to definitively prove which "god" had control over natural phenomena like rain and life, matters fundamental to the existence of an agrarian society.