1 Kings 18:20 kjv
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18:20 nkjv
So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18:20 niv
So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18:20 esv
So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18:20 nlt
So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 2:11-13 | The people of Israel again did what was evil... served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. | Israel's recurring apostasy to Baal worship. |
| 1 Ki 16:30-33 | Ahab... did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him... served Baal... | Ahab's personal deep involvement in idolatry. |
| 1 Ki 18:1 | Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. | Elijah's directive to confront Ahab directly. |
| 1 Ki 18:19 | Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal... | Elijah's command for this specific gathering. |
| 1 Ki 18:21 | "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” | The core dilemma presented to Israel. |
| Josh 24:15 | Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. | A prior call to choose allegiance to God. |
| Deut 30:19 | Choose life, that you and your offspring may live. | Choosing God's way brings life and blessing. |
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet... should give you a sign... saying, 'Let us follow other gods'... you shall not listen. | Warning against false prophets and idol worship. |
| Exod 32:26 | "Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me!" | Call for clear allegiance, similar to Elijah. |
| Psa 50:1-6 | The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun... | God's supreme authority to summon all people. |
| Isa 44:6 | I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God. | Affirmation of Yahweh's sole deity. |
| Jer 2:13 | My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters... | Israel abandoning God for false sources of life. |
| Jer 2:27-28 | They say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth'... Where are your gods...? | Idolatry as absurdity, inability of idols to save. |
| Psa 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold... they have mouths, but do not speak... Those who make them become like them. | The futility and deadness of idols. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | Exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. | Mankind's inherent tendency towards idolatry. |
| Acts 17:29 | Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image. | God's nature is not limited by material idols. |
| Psa 135:6-7 | Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth... He it is who makes the clouds rise... | God's sovereignty over creation, including rain, contrasted with Baal. |
| Jam 5:17-18 | Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain... | Contextualizes Elijah's power as granted by God. |
| Zech 12:2-3 | Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering... when Jerusalem is under siege. | Eschatological gathering of nations, often for judgment. |
| Rev 16:16 | And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. | A future gathering for climactic divine conflict. |
| 1 Ki 21:25 | (Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil... whom Jezebel his wife incited.) | Reinforces Ahab's depth of sin and foreign influence. |
1 Kings 18 verses
1 Kings 18 20 Meaning
This verse describes Ahab's obedient action in response to Elijah's challenge. He issues a royal summons for all the people of Israel to assemble, specifically gathering the numerous prophets of Baal and Asherah, on Mount Carmel. This sets the stage for the climactic spiritual showdown where the supremacy of Yahweh over the pagan gods of Canaan will be unequivocally demonstrated.
1 Kings 18 20 Context
1 Kings 18 initiates the dramatic confrontation between Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh, and the prophets of Baal and Asherah, supported by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. For three and a half years, a severe drought has plagued Israel, fulfilling Elijah's prophetic word and serving as a divine judgment against the widespread idolatry introduced by Ahab and Jezebel (1 Ki 17:1; Jas 5:17).Ahab, under Jezebel's influence, had passionately promoted the worship of the Phoenician god Baal and the goddess Asherah, even building temples and an Asherah pole in Samaria (1 Ki 16:32-33). Baal was worshipped as the storm god, controller of rain, thunder, and fertility – vital aspects in an agrarian society. The drought thus directly challenged Baal's claimed authority, exposing his impotence.Verse 20 represents Ahab's response to Elijah's daring command (1 Ki 18:19) to gather the nation and the pagan prophets. Mount Carmel, a fertile mountain range overlooking the Mediterranean, was likely a traditional cultic site for Baal, making it a fitting arena for the decisive demonstration of God's power. This assembly was to force a choice upon a spiritually complacent nation.
1 Kings 18 20 Word Analysis
- So Ahab sent word: הַרְכַּל֙ (va-yishlach Ach'av) – "And sent Ahab." This signifies a royal decree or official communication. While seemingly an act of submission to Elijah's command, it underscores Ahab's inherent authority as king. Ahab, though often hostile to Elijah, understood the gravity of the drought and perhaps sought an end to the national calamity, even if it meant yielding to God's prophet. His compliance, albeit reluctant, paved the way for divine action.
- to all the people of Israel: אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (el kol-b'nei Yisrael) – "to all the sons of Israel." This emphasizes the national scope of the spiritual crisis and the impending decision. The issue was not just between Elijah and the prophets, or even between God and Ahab, but concerned the spiritual fidelity of the entire nation. This was a public challenge designed to bring Israel to a moment of decision.
- and gathered: וַיִּקְבֹּ֛ץ (va-yiqbotz) – "and he gathered." This verb implies an intentional assembly or collection. It denotes a direct action taken by Ahab to physically bring the people and prophets together as requested.
- the prophets: אֶת־הַנְּבִאִ֖ים (et han-n'vi'im) – "the prophets." As explicitly stated in the preceding verse (1 Ki 18:19), these were specifically the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, who ate at Jezebel's table. They were official, state-sponsored religious figures dedicated to the Canaanite gods, signifying the entrenched nature of idolatry within the Northern Kingdom. This gathering highlights the direct confrontation of divine truth against organized pagan deception.
- on Mount Carmel: אֶל־הַר־הַכַּרְמֶֽל (el har ha-Carmel) – "to the mountain, the Carmel." Mount Carmel, meaning "God's vineyard" or "fruitful land," was geographically prominent, visible from many parts of Israel. It was often associated with fertility and beauty (Isa 35:2). Historically, high places were often used for cultic worship, both true and false. Baal, as a storm and fertility god, would naturally be worshipped on such a mountain. By choosing Carmel, Elijah made the confrontation explicit: Baal's alleged domain (weather, fertility) was challenged in his presumed sanctuary, proving Yahweh's sole authority over all creation, including the rain withheld due to Baal's impotence. The public nature and high visibility of the location made it an ideal stage for Yahweh's display of power to all of Israel.
1 Kings 18 20 Bonus Section
- Ahab's Peculiar Obedience: Ahab, despite being an archenemy of Elijah and a fervent supporter of Baal, still "sent word" and "gathered." This illustrates a complex interplay of power and necessity. The severity of the three-year drought likely compelled Ahab's action; the national crisis demanded a solution, and Elijah, despite his antagonistic stance, offered the only path forward.
- The Power of One: This gathering on Mount Carmel brought hundreds of pagan prophets against a single prophet of Yahweh (Elijah), underscoring the biblical principle that divine power is not determined by human numbers or strength. One true prophet of God stands on firm ground against multitudes of those propagating falsehood.
- Mount Carmel's Fertility vs. Drought: The very name "Carmel" suggests fertility. The three-year drought, however, rendered the land barren. This clash between the name and reality amplified the theological stakes: if Baal truly controlled fertility and rain, why was Carmel, his supposed domain, withered? This served as a silent testimony against Baal's impotence even before the altar contest.
- The Nation's State: The fact that the entire nation of Israel needed to be summoned suggests their spiritual lukewarmness and division. Many were "limping between two opinions" (1 Ki 18:21), influenced by syncretism where Yahweh and Baal worship coexisted. The event aimed to decisively expose the absurdity of such spiritual duality.
1 Kings 18 20 Commentary
This verse signifies a pivotal moment in Israel's spiritual history, representing King Ahab's compliance, albeit reluctant, with Elijah's audacious demand for a national assembly on Mount Carmel. It transformed a hidden spiritual struggle into a public spectacle. By gathering all the people and the overwhelming number of false prophets, the confrontation's outcome would not merely resolve the drought but decisively reveal the true God of Israel, thus offering the nation a clear choice between Yahweh and Baal. The historical and cultic significance of Mount Carmel as a presumed site of Baal worship magnified the impending polemic, positioning Yahweh as the undeniable master over nature, against Baal's claims to sovereignty.