Illustrated bible History - Catholic Apologetics Information

THE BAGRIFJCE OF ELIAB. 149
Achab obeyed, being afraid to do other~visc, on account of
the firnine that was cveryr~rhere, nnd he went himself to the
mountain. Then Elias spoke to the people of Tsmol, saying:
"Horn long clo you Ilnlt bct~vcen t\vo sides 7 If the Lord be
God, follow Him; but if Rnal, then follo~v hirn.)'
3. The peoplc feeling the justice of his reproach, made no
answer. They Weso ashamed and afraid. EIias then added :
I only remain a prophet of the Lord, bnt the prophets of
Bnal are four hundrccl and fifty mcn. Tlct two bullocks be
given us ; ancl let tl~om choose ono bulloclr. for themsclves,
and cut it in pieces, but put no fire uncler ; and I will dress
the other bullock, arid lay it on wood, ancl put no fire
mldcr it.
4. Call ye on the nanles of your gods, and I will call on
the ]lame of 111~ Lord, and thc God thd sllnll ansrvcr by fire,
lct Hirn be the God." A11 tl~cr, pcople n.i~sacreci: "A very
gooil proposal." Thcn thct priests of Dnn.1, clad in their
richest garments and cromncd with la;urel, t.001~ a11 ox, and
crlelv him.
5. Then they e~*cctccl an altar, plnced tllc dencl ox upon it,
:uld danced arounci it crying out: '' Dnnl, hear us." This
tllcjr did from lrinrning until noon, I)ut no fire cainc to consulne
t11cir sacrifice. Thcn Elias, 1110cking tllcm, cdlcd out:
Cry with n Iot~der voice; for he is n god, nnd perhaps he is
talliing with somc one, or on a journey, or is asleep and
must ba nwalced."
G. Then thcy began to cry loudcr than ever, hacking their
bodies with knives, as they were nccustomed to do, uutil
they were covcred with blood. Tliis they liept up till evening,
but 3.11 in vain. Then Elias told tl~n l>eoplo to come to
I~im. And hc erected an altar to thc Lord; took twelve
stones, and laid the woo~l in ordcr IIPOII thcrn, then placed
the ox, which had been cut in piecos, upon the mood:
7. Re then ~wu~ecl water upon the victim till it ran dolyn.
on evcry nnd filled the trcncll nround the altnr. Thie
being done, he craid: " 0 Lord God, sI~orv this day that Thou