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1. During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: "Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain."
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1. And it came to pass H1961 after many H7227 days H3117 , that the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 to H413 Elijah H452 in the third H7992 year H8141 , saying H559 , Go H1980 , show thyself H7200 unto H413 Ahab H256 ; and I will send H5414 rain H4306 upon H5921 H6440 the earth H127 .
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2. So Elijah went to meet Ahab. By this time there was no food in Samaria.
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2. And Elijah H452 went H1980 to show himself H7200 unto H413 Ahab H256 . And there was a sore H2389 famine H7458 in Samaria H8111 .
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3. King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the king's palace. (Obadiah was a true follower of the Lord.
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3. And Ahab H256 called H7121 H413 Obadiah H5662 , which H834 was the governor H5921 of his house H1004 . (Now Obadiah H5662 feared H1961 H3372 H853 the LORD H3068 greatly H3966 :
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4. When Jezebel was killing all the Lord's prophets, Obadiah hid a hundred of them in two caves, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. He also brought them food and water.)
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4. For it was H1961 so , when Jezebel H348 cut off H3772 H853 the prophets H5030 of the LORD H3068 , that Obadiah H5662 took H3947 a hundred H3967 prophets H5030 , and hid H2244 them by fifty H2572 H376 in a cave H4631 , and fed H3557 them with bread H3899 and water H4325 .)
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5. Ahab said to Obadiah, "Let's check every spring and valley in the land. Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals."
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5. And Ahab H256 said H559 unto H413 Obadiah H5662 , Go H1980 into the land H776 , unto H413 all H3605 fountains H4599 of water H4325 , and unto H413 all H3605 brooks H5158 : peradventure H194 we may find H4672 grass H2682 to save the horses and mules alive H2421 H5483 H6505 , that we lose H3772 not H3808 all the beasts H4480 H929 .
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6. So each one chose a part of the country to search; Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another.
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6. So they divided H2505 H853 the land H776 between them to pass H5674 throughout it: Ahab H256 went H1980 one H259 way H1870 by himself H905 , and Obadiah H5662 went H1980 another H259 way H1870 by himself H905 .
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7. While Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, "Elijah? Is it really you, master?"
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7. And as Obadiah H5662 was H1961 in the way H1870 , behold H2009 , Elijah H452 met H7122 him : and he knew H5234 him , and fell H5307 on H5921 his face H6440 , and said H559 , Art thou H859 that H2088 my lord H113 Elijah H452 ?
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8. "Yes," Elijah answered. "Go tell your master that I am here."
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8. And he answered H559 him, I H589 am : go H1980 , tell H559 thy lord H113 , Behold H2009 , Elijah H452 is here .
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9. Then Obadiah said, "What wrong have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? He will put me to death.
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9. And he said H559 , What H4100 have I sinned H2398 , that H3588 thou H859 wouldest deliver H5414 H853 thy servant H5650 into the hand H3027 of Ahab H256 , to slay H4191 me?
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10. As surely as the Lord your God lives, the king has sent people to every country to search for you. If the ruler said you were not there, Ahab forced the ruler to swear you could not be found in his country.
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10. As the LORD H3068 thy God H430 liveth H2416 , there is H3426 no H518 nation H1471 or kingdom H4467 , whither H834 H8033 my lord H113 hath not H3808 sent H7971 to seek H1245 thee : and when they said H559 , He is not H369 there ; he took an oath H7650 of H853 the kingdom H4467 and nation H1471 , that H3588 they found H4672 thee not H3808 .
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11. Now you want me to go to my master and tell him, 'Elijah is here'?
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11. And now H6258 thou H859 sayest H559 , Go H1980 , tell H559 thy lord H113 , Behold H2009 , Elijah H452 is here .
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12. The Spirit of the Lord may carry you to some other place after I leave. If I go tell King Ahab you are here, and he comes and doesn't find you, he will kill me! I have followed the Lord since I was a boy.
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12. And it shall come to pass H1961 , as soon as I H589 am gone H1980 from H4480 H854 thee , that the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 shall carry H5375 thee whither H5921 H834 I know H3045 not H3808 ; and so when I come H935 and tell H5046 Ahab H256 , and he cannot H3808 find H4672 thee , he shall slay H2026 me : but I thy servant H5650 fear H3372 H853 the LORD H3068 from my youth H4480 H5271 .
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13. Haven't you been told what I did? When Jezebel was killing the Lord's prophets, I hid a hundred of them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. I brought them food and water.
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13. Was it not H3808 told H5046 my lord H113 H853 what H834 I did H6213 when Jezebel H348 slew H2026 H853 the prophets H5030 of the LORD H3068 , how I hid H2244 a hundred H3967 men H376 of the LORD's prophets H4480 H5030 H3068 by fifty H2572 H2572 H376 in a cave H4631 , and fed H3557 them with bread H3899 and water H4325 ?
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14. Now you want me to go and tell my master you are here? He will kill me!"
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14. And now H6258 thou H859 sayest H559 , Go H1980 , tell H559 thy lord H113 , Behold H2009 , Elijah H452 is here : and he shall slay H2026 me.
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15. Elijah answered, "As surely as the Lord All-Powerful lives, whom I serve, I will be seen by Ahab today."
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15. And Elijah H452 said H559 , As the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 liveth H2416 , before H6440 whom H834 I stand H5975 , I will surely H3588 show myself H7200 unto H413 him today H3117 .
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16. So Obadiah went to Ahab and told him where Elijah was. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
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16. So Obadiah H5662 went H1980 to meet H7122 Ahab H256 , and told H5046 him : and Ahab H256 went H1980 to meet H7122 Elijah H452 .
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17. When he saw Elijah, he asked, "Is it you -- the biggest troublemaker in Israel?"
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17. And it came to pass H1961 , when Ahab H256 saw H7200 H853 Elijah H452 , that Ahab H256 said H559 unto H413 him, Art thou H859 he that H2088 troubleth H5916 Israel H3478 ?
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18. Elijah answered, "I have not made trouble in Israel. You and your father's family have made all this trouble by not obeying the Lord's commands. You have gone after the Baals.
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18. And he answered H559 , I have not H3808 troubled H5916 H853 Israel H3478 ; but H3588 H518 thou H859 , and thy father H1 's house H1004 , in that ye have forsaken H5800 H853 the commandments H4687 of the LORD H3068 , and thou hast followed H1980 H310 Baalim H1168 .
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19. Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Also bring the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
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19. Now H6258 therefore send H7971 , and gather H6908 to H413 me H853 all H3605 Israel H3478 unto H413 mount H2022 Carmel H3760 , and the prophets H5030 of Baal H1168 four H702 hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 , and the prophets H5030 of the groves H842 four H702 hundred H3967 , which eat H398 at Jezebel H348 's table H7979 .
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20. So Ahab called all the Israelites and those prophets to Mount Carmel.
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20. So Ahab H256 sent H7971 unto all H3605 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , and gathered the prophets together H6908 H853 H5030 unto H413 mount H2022 Carmel H3760 .
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21. Elijah approached the people and said, "How long will you not decide between two choices? If the Lord is the true God, follow him, but if Baal is the true God, follow him!" But the people said nothing.
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21. And Elijah H452 came H5066 unto H413 all H3605 the people H5971 , and said H559 , How long H5704 H4970 halt H6452 ye H859 between H5921 two H8147 opinions H5587 ? if H518 the LORD H3068 be God H430 , follow H1980 H310 him : but if H518 Baal H1168 , then follow H1980 H310 him . And the people H5971 answered H6030 him not H3808 a word H1697 .
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22. Elijah said, "I am the only prophet of the Lord here, but there are four hundred fifty prophets of Baal.
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22. Then said H559 Elijah H452 unto H413 the people H5971 , I H589 , even I only H905 , remain H3498 a prophet H5030 of the LORD H3068 ; but Baal H1168 's prophets H5030 are four H702 hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 men H376 .
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23. Bring two bulls. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull and kill it and cut it into pieces. Then let them put the meat on the wood, but they are not to set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull, putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it.
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23. Let them therefore give H5414 us two H8147 bullocks H6499 ; and let them choose H977 one H259 bullock H6499 for themselves , and cut it in pieces H5408 , and lay H7760 it on H5921 wood H6086 , and put H7760 no H3808 fire H784 under : and I H589 will dress H6213 H853 the other H259 bullock H6499 , and lay H5414 it on H5921 wood H6086 , and put H7760 no H3808 fire H784 under :
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24. You prophets of Baal, pray to your god, and I will pray to the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to his wood is the true God." All the people agreed that this was a good idea.
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24. And call H7121 ye on the name H8034 of your gods H430 , and I H589 will call H7121 on the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 : and the God H430 that H834 answereth H6030 by fire H784 , let him H1931 be H1961 God H430 . And all H3605 the people H5971 answered H6030 and said H559 , It is well H2896 spoken H1697 .
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25. Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "There are many of you, so you go first. Choose a bull and prepare it. Pray to your god, but don't start the fire."
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25. And Elijah H452 said H559 unto the prophets H5030 of Baal H1168 , Choose H977 you one H259 bullock H6499 for yourselves , and dress H6213 it first H7223 ; for H3588 ye H859 are many H7227 ; and call H7121 on the name H8034 of your gods H430 , but put H7760 no H3808 fire H784 under .
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26. So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon, shouting "Baal, answer us!" But there was no sound, and no one answered. They danced around the altar they had built.
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26. And they took H3947 H853 the bullock H6499 which H834 was given H5414 them , and they dressed H6213 it , and called H7121 on the name H8034 of Baal H1168 from morning H4480 H1242 even until H5704 noon H6672 , saying H559 , O Baal H1168 , hear H6030 us . But there was no H369 voice H6963 , nor H369 any that answered H6030 . And they leaped H6452 upon H5921 the altar H4196 which H834 was made H6213 .
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27. At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. "Pray louder!" he said. "If Baal really is a god, maybe he is thinking, or busy, or traveling! Maybe he is sleeping so you will have to wake him!"
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27. And it came to pass H1961 at noon H6672 , that Elijah H452 mocked H2048 them , and said H559 , Cry H7121 aloud H6963 H1419 : for H3588 he H1931 is a god H430 ; either H3588 he is talking H7879 , or H3588 he is pursuing H7873 , or H3588 he is in a journey H1870 , or peradventure H194 he H1931 sleepeth H3463 , and must be awaked H3364 .
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28. The prophets prayed louder, cutting themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed, which was the way they worshiped.
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28. And they cried H7121 aloud H6963 H1419 , and cut themselves H1413 after their manner H4941 with knives H2719 and lancets H7420 , till H5704 the blood H1818 gushed out H8210 upon H5921 them.
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29. The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention.
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29. And it came to pass H1961 , when midday H6672 was past H5674 , and they prophesied H5012 until H5704 the time of the offering H5927 of the evening sacrifice H4503 , that there was neither H369 voice H6963 , nor H369 any to answer H6030 , nor H369 any that regarded H7182 .
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30. Then Elijah said to all the people, "Now come to me." So they gathered around him, and Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
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30. And Elijah H452 said H559 unto all H3605 the people H5971 , Come near H5066 unto H413 me . And all H3605 the people H5971 came near H5066 unto H413 him . And he repaired H7495 H853 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 that was broken down H2040 .
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31. He took twelve stones, one stone for each of the twelve tribes, the number of Jacob's sons. (The Lord changed Jacob's name to Israel.)
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31. And Elijah H452 took H3947 twelve H8147 H6240 stones H68 , according to the number H4557 of the tribes H7626 of the sons H1121 of Jacob H3290 , unto H413 whom H834 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 , saying H559 , Israel H3478 shall be H1961 thy name H8034 :
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32. Elijah used these stones to rebuild the altar in honor of the Lord. Then he dug a ditch around the altar that was big enough to hold about thirteen quarts of seed.
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32. And with H854 the stones H68 he built H1129 an altar H4196 in the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 : and he made H6213 a trench H8585 about H5439 the altar H4196 , as great as would contain H1004 two measures H5429 of seed H2233 .
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33. Elijah put the wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood.
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33. And he put H6186 H853 the wood H6086 in order , and cut H5408 H853 the bullock H6499 in pieces , and laid H7760 him on H5921 the wood H6086 , and said H559 , Fill H4390 four H702 barrels H3537 with water H4325 , and pour H3332 it on H5921 the burnt sacrifice H5930 , and on H5921 the wood H6086 .
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34. Then he said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the meat and on the wood." Then Elijah said, "Do it again," and they did it again. Then he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it the third time.
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34. And he said H559 , Do it the second time H8138 . And they did it the second time H8138 . And he said H559 , Do it the third time H8027 . And they did it the third time H8027 .
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35. So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch.
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35. And the water H4325 ran H1980 round about H5439 the altar H4196 ; and he filled H4390 H853 the trench H8585 also H1571 with water H4325 .
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36. At the time for the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah went near the altar. "Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel," he prayed. "Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. Show these people that you commanded me to do all these things.
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36. And it came to pass H1961 at the time of the offering H5927 of the evening sacrifice H4503 , that Elijah H452 the prophet H5030 came near H5066 , and said H559 , LORD H3068 God H430 of Abraham H85 , Isaac H3327 , and of Israel H3478 , let it be known H3045 this day H3117 that H3588 thou H859 art God H430 in Israel H3478 , and that I H589 am thy servant H5650 , and that I have done H6213 H853 all H3605 these H428 things H1697 at thy word H1697 .
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37. Lord, answer my prayer so these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you will change their minds."
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37. Hear H6030 me , O LORD H3068 , hear H6030 me , that this H2088 people H5971 may know H3045 that H3588 thou H859 art the LORD H3068 God H430 , and that thou H859 hast turned H5437 H853 their heart H3820 back again H322 .
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38. Then fire from the Lord came down and burned the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the ground around the altar. It also dried up the water in the ditch.
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38. Then the fire H784 of the LORD H3068 fell H5307 , and consumed H398 H853 the burnt sacrifice H5930 , and the wood H6086 , and the stones H68 , and the dust H6083 , and licked up H3897 the water H4325 that H834 was in the trench H8585 .
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39. When all the people saw this, they fell down to the ground, crying, "The Lord is God! The Lord is God!"
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39. And when all H3605 the people H5971 saw H7200 it , they fell H5307 on H5921 their faces H6440 : and they said H559 , The LORD H3068 , he H1931 is the God H430 ; the LORD H3068 , he H1931 is the God H430 .
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40. Then Elijah said, "Capture the prophets of Baal! Don't let any of them run away!" The people captured all the prophets. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley, where he killed them.
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40. And Elijah H452 said H559 unto them, Take H8610 H853 the prophets H5030 of Baal H1168 ; let not H408 one H376 of them H4480 escape H4422 . And they took H8610 them : and Elijah H452 brought them down H3381 to H413 the brook H5158 Kishon H7028 , and slew H7819 them there H8033 .
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41. Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Now, go, eat, and drink, because a heavy rain is coming."
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41. And Elijah H452 said H559 unto Ahab H256 , Get thee up H5927 , eat H398 and drink H8354 ; for H3588 there is a sound H6963 of abundance H1995 of rain H1653 .
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42. So King Ahab went to eat and drink. At the same time Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bent down to the ground with his head between his knees.
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42. So Ahab H256 went up H5927 to eat H398 and to drink H8354 . And Elijah H452 went up H5927 to H413 the top H7218 of Carmel H3760 ; and he cast himself down H1457 upon the earth H776 , and put H7760 his face H6440 between H996 his knees H1290 ,
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43. Then Elijah said to his servant, "Go and look toward the sea." The servant went and looked. "I see nothing," he said. Elijah told him to go and look again. This happened seven times.
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43. And said H559 to H413 his servant H5288 , Go up H5927 now H4994 , look H5027 toward H1870 the sea H3220 . And he went up H5927 , and looked H5027 , and said H559 , There is nothing H369 H3972 . And he said H559 , Go again H7725 seven H7651 times H6471 .
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44. The seventh time, the servant said, "I see a small cloud, the size of a human fist, coming from the sea." Elijah told the servant, "Go to Ahab and tell him to get his chariot ready and go home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him."
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44. And it came to pass H1961 at the seventh time H7637 , that he said H559 , Behold H2009 , there ariseth H5927 a little H6996 cloud H5645 out of the sea H4480 H3220 , like a man H376 's hand H3709 . And he said H559 , Go up H5927 , say H559 unto H413 Ahab H256 , Prepare H631 thy chariot , and get thee down H3381 , that the rain H1653 stop H6113 thee not H3808 .
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45. After a short time the sky was covered with dark clouds. The wind began to blow, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel.
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45. And it came to pass H1961 in the meanwhile H5704 H3541 H5704 H3541 , that the heaven H8064 was black H6937 with clouds H5645 and wind H7307 , and there was H1961 a great H1419 rain H1653 . And Ahab H256 rode H7392 , and went H1980 to Jezreel H3157 .
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46. The Lord gave his power to Elijah, who tightened his clothes around him and ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
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46. And the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was H1961 on H413 Elijah H452 ; and he girded up H8151 his loins H4975 , and ran H7323 before H6440 Ahab H256 to H5704 the entrance H935 of Jezreel H3157 .
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