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grief, the poor mother appealed to the compassion of the prophet, and according to the superstitious opinions of those and after times, expressed her fear that his holy presence had caused her affliction as a punishment for her unworthiness. But the prophet had pity on her; and taking the dead body of her son in his arms, he carried it to his own chamber and laid it on his bed.

"And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again."

"And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: And Elijah said, 'See, thy son liveth.' And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth."

While Elijah remained in security at Zarephath, the drought prevailed in Israel, and herbage and water could not be found for the king's horses. For three years and six months there had been no rain; the sky was as molten brass, the cattle perished, and there was a sore famine in Samaria. Ahab, unmoved to repentance by the suffering himself and his kingdom endured, impiously accused the prophet Elijah of being the cause of their misery, and sought him every

where throughout his dominions, but without success. At length God took compassion on the people, and Elijah was commanded to go and show himself to Ahab, and declare that rain should fall, and the dreadful drought cease. Immediately he left his retreat at Zarephath, and entering the kingdom of Israel, suddenly appeared before Obadiah, an officer high in the favour of Ahab, but who had nevertheless remained faithful to the worship of Jehovah. "For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water."

When Elijah met Obadiah, the latter was seeking over the whole land for water and grass for the king's cattle. Ahab and he had divided the land between them, to pass through it, and search for fountains and brooks, that all the mules and horses might not be lost.

"And as Obadiah was in the way, behold Elijah met him, and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here."

"And Obadiah said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the LORD liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when he said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now

pass, as soon as I Spirit of the LORD know not; and so

thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold Elijah is here. And it shall come to am gone from thee, that the shall carry thee whither I when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. Was it not told my lord, what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now thou sayest, Go tell thy lord, Behold Elijah is here and he shall slay me."

Elijah reassured the faithful Obadiah, declaring that he would certainly shew himself to the king that day; on which Obadiah returned to Ahab, and brought him to meet the prophet whom he had so long sought for in vain: but his language plainly discovered the pride and obstinacy of his character. "Art thou," he said on seeing Elijah, "art thou he that troubleth Israel?"

The prophet's answer was a just rebuke to this impious king. "I have not troubled Israel; but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."

Elijah then commanded Ahab to assemble on Mount Carmel all the Priests of Baal, four hundred and fifty in number, who all eat at Jezebel's table, (that is, were supported at her expense,) and he would there meet them, and

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prove before the king and people how weak and impotent were the idols they had chosen, and how mighty was that God whose worship they forsook.

CHAPTER VIII.

ELIJAH SLAYS THE PRIESTS OF BAAL: FLEES FROM

THE ANGER OF JEZEBEL: IS COMMANDED TO ANOINT
HAZAEL, JEHU, AND ELISHA: BENHADAD MAKES
WAR UPON AHAB.

I. Kings xviii.-xx.

MOUNT Carmel, whither Elijah summoned the priests of Baal, is a lofty promontory, commanding the fine bay of Acre, and the waters of the Mediterranean; at its foot runs the river Kishon; its sides and summit were at that time verdant with groves, and forests, and interspersed with fertile valleys, affording the richest pastures, while the rocks contain several large caverns, which tradition assigns as the frequent abode of the prophet Elijah. Hither came the people of Israel, with their king Ahab, and the four hundred and fifty priests of Baal; and here opposed to them stood the prophet Elijah, alone in the strength of Jehovah, to reprove and punish their idolatry.

"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."

"Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God."

The people accepted the trial, and said, "It is well spoken." Then "Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the names of your gods, but put no fire under." "And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice; nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made." It was in vain, no answer of fire came.

Then, with indignant scorn, Elijah mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god, either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and

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