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that； for a trial of the power of the strange gods； and of their
own God； he； who was his only prophet； while they had four
hundred； might take a heifer and kill it as a sacrifice； and lay
it upon pieces of wood； and not kindle any fire； and that they
should do the same things； and call upon their own gods to set
the wood on fire； for if that were done； they would thence learn
the nature of the true God。 This proposal pleased the people。 So
Elijah bade the prophets to choose out a heifer first； and kill
it； and to call on their gods。 But when there appeared no effect
of the prayer or invocation of the prophets upon their sacrifice；
Elijah derided them； and bade them call upon their gods with a
loud voice； for they might either be on a journey； or asleep； and
when these prophets had done so from morning till noon； and cut
themselves with swords and lances； （34） according to the customs
of their country； and he was about to offer his sacrifice； he
bade ＇the prophets＇ go away； but bade ＇the people＇ come near and
observe what he did； lest he should privately hide fire among the
pieces of wood。 So； upon the approach of the multitude； he took
twelve stones； one for each tribe of the people of the Hebrews；
and built an altar with them； and dug a very deep trench； and
when he had laid the pieces of wood upon the altar； and upon them
had laid the pieces of the sacrifices； he ordered them to fill
four barrels with the water of the fountain； and to pour it upon
the altar； till it ran over it； and till the trench was filled
with the water poured into it。 When he had done this； he began to
pray to God； and to invocate him to make manifest his power to a
people that had already been in an error a long time； upon which
words a fire came on a sudden from heaven in the sight of the
multitude； and fell upon the altar； and consumed the sacrifice；
till the very water was set on fire； and the place was become
dry。
6。 Now when the Israelites saw this； they fell down upon the
ground； and worshipped one God； and called him The great and the
only true God； but they called the others mere names； framed by
the evil and vile opinions of men。 So they caught their prophets；
and； at the command of Elijah； slew them。 Elijah also said to the
king； that he should go to dinner without any further concern；
for that in a little time he would see God send them rain。
Accordingly Ahab went his way。 But Elijah went up to the highest
top of Mount Carmel； and sat down upon the ground； and leaned his
head upon his knees； and bade his servant go up to a certain
elevated place； and look towards the sea； and when he should see
a cloud rising any where； he should give him notice of it； for
till that time the air had been clear。 When the Servant had gone
up； and had said many times that he saw nothing； at the seventh
time of his going up； he said that he saw a small black thing in
the sky； not larger than a man's foot。 When Elijah heard that； he
sent to Ahab； and desired him to go away to the city before the
rain came down。 So he came to the city Jezreel； and in a little
time the air was all obscured； and covered with clouds； and a
vehement storm of wind came upon the earth； and with it a great
deal of rain； and the prophet was under a Divine fury； and ran
along with the king's chariot unto Jezreel a city of Izar （35）
＇Issaachar＇。
7。 When Jezebel； the wife of Ahab； understood what signs Elijah
had wrought； and how he had slain her prophets； she was angry；
and sent messengers to him； and by them threatened to kill him；
as he had destroyed her prophets。 At this Elijah was affrighted；
and fled to the city called Beersheba； which is situate at the
utmost limits of the country belonging to the tribe of Judah；
towards the land of Edom； and there he left his servant； and went
away into the desert。 He prayed also that he might die； for that
he was not better than his fathers； nor need he be very desirous
to live； when they were dead； and he lay and slept under a
certain tree； and when somebody awakened him； and he was risen
up； he found food set by him and water： so when he had eaten； and
recovered his strength by that his food； he came to that mountain
which is called Sinai； where it is related that Moses received
his laws from God； and finding there a certain hollow cave； he
entered into it； and continued to make his abode in it。 But when
a certain voice came to him； but from whence he knew not； and
asked him； why he was come thither； and had left the city？ he
said； that because he had slain the prophets of the foreign gods；
and had persuaded the people that he alone whom they had
worshipped from the beginning was God； he was sought for by the
king's wife to be punished for so doing。 And when he had heard
another voice； telling him that he should come out the next day
into the open air； and should thereby know what he was to do； he
came out of the cave the next day accordingly； When he both heard
an earthquake； and saw the bright splendor of a fire； and after a
silence made； a Divine voice exhorted him not to be disturbed
with the circumstances he was in； for that none of his enemies
should have power over him。 The voice also commanded him to
return home； and to ordain Jehu； the son of Nimshi； to be king
over their own multitude； and Hazael； of Damascus； to be over the
Syrians； and Elisha； of the city Abel； to be a prophet in his
stead； and that of the impious multitude； some should be slain by
Hazael； and others by Jehu。 So Elijah； upon hearing this charge；
returned into the land of the Hebrews。 And when he found Elisha；
the son of Shaphat； ploughing； and certain others with him；
driving twelve yoke of oxen； he came to him； and cast his own
garment upon him； upon which Elisha began to prophesy presently；
and leaving his oxen； he followed Elijah。 And when he desired
leave to salute his parents； Elijah gave him leave so to do； and
when he had taken his leave of them； he followed him； and became
the disciple and the servant of Elijah all the days of his life。
And thus have I despatched the affairs in which this prophet was
concerned。
8。 Now there was one Naboth； of the city Izar； ＇Jezreel；＇ who had
a field adjoining to that of the king： the king would have
persuaded him to sell him that his field； which lay so near to
his own lands； at what price he pleased； that he might join them
together； and make them one farm； and if he would not accept of
money for it； he gave him leave to choose any of his other fields
in its stead。 But Naboth said he would not do so； but would keep
the possession of that land of his own； which he had by
inheritance from his father。 Upon this the king was grieved； as
if he had received an injury； when he could not get another man's
possession； and he would neither wash himself； nor take any food：
and when Jezebel asked him what it was that troubled him； and why
he would neither wash himself； nor eat either dinner or supper；
he related to her the perverseness of Naboth； and how； when he
had made use of gentle words to him； and such as were beneath the
royal authority； he had been affronted； and had not obtained what
he desired。 However； she persuaded him not to be cast down at
this accident； but to leave off his grief； and return to the
usual care of his body； for that she would take care to have
Naboth punished； and she immediately sent letters to the rulers
of the Israelites ＇Jezreelites＇ in Ahab's name； and commanded
them to fast and to assemble a congregation； and to set Naboth at
the head of them； because he was of an illustrious family； and to
have three bold men ready to bear witness that he had blasphemed
God and the king； and then to stone him； and slay him in that
manner。 Accordingly； when Naboth had been thus testified against；
as the queen had written to them； that he had blasphemed against
God and Ahab the king； she desired him to take possession of
Naboth's vineyard on free cost。 So Ahab was glad at what had been
done； and rose up immediately from the bed whereon he lay to go
to see Naboth's vineyard； but God had great indignation at it；
and sent Elijah the prophet to the field of Naboth； to speak to
Ahab； and to say to him； that he had slain the true owner of that
field unjustly。 And as soon as he came to him； and the king had
said that he might do with him what he pleased； （for he thought
it a reproach to him to be thus caught in his sin；） Elijah said；
that in that very place in which the dead body of Naboth was
eaten by dogs both his own blood and that of his wife's should be
shed； and that all his family should perish； because he had been
so insolently wicked； and had slain a citizen unjustly； and
contrary to the laws of his country。 Hereupon Ahab began to be
sorry for the things he had done； and to repent of them； and he
put on sackcloth； and went barefoot （36） and would not touch any
food； he also confessed his sins； and endeavored thus to appease
God。 But God said to the prophet； that while Ahab was living he
would put off the punishment of his family； because he repented
of those insolent crimes he had been guilty of； but that still he
would fulfill his threatening under Ahab's son； which message the